DARING SEAMANSHIP SAVES LIVES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 145, 16 March 1934, Page 11

DARING SEAMANSHIP SAVES LIVES

Fire on United States Gunboat BRITISH DESTROYER TO THE RESCUE Uy Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 15, 7.20 p.m.) Hong-Kong, March 15. The United States gunboat Fulton, which was on piracy patrol in Bias Bay last night, suddenly caught fire and became an inferno. The British destroyer .Wishart, attracted to the scene, effected heroic rescues, and the British steamer Tsinan also picked up 48. When the Wishart arrived a heavy swell was running. The crew observed American sailors on the Fulton’s hows. The 'Wishart’s commander, Lieut.-Com-mander Tod. by daring seamanship, skilfully brought his ship alongside the Fulton, enabling those on her bows to jump aboard safely. Then he went astern and effected the rescue of others, totalling 130. The Wishart's bows were smashed during the rescue operations. The survivors paid a stirring tribute to Lieut.-Commander Tod’s marvellous piece of seamanship. As the Fulton's lifeboats were out of reach, the only alternative was to leap overboard. The Fulton presented an awe-inspiring sight. The smouldering hull was larer towed to Hong-Kong. The fire started in the engineroom, a bursting exhaust pipe exploding an oil tank. PIRATES LOOT SHIP Destroyer Away on Errand of Mercy (Received March 16, 12.12 p.m.)_ Hong-Kong, March 10. The Norwegian steamer Norviken. under British charter, arrived at Swatow this morning after being in the bands of pirates for 24 hours. The pirates, travelling as passengers, boarded the ship at Shanghai, later seized control, looted the vessel, and carried off ten Chinese passengers for ransom. The spot where the pirates left the ship was being patrolled by H.M.S. Wishart three hours previously, but her patrol was interrupted while she was rendering assistance to the Fulton.