PASSENGERS' STORIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1930, Page 9

PASSENGERS' STORIES

SIDELIGHTS ON TAHITI

TESTIMONIAL TO OFFICERS

(Eeceived 27tli August, 1 p.m.)

HONOLULU, 26th August

Interesting sidelights on the loss of the Tahiti were given by passengers on the arrival of the Ventura at Honolulu with the rescued party aboard.

Mr. William Griffiths, of Melbourne, described the tense hours aboard the Tahiti awaiting rescue. The passengers, crowded in the lounge, expecting momentarily to enter the boats, maintained good spirits, singing and listening to the radio. The outward calm masked an inward anxiety, but there was not one case of hysterics. When they had been spending two hours in the boats awar.ting the arrival of the Ventura in a somewhat rough sea, they "felt as if rowing to Barotonga.' There was a wonderful feeling when the Ventura appeared, and the cheery smile with which the assistant purser welcomed the party was truly marvel°Mr Fred Walker, of Melbourne, said that he heard a noise from the engineroom, and they were shortly afterward notified, to don their lifebelts. Mr. Walker inspected the engine-room and found the engineers working up to their necks in water, repairing the damage. He declared that the engine crew's conduct was wonderful, as they worked steadily for 60 hours, trying to keep the water in check. After the Ventura was sightedevery boat was manned and afloat within \i minutes. All were transferred without even a wetting. The most pleased passenger was a thirteen-year-old lad, lan Loehhoad, of Mildura, who enjoyed sleeping on # decK, and was thrilled by the transfer in the boats. His clothes mostly went down with the family's ten trunks, but lan; looks forward to getting a new outflt in San Francisco. "Mother always said it was hard to get me up in the morning, but I got out of bed so fast that I surprised myself," he said. Mr. B. T. Isgrig, Mount Isa, Queensland, en route for Russia, said that It was an interesting experience to look back upon, but he was apprehensive at the time. Th« officers and crew wore on the job every minute, and meals wer« served regularly as if nothing had happened. The only hardship was that the lights were out, and the temporarily lack of radio, which later was repaired. "But how we cheered the Penybryn when she hove in sight about midnight, and also tho Ventura next day, after being called three times to the boats. The cool and efficient conduct of the officers inspired confidence in every passenger. All the passengers interviewed gave the highest praise to tho officers and crew of tho Tahiti and Ventura. The sum of £70 was collected for th« Tahiti's engineers and stewards. Mr* Walker Griffiths, Sir Hugh. Alien, Mr. Harold Babling, and Mr. J. J. Wool formed a committee to purchase gifts in Honolulu as an appreciation of the Ventura's officers and crew.

By special arrangement Router's world service, In addition to other special source* of information, 1s used in .the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights' therein in -Australia and New Zealand are reserved.