GALLANT LIFEBOAT CREW

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 6

GALLANT LIFEBOAT CREW

WRECK OF DUTCH OIL TANKER MAGNIFICENT RESCUE EFFECTED Press Assooialiou—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 22. Towards nightfall the crew of tho Dutch oil-tanker, Georgia, who- had been lashed to the rigging for 40 hours, were rescued as a result of the magnificent seamanship of the crew of the Cromer lifeboat, which had been standing by throughout. Tho first details of tho wreck were given by the survivors, who said that tho Georgia struck the sands at midnight on Sunday, and tho vessel broke in halves, the after-part drifting away. The car from London with the latest lifesaving apparatus arrived just as tho lifeboat successfully landed the pien. It was not known until to-night that the ship had broken in hqlves. The stern was driven by the wind and the waves within three miles of Cromer, where it was observed yesterday by- the lifeboat, which’ reported that there was nobody aboard. The bow part was carried 10 miles, and it was this section which contained the crew, but this was not known to, the Cromer lifeboat men, who, after an inspection of the deserted stern part, spent 36 .hours searching in dangerous seas for the survivors. On returning from their fruitless, labors the lifeboat men received definite information from London that tlio crew of the ship was dangerously exposed on the bows. Despite the. arduous labors they had been engaged in, the lifeboat crew responded to the call and speeded to Hainsborough Sands, and effected a magnificent rescue. It is not known at present how the ship broke in halves, but it is thought that _ there must have been a terrific explosion. CREW’S TERRIBLE ORDEAL. LONDON, November 23. There was no explosion when the Georgia went ashore. Tho ship simply broke her back as a result of the buffeting; Tho lifeboat' rescue was of the most gallant character, and the Georgia’s captain, in paying a tribute, si)id: “ Tho coxswain must have been a man without fear. He took no soundings, but came straight alongside, though at any moment bis boat might have been smashed against our side like an eggshell.” The rescued men jumped for their lives, tho youngest first. All_ had given up hope and had been without food or water during the whole 30 hours they were clinging to the wreck. They were completely exhausted by the ordeal.