The Loss of the Vestris THE EARLIER MESSAGES

Evening Star, Issue 20023, 14 November 1928, Page 4

The Loss of the Vestris

THE EARLIER MESSAGES

Search for Passengers and Crew

Rough Sea and Poor Visibility

Desolation on Etna Slopes

Five Thousand Families Homeless

PreM Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

NEW YORK, November 13. Radio reports state that the steamer American Shipper picked np ou© of the lifeboats from the Vestris, and the tanker Myrian picked up another.— Australian Press Association-United Service.

RESCUE STEAMERS’ DIFFICULTIES Tress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, November 12. The New York police have reported that they received a radio message advising that the Ohio Mara arrived at the position indicated, but found no trace of the Vestris or of the survivors. The steamship Porto Rico reported to the Radio Marino Corporation that it had arrived at the position where the Vestris foundered, but she could locate neither the hulk nor the lifeboats. Soon after the Lamport Molt Company announced that an unconfirmed message stated that the Ohio Maru had rescued all the passengers and the crew, but tho message has been received with reserve owing to tho extreme difficulty of rescuing passengers in the rough sea.—Australian Press Association. HEAVY SEAS, RAIN, AND EGO. Prcts Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, November 12. Late to-night several vessels reported that they had reached the point at which tho Vestris had foundered, but wore unable to find a trace of the lifeboats. Tho visibility was poor, and it .was raining. There are fears that those in the lifeboats have perished in the heavy weather, which increased as they tried to make their way to the shore. Late to-night the weather reports indicated that the rescue boats, especially the coastguard destroyer, were having trouble with heavy seas, rain, and fog in the vicinity of the disaster, and it was doubtful if any effective work could ho done until daylight in searching for tho lifeboats. The steamship Collajer is the latest arrival at tho scene.—Australian Press Association-United Service. CONTINUING THE SEARCH. Press Associ.Uiwi—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, November 12, Further messages received directly from tho Ohio Maru and the Porto Rico indicate that the vessels had been searching vainly for some time, finding no trace of the survivors, in .heavy, rainy weather. Tho ships advise that they will continue tho search, but' earlier reports are now given slight credence. it is interesting to note that the sole Australian passenger, Mr Davies, nearly decided not to take the ship when she sailed on Saturday. In view of Mr Hoover’s trip to South America on November 19, Mr Davies was on tho point of cancelling his passage by the 'Vestris in order to accompany the Pre-sident-elect as a journalist, but owing to the pressing nature of office business it is understood that the proprietors of ‘La Nacion ’ suggested that Mr Davies should sail forthwith.—Australian Press Association.