S.O.S. FROM BRITISH SHIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1929, Page 7

S.O.S. FROM BRITISH SHIP

WRECKED ON LONELY REEF NO VESSELS NEAR (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON,-December 2. The secretary of the P. and T. Department received the following from Apia: “Radio S.O.S. call received from G.L.F.P.j Norwich City, at 1.50 a.m. Signals weak strength;. 2. to. 3, statics fierce. Was able at 3.2 Q a.m. to read his position 4.35 S,' 179-38 W, Gardener Island in Phoenix Group. He advised us “If ship holds till daylight, we may make shore, but heavy sea running.” No other stations appeared to hear his repeated calls and in response to our C.Q. (all (stations) calls, we were unable to raise any vessel nearer than 850 miles to him. At 4.20 a.m. we advised him we would try and get something out to him and that the. utmost was being done to ger relief, to which he replied “Thanks.” Signals then weakening probably due to daylight, and last S.O.S. call received at 4.40 a.m. “S.S. Trongate, GKPQ in port here, now getting up steam, and will ’eave in about an hour’s time for wreck, which is about 600 miles from here. In meantime, we are calling CQ (all stations) to endeavour to get in touch with a nearer vessel.” Later, the secretary , of the Post - and Telegraph Department received the following froni Superintendent of Radio Apia: , “Re S.O.S. call. Trongate -eft Apia about 2 p.m. to go to. the as-, sistance of the Norwich City. No response from Norwich City throughout day or this evening. At 6 p.m., we got in touch with s.’s. Laving ton Court, who gave his noon position as 350 miles north-east of Gardener Island on Monday at daybreak. We passed this information to the Trongate and asked the captain to arrange with the Lavington Court as to whether he wished him to proceed to wreck. Will advise further, later. ”

TRONGATE’S RUSH TO RESCUE. WELLINGTON, December 2. The following has been received by the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department: — “The Trongate is proceeding to the “Norwich City” which she expects to reach by daybreak on Tuesday. The “Lavington Court” is proceeding on her voyage.” - ■ The Norwich City is a steel screw steamer 1 of 5587 tons gross, and is fitted for oil. fuel. She was built at West Hartlepool in 1911 by W. Gray and Co., Ltd., and is owned by the Reardon Smith Line; Ltd. Her dimensions are: Length 397 ft, breadth 53.5 feet, depth 23ft, She was formerly known as the Normanby. The Phoenix Isles are a small group located between the Equator and Samoa. They were formerly productive of guano, but are now uninhabited. another mishap. INTER-STATE SHIP DRIFTING.(Received December 2, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 2. . The Inter-State steamer Orungal is drifting helplessly 15 miles ' from Smoky Cape, with 187 passengers aboard. . A message received early this morn." ing stated that the vessel had broken down, but was in no immediate danger. The steamer Mangana is proceeding to the Orungal’s assistance, and will attempt to tow (her to Sydney, but in the event of bad weather/ will go to Trial Bay.