HEROIC RESCUE AT SEA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10016, 1 February 1926, Page 5

HEROIC RESCUE AT SEA

LOSS OF BRITISH SHIP ANTOINE THRILLING WORK BY AMERICAN SAILORS. TWO RESCUERS LOST. - FAILURE AFTER FAILURE TO ! i REACH DOOMED VESSEL. FIFTH’ ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS . - •CAPTAIN AND CREW OF 24 ’ SAVED. ' ’ (Received Jan. 31, 5.5 p.m.)' LONDON, Jan. 30.

A feat of supreme seamanship practically unsurpassed in the annals of merchant shipping was revealed in a ivireless story by a passenger on the President Roosevelt, which is due at Plymouth on Sunday with those rescued from the Antinoe, published exclusively in the Daily Express. It vividly outlines the four-day vigil, with seamen climbing the peak, fifty feet high, under a hurricane raging at one hundred miles hourly. Swirling sleet and snowfi with drifting fog combined to make the task next to impossible. After sighting the Antinoe, the President Roosevelt stood by all day long. It was impossible to launch a boat. During the wild night the President Roosevelt lost contact and in the morning she found the Antinoe out of sight. It was not until late on Monday that she was again located having drifted 58 miles in the storm. She had listed 35 degrees starboard, her portside boats were stove in, her engine-room flooded, steering gear disabled and bridges smashed. Tile President Roosevelt launched a boat in charge of the chief officer, Mr Miller. It immediately struck a sudden squall and whirled towards the President Roosevelt. Lifelines were cast, but lifted by a giant sea the boat capsized and hurled the men into the ocean. With a superhuman effort all but two managed to reach the ladder. The terrified passengers watched the two ill-fated men carried off .towards the Antinoe. One swimming hard passed close to the stern of the tossing hulk from which a line was thrown. Just ten feet separated him from the line’s end, but he could not grasp it, and disappeared as nighf. descended.

On the following day there was failure after failure. Four boats were lest A moderating sea at nightfall and moonlight enabled another attempt to be made when the lifeboat succeeded in reaching the Antinoe, where it secured twelve men, and brought them to the President Roosevelt. The Antinoe was then listing Mr. Miller made a second courageous voyage, the searchlight picking cut a path, and brought thirteen men including the captain, who waved his hand affectionately at the Antinoe when the boat put off, thereby completing one of the ocean’s most drain a tic rescues.—A .N.Z.C.A.

FOREIGN OFFICE RETUP-NS THANKS TO AMERICA. KING SENDS PERSONAL MESSAGE. (Received Jan. 31, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 30. The Foreign Office has requested the British Ambassador to convey to President Coolidge the Ministry’s appreciation of the captain, and crew of the President Roosevelt, also sympathy with the relatives of the American sailors who sacrificed their lives. A similar message was also sent on behalf of Lloyd’s. The Daily Express says the Board of Trade, breaking down ordinary procedure, is despatching a special representative to Plymouth to' meet the President Roosevelt and obtain the captain’s and other complete report of the circumstances which will be presented to tho Admiralty _ for immediate presentation to tho King. —A. and N.Z.C.A. WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. King George sent President Coolidge a cablegram praising the crew of the American liner President Roosevelt for rescuing in an Atlantic gale all hands of the British freighter Antinoe, and expressing regret that two of the rescuing force had lost their lives In reply President Coolidge cabled. “The event is but another illustration of the heroism and gallantry which have characterised alike the mariners of the United Stages and Great Briain.” The King asked President Coolidge to assure the bereaved families of the lest sailors of bis heartfelt sympathy. —Reuter.

RESCUERS ARRIVE AT QUEENSTOWN. GREETED BY LORD MAYOR. (Received Jan. 31, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 30. The captain and crew of the President Roosevelt had a great reception at Queenstown. They were greeted by the Lord Mayor. A similar reception is being | repaired at Plymouth, when the Admiralty will be represented.—A.N.Z.C.A.