LOSS OF TAHITI

Grey River Argus, 26 August 1930, Page 5

LOSS OF TAHITI

BISHOP BENNETT SENDS AN ACCOUNT , Graphic Details , (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 25 at 8.40 p.m.) APIA, August 25. A special message to the N.Z. Press Association, by Bishop Bennett, who was a passenger on the ill-fated Tahiti, is as follows:—

I There was little indication on tho } departure of the Tahiti from Welling- ‘ ton, that there was anything wrong j with the engine room, except for the , excessive vibration of the ship. This, | however, was so excessive that it was i) difficult to read, and the liquids were spilt at the tables. The passengers ! were informed that it was due to there i being a light cargo. There was a total iof 107 passengers and 158 of a crew. : The ship was averaging 360 miles, . well, when a loud report ! was heard on Friday morning at 4.30 o ’clock. The vessel was shaken from her stem to her stern, and the engines suddenely stopped. The passengers were quietly informed that something '• serious had happenede, and were told ’to dress. By the time the passengers were on deck, all of the lifeboats were ready to be lowered: Each passenger was informed of the number of his lifeboat. Lifebelts were served out, and these were never taken off till the passengers boarded the Ventura.

ALL IN FIRST SALOON. The second class passengers had to vacate their position on account of water coining through the deck. All of the passengers assembled in the first class lounge for the whole period. The staff provided meals as usual without intermission. There was no panic and no excitement. The officers never met the passengers to explain . the position, and the passengers never! ’ worried the officers. They felt that ’ | they were doing their best. The time was spent in games and in cheering I each other with music. The behaviour 1 was splendid all through. It was learnt that the f I aause of the trouble was that the shaft on the starboard ■' ■ side had broken, penetrated the tunnel, ’ I and ripped holes under the stern, cans- ’ ing a big inrush of water. The exact | location and details of the trouble i will never be known, as it was under \ the water level. So great was the - water pressure that it was impossible ( to close immediately the bulkhead. By the great heroism of the engineers, working constantly in deep water, the bulkheads were closed, but they were in constant danger of giving way at any time. Several times the engine ' room was in danger of being swamped, j Water poured on both of the dynamos. To keep the ship afloat, it was neeesIsary to keep the water level down in Holds 'Three and Four, where therewas over twenty feet of water, so two , buckets holding fifty gallons each, manipulated bj* man power and the winches, were kept bailing water out i from each well without intermission, night and day. Great praise is due to the officers and crew for their hard work. They never rested until the pas- ( I sengers were safely on the Ventura, j Undoubtedly this kept the ship afloat, for if the water had gone over the top bulkhead, the ship would have swamped. Fortunately, there was always enough steam to work the winches.

WIRELESS STOPS. Wireless was a great consolation to the passengers. After the accident a message was got through to Wellington, and. a reply was received within twenty minutes. Then the dynamo became wet, so that no further messages were sent or received until it was repaired. An auxiliary broadcast set, on the Number One lifeboat, with a. range of 150 miles only, was then used, and the Tahiti got in touch with the Norwegian cargo boat Penbryn, 120 miles away. There was great joy when she informed us that she was returning.

A CALL TO THE BOATS. . On Saturday, between one and two in the morning, everybody was called I out to their respective lifeboats, as there was bad news from the engine room. All of the boats were properly equipped with food and water and blankets. It was a pathetic sight, especially the children crying, and not knowing what was happening. With the exception of a few kerosene lamps the ship was in darkness. The sea was fairly calm, but there were big rollers from the south, about eight feet high, and a stiff breeze. ! The account continues: “Everything looked very dark and sad for us. The engineers and crew were still working at top at the engine room, and the crew never ceased bailing out the water. Then there came a message that the

outlook was better, and that we could retire again into the lounge and await daylight. By daylight the difficulties had been adjusted. Our main hope now centred upon the Norwegian ship Pcnbryn. We expected to sec her early on Saturday afternoon. All eyes were glued upon, the horizon. As night fell, our captain sent up rockets periodically, and also fired off bombs, which made a very loud explosion. About 9 p.m.

rockets were seen from the south, and at ten the Penbryn’s lights appeared. At eleven she circlet! round us. She missed us ear licr, because a fresh breeze that was blowing drifted us over two knots an hour. We were over. 100-miles away from the spot Where the accident had happened, which was 1340 miles from