FLORIDA’S CREW SAFE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 January 1929, Page 5

FLORIDA’S CREW SAFE

WONDERFUL RESCUE WORK.

SHIP BADLY BATTERED.

LIFEBOATS AND RUDDER GONE

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, Jan. 23. Captain Fried, master of the liner America, which lias • been rushing to tiie rescue of the ships disabled in the storm olf Florida, lias sent a radio message that lie rescued the Florida’s full crew of 32 men in an hour, at great, risk, owning to the gale and the tremendous seas.

His laconic message ended: “Lifeboats lost; details later.” He located the disabled ship more than 700 miles off Virginia.

He says the Florida’s lifeboats were completely shattered, and her rudder urokeu, and she was unable to control her position. The ship was experiencing heavy seas, but they were beginning to become less severe. The radio was weak, and the crew were suitering lrorn cold and exposure to the water, which was menacing her sodden hulk.

Captain Fried experienced great difficulty in reaching tile Florida, due to the lack of radio. The discovery of the Florida is a further proof of Captain Fried’s exceptional skill as a mariner.

it is questionable how the lileboats were able to survive in the great seas, but if any men are lost with the liieboats it is evident it would be rescuers. At present it is unknown whether loss of life was sustained.

Captain Fried named liis chief officer, Mr. Manning, as having been in charge or the rescue, and it is evident that Mr. Manning must have pertormed wonders of seamanship in such a pressure of wind. The steamer Dannedaike effected suificient repairs to crawl slowly towards port. She is believed to be sale at present, and to be proceeding towards Bermuda, but is oeing watched continually. The .president Harrison and the Yores: gave up the search owning to lack of fuel.

FORMER EXPLOITS RECALLED,

Received 11.30 a.m. to-day. VANCOUVER, Jan. 24

it was Captain F’ried who in January, 1926, .turned his ship, the President Kooseveit, to the aid of the sink, ing British liner Antinoe, holding his ship alongside two days and rescuing tiie distressed steamer’s crew, but losing .ng two or ids own men. twenty years ago another, steamer, named Florinda, also an Italian ship, figured in the first sea tragedy in which tne major part was played by wireless. J ack Bmks, a youthiul operator, stuck to his post on the White (Star liner Republic until the Baltic had rescued all the passengers and crews of the Republic and thei Florinda, which had collided, wane half a dozen other vessels answering his call were racing, to their aid'.