ANXIOUS HOURS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 August 1930, Page 5

ANXIOUS HOURS

ILL-FATED TAHITI PASSENGERS’ WAIT FOR HELP THANKSGIVING AFTER RESCUE. BISHOP BENNETT’S NARRATIVE. In the following special message to the Press Association Bishop Bennett, who was a passenger on the ill-fated Tahiti, gives a graphic description of the experiences of the stricken liner’s people while awaiting the arrival of the Ventura, the transfer to the latter vessel, and the scene as the Tahiti plunged into the depths.

United Ureys Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). APIA, Aug. 24. There was little indication on the departure of the Tahiti from Wellington that there was anything wrong with the engine-room except for the excessive vibration of the ship. This was so excessive that it was difficult to read and liquids were spilt at the tables. The passengers were informed that it was due to light cargo. There was a total of 107 passengers and 15S in the crew. The ship was averaging 360 miles a day, the: best record being 378. EARLY AWAKENING. Air was going well when a loud re- 1 pure wiiis heard on Friday morning at 4.0 U. lire vessel was shaken from stem to stern, and the engines suddenly stopped. Tne passengers were quietly informed that something .serious- had happened and to dress. By the time the passengers were on deck all the lifeboats weie ready to be lowered. Each passenger was informed of the number of liis lifeboat. Lifebelts were served, out and never taken off till the passengers boarded the Ventura. The second-class passengers had to vacate their position on account of the water coming through the deck. All the passengers were assembled in the first-class lounge far the whole -period'. The stuff provided mealis 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. The "passengers felt that the officers were doing their best. CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. The time was spent in games and the cheering, of eaeii other with music, i liie behaviou r was splendid alt through. It was learned that tire cause of tlie trouble was that the shaft on the starboard had broken penetrated the tunnel, and ripped holes under the stern, causing a big inrush of water. I fit exact location and! the detains of the trouble will never be known, .as it was under the water level. So great was the pressure that rt was impossible to: close the bulkhead immediately. By the great heroism of the engineers working constantly in deep water, the bulkheads were closed, but there was constant danger or their giving way at any time.

Several times the engine-room was in danger of being swamped. Waiter red on both the dynamos. lot keep the ship afloat it was necessary to keep tlie water level down in holds No. 3 and I .where there was over twenty feet of water, so two buckets, holding fifty gallons each, were manipulated! by manpower, and the winches were kept bailing the water out from each well without intermission night and 1 day. Great praise is due to the officers and crew for their hard work. They never rested nntii the passengers were safely a the Ventura. Undoubtedly this keptthe ship afloat, for if the- water had crone over the top of the bulkhead "the ship would have, been swamped. Fotr-tunate-lv there was always enough steam to- work the winches.

CONSOLATION OF WIRELESS. Wireless was the great consolation to the passengers. After the accident a message was got through to Well- 1 ington and a reply received within 20 minutes. The dynamo got wet, and so no further messages were sent or received until it was repaired. An auxiliary broadcast set, on No. 1 lifeboat, with a range of 150 miles only, was then used, and the Tahiti got in touch with the Norwegian cargo boat Penybryn, 120 miles away. There was great, joy when the Penybryn informed us that she was returning. CALL TO THE BOATS. On Saturday, between 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning, everybody was called out to their respective lifeboats, as there was bad news from the en-gine-room. All the boats were properly equipped with food and water and blankets. It was a pathetic sight, especially as the children were crying, 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. 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 water.

Then came a message that the outloo k was better and that we could retire again into the lounge and await daylight. By daylight the difficulties had been adjusted. We appeared to be a little deeper in the water than we wore on the previous evening.

PENYBRYN THE MAIN HOPE. Our main hope now centred upon the Norwegian steamer Penybryn. We expected to see 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 10 p.m. the Penybrvn’s lights a open red. At 11 o’clock she circled round us. She had missed us earlier because the fresh breeze that was blowing had drifted the Tahiti over two knots an hour. We were over a hundred- miles away from the spot where the accident had happened, which was 1340 miles from New Zealand and 460 from Raratonga. The depth of the ocean was 18,000 feet. A wonderful feeling of relief came to all when wo realised that the Penybrvn was standing by all night in case of' accident. We were especially grateful when we knew that she was doing this at the risk of running short of coal. VENTURA RUSHING TO AID. There was great joy when we were informed that the Ventura was rushing to. our aid and would arrive next morning. For the first time the pas-

sengers had a little sleep in their chairs and on the floor of the lounge. A certain amount of tension had been relaxed by the presence of one steamer and the expectation of another. At 10 a.m. on Sunday the \ entura met us, having come 700 miles otyt or her way, ploughing through a head sea at over 16 knots an hour. When the Ventura received, the call from the Union Company she was only three hours away from her destination at Pa<r o Pago. As her smoke appeared on 'the horizon all the passengers were ordered into the boats. Although the sea was not breaking much, big rollers from the south made things unpleasant in the boats. It- wars' nearly an liour before tlie Ventura arrived. As each boat arrived alongside cheers were given by the Ventura’s passengers. Each passenger had to climb up rope steps. It was a difficult task with the swell. Some had to have a rope tied_ round their bodies to assist them in the ascent. All reached the deck without accident. Only one officer fell into the water when a steering oar broke. He was immediately helped into the boat agatn. After the passengers came the luggage boats, with mails and baggage. Only the mails were taken out of the holds and most of the luggage in the cabins. Many passengers lost heavily, as most of their luggage was in the hold. No one knew how much they had lost, until their arrival on the Ventura, but one heard no complains. All were thankful to escape with their lives.

CHEERS FOR TAHITI’S CREW. The last to- leave the Tahiti were the captain and the crew. Three cheers were given as they arrived. They deserved it, as the discipline and organisation were worthy of the best British traditions. As soon as they arrived all the lifeboats were destroyed and sank.

The Tahiti was getting lower at the istem. The Ventura gave a farewell blast, and the Penybryn continued her voyage after accompanying us for 15 hours. The Ventura drew, close up to her sister-ship as if she were going to rub noses. Then she drew back and watched the dying struggles of the Tahiti, with the Union Jack at the stern and flag signals meaning “abandoned” at the mast head. AWE-INSPIRING SIGHT.

All watched her with intense interest till the end. At last nothing of the Union Jack could be seen. The Tahiti's bow rose higher into the air. Then she dived stern first in the midst of the seething ocean. Just as the funnels disappeared, what appeared to be a tremendous explosion took place, sending up a black cloud, followed by steam. Then the vessel vanished, the sea boiling like a cauldron where she went down.

The sight was awe-inspiring and pathetic. The emotions of many of the crew, as well as the passengers, were deeply touched. One elderty engineer who had worked for ten years on the Tahiti had to turn his face away, tears streaming down his cheeks. Another engineer who had saved a pet green parrot, was carrying the bird on his shoulder and addressing the parrot, said, “Come on, Peter. There goes .our home. Let us turn our heads away." Ho didn't see the end. He couldn't. KINDLY TREATMENT ON VENTURA.

All were well treated on the Ventura. Many of the lady passengers went straight to bed. On Monday morning, at II o'clock, I conducted a thanksgiving service on the Ventura. The service was attended by most of the passengers and crew, Sir Hugh Allen accompanying the hymns. The service was bright and hearty, and was much appreciated. On account of shortness of fresh water the Ventura was unable to call at Raratonga, and made direct for Pago Pago, whore she arrived on Tuesday at 1 p.m. She left for Honolulu at 8 p.m. All the passengers for the South Sea Islands and tne officers and crew for New Zealand arc being accommodated at Pago Pago, awaiting the arrival of the Tofua, to take them back to New Zealand, All are well, there not being any sickness. PASSENGERS ’ GRATITUDE.

The following statement has been issued by Tahiti passengers: “We desire to express our gratitude to the ship's company for the expeditious launching of lifeboats, and even the salving of small baggage while the ship was sinking. We also express gratitude to the Norwegian freighter Penybryn, which gave an assurance of safety, standing by for hours before the arrival of the Ventura, as well as to the Ventura, which picked us up from the Tahiti's lifeboats and catered for the passengers, and finally to the naval authorities at Pago Pago.''