HEROIC RESCUE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1934, Page 5

HEROIC RESCUE

AMERICAN GUNBOAT ON FIRE. BRITISH. DESTROYER’S ATI). (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) HONGKONG, March 15. The United (States gunboat “Fulton,” which was oil the piracy patrol in Bias Bay, l'ast night suddenly caught Are. A. British destroyer, the Wishart, was attracted to the scene, and effected a heroic rescue, and :a British steamer, the Tsinan, also picked up forty-eight. When the Wishart arrived, there w~s a heavy swell. American sailors were observed on the Fulton’s bows. Commander Tod-Darling, cl the Wishart, by daring seamanship, brought his ship alongside the Fulton, enabling those on the bows to jump aboard the Wishart safely. Then it went astern and effected the rescue of the others, totalling ore hundred a|ncl thirty. The survivois paid a stirring tribute, to C°mmandcr Tod-Darling’s marvellous piece of seamanship, as the Fulton’s lifeboats were out of i-eacli, and the only alternative was to leap overboard. The Fulton’s bows wer.e smashed during the rescue operations.

■She presented an awe inspiring sight, and her hull was later towed to Hongkong. The fire started in the engineroom, the bursting of an exhaust pipe exploding <an oil tank.