AN OCEAN RESCUE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 65, 13 February 1935, Page 7

AN OCEAN RESCUE

SETH PARKER AFFAIR. PORTION OF CREW REMOVED. S.O.S. TO WARSHIP. (United Press Association—Tsy Electric Telegraph.—Gopyrigh t.) Received February 13, 10.30 a.m. H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA AT SEA, Feb. 13. The Australia yesterday sighted the American vessel Seth Parker again at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and following the captain’s request, the Australia lowered a boat and took off nine of tho crew, leaving five aboard to await the arrival of a United States naval tug from Samoa, which plans to tow her back there. The rough sea made tho lowering of the boat difficult, and the Seth Parker was rolling so heavily that it was impossible to come right alongside, su, standing off' a short distance the boat picked up the crew, two of whom swam without the line used by the others. Those rescued aro: Cadets Jack Love and Roy Glostou; the cook, Air McAllister ; the first engineer, Mr Muller; the second engineer Air Eric Carlson; the cabin boy, Arthur Alorgan; also, George Schwannnmnn and James AicGahey, of Balboa. Those still aboard are Air Philip Lord, Navigation-officer Flink, Wireless-officer Sweeney, and Cadets R. Rueschle and Robert Pays.

Cadet Glostou said: “We left on a world cruise a year ago, transmitting radio programmes as we went to the National Broadcasting Corporation. Ever since leaving Papeete on January 10 wc had experienced bad weather, but the real storm began last Thursday night. We had three feet of water in the holds from leaks. Air Lord decided that some must go and the cadets drew lots.”

The Australia’s captain has informed Air Lord that the Australia will stand by until the tug arrives or it is certain that the tug will locate the Seth Parker.

Air Seth Parker’s crew are mostly volunteers. He registered the yacht of the same name with Air Lord as master; lie is actually the noted American broadcaster, Sctli Parker. The Duke of Gloucester spent the whole of the afternoon on the bridge watching the exciting scenes. When the Australia arrived she found the ship’s masts still standing but she was unable to set sail and was rolling in a fearful beam sea. On Monday we heard the Seth Parker toll Honolulu that the barometer was falling steadily and that the wind and sea were increasing. Ihe yacht was in danger of lasing her mast and she requested that a naval tug be sent to her assistance./ SHIP IN DANGER. Then, at 5.35 on Alomlay evening, the ship wirelessed the Australia: “Feel humiliated to come to you after the subsiding seas and wind yesterday, when you lound us lying comfortably. The wind has now reached gale force and is increasing fast; the seas are tremendous. The rigging is already going and if the gale continues to increase we cannot last. Trying to refrain from sending distress signals, but feel it is only a matter of a lew hours. If you return and we are still afloat, and the sea will allow it, will you tow us to Tahiti instead of insisting on abandoning ship?” Five minutes later the ship wirelessed: “We are coming about; if we lose contact it is a sure sign we are gone over.” The Australia instantly headed in the Seth Parker’s direction. The captain at 6.17 wirelessed the ship: “Consider you should send distress signals if you are in real danger or need assistance. Towage to Tahiti is impossible; please report your condition.” Then at 7.50 came the signals: “S.O.S. Seth Parker, 157-30 west, 14 south; in'distress. Request assistance; rigging gone, and vessel leaking badly.” Reference to the Seth Parker appears in the radio notes on page 3 ol this issue. Tiio radio transmitter (KNRA) has been reported on 25 metres in the early evening broadcasting in connection with the storm.