DRAMATIC RESCUE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 49, 26 January 1939, Page 16

DRAMATIC RESCUE

GIRL SINGS IN SHIPWRECK. WOMEN JUMP TO LIFEBOAT. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 3. A. flaxen-haired 18-year-old girl, who sang Norse folk songs to keep up the courage of sailors huddled on the bridge of a sinking ship far out in the Atlantic, was revealed as the heroine of one of the luckiest and most dangerous rescues in seafaring annals. The girl, blue-eyed Svanhilde Larsen, is the daughter of Captain Bernard Waldo Larson, of the Norwegian freighter Smaragd, which foundered in a raging full gale and hailstorm sonic 500 miles south-east of New York.

Svanhilde, her mother and father and tlie Smaragd’s crew of seventeen, were landed safely at New York’s Battery by the American rescue ship, the freighter Sehodack. As survivors and rescuers pieced together the full story of the sea saga, highlights of the tale were how the girl sang through a night of terror as rising waters drove the two women and eighteen men to the captain’s bridge, how an officer used an ordinary flashlight to “talk” with the rescue ship, and how each rescued person and a dog had to make dangerous jumps, one after another, into lifeboats tossing in 40-foot high swells.

But possibly (the most amazing dis closure of all was the announcement by Captain Clifton Smith, of the Schodaek. that if his vessel had not been far off its normal course all aboard the Smaragd probably would have been lost. Because of the heavy weather the Sehodaek’s course to New York harbour was altered, thus bringing them within four miles of the hove-to Norwegian boat and within sight of its crudely-made distress flares. The Sma ragd had no radio.

“I sang all the songs I knew over and over again, until T-thought I would lose my voice,” said Miss Larsen. “The men’s faces brightened when T sang, but when I stopped they looked solemn, so I just kept on singing.”

Officer Carl Bentsen. of the said: “I’ll never forget bow fl/JR little girl leaned out over the sea with her arms behind her, clutching the rail, and jumped into our tossing lifeboat below her when I gave the word. The captain’s wife and daughter showed more courage than I ever saw in two women before.”

Radio Officer Quinlan said: “I began flashing my Morse light when we saw the flares, but I could not make out her signals. Finally someone on the distressed ship, who I learned later was Second Officer Jngwald Tindclund, began using, a flashlight. By studying it I made out he was saying: “Wo are leaking badly. Our engines are broken down. AVe need assistance.” “AA’e asked if they could hold out till morning, because Captain Smith said he would not like to risk a rescue in the darkness in such a sea. They answered ‘We will try. Please stand close.’ AVe circled about all through the night. “At about 3 a.m. the lights of the Smaragd went out. Her dynamo had failed. Someone lit a storm oil lamp and Tindlelund kept using his flashlight. His blinks told me the ship was dropping deeper and deeper. At daylight it was a thrill to see them put over their small boat and see seven men jump into her.”