SAVED FROM SEA.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2031, 24 January 1922, Page 5

SAVED FROM SEA.

WARSHIP EFFECTS RESCUE. OF CREW OF HELEN B. STERLING. CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following information further to the wreck of the four-masted auxiliary schooner Helen 13. Sterling from the superintendent of the radio station at Awanui: “The follow ng message which was received from H.M.S. Melbourne at 2 p.m. begins; ‘Hollowing I are the names of those from the Helen , 13. Sterling’s crew now on board H. Melbourne, which is proj ceoding to Auckland all well —Capitain, G. H. Harris; first mate, J. Harris; second mate, J. Frances; w re- ' loss operator, R. H. Shaw; apprentice, A. Callaghan; A.B.’s, J. Allan, IF. Fans, J. Campbell, S. Tates, G. Hobbots, J Boarke and P. OliensT | ordinary seaman A. Newtek; cook, A. Buclough; cabin boy, J. Benton. Mrs G. H. Harris, Mrs J. Harris and Master Leslie Harris.’ ” STORY OP THE SEARCH, AUCKLAND, January 21. The Helen B. Sterling left Newcastle on January 4th for Papeete. The H M.S. Melbourne has picked the Sterling up. The latest messages show that the Melbourne reached the Sterling in 31 south 1G8.55 oast at 3.12 a.m. The crew and passengers were taken aboard safely by 4 a.m. She was to make further signals regarding salvage after conferring with the master. The Secretary of the General Post Office has'received the following message about the H. B. Sterling: “At I. a.m. the Melbourne advised that the Sterling was within six miles of | her position. At 1.41 a.m. he again advised that he had sighted the Sterling’s rocket. At 2.29 a.m. the Melbourne advised that she was trying some oil to windward and would then send a boat. At 2.58 she wirelessed that she was turning round to lower a starboard boat to windward of the Sterling. At 3.11 a.m. the Melbourne sent a message to the Opawa: “Have reached the Sterling. Her position is 31 south, 1G8.55 east. Will make a further signal about salvage ‘when the master has been brought aboard.’’ MELBOURNE ARRIVES TO-DAY AUCKLAND, January 23. Commodore Hothan, of the cruiser Chatham, has received a wireless message stating that the Melbourne arrives at 6 p.m. to-morrow. [The ill-fated ship was a wooden auxiliary schooner with four masts. She was fitted with powerful oil engines, and had modern electric light machinery aft, which also generated power for her wireless plant. She was built at Seattle In 1017, and her gross tonnage is IGO 8. The builders were the Washington Shipping Corporation, Seattle. She was sailing under the British flag, between New ■ castle and New Zealand and the Islands with coal.] EXCHANGE OP MESSAGES. MR MASSEY IS GRATEFUL. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Prime Minister has received the, following wireless telegram from Rear-Admiral Dumaresq, of H.M.A.S. Melbourne: “I regret the date of our arrival in the Dominion is delayed by two days, by having steamed back 250 miles to the north-westward to a ship’s company of fifteen and two wives and a boy who have been taken off a schooner in distress, to which no other ship could get so quickly. Please ascertain from His Excellency what readjustment of the programme would bo the best and most convenient. Wo have suffered much in appearance froyi our hard steaming in heavy weather, and by our pumping oil over the side.” Replying to si r Isitt in the House of Representatives, Mr Massey said he had already sent a telegram to the commander of H.M.A.S. Melbourne congratulating him on the rescue of the crew and passengers of the Helen B. Sterling. No one, he thought, could have read the paper without a thrill of pleasure and admiration when they learned of the rescue of these people by the men of the Melbourne. j Following is the text of a message ! sent by the Premier to Rear-Admiral | Dumaresq (commanding H.M.A.S. | Melbourne), and which was read in ! the House this evening:—ln welcoming yourself and your officers and men |to New Zealand waters, I desire to thank you and all concerned for the gallant rescue of the passengers and crew of the auxiliary schooner Helen j B. Sterling, from what appeared to be almost certain death. Such actions in circumstances of danger and difficulty j appeal to the people of our race and j make British citizens proud of the race to which they belong, and in the case of H.M.A.S. Melbourne especially, of sailors of the naval service of our sister Dominion, which have so signally proved themselves worthy of th best of the British Navy.”