WRECK OF THE LARISTAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19242, 3 February 1926, Page 11

WRECK OF THE LARISTAN.

GERMAN LINER'S HELP. HEROIC EFFORTS IN STORM. PERILOUS TASK FACED. ONLY SIX MEN SAVED. OTHERS SINK WITH SHIP. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 7.5 p.m.) Renter. LONDON. Feb. 1. Another thrilling sea story was told to-day by Captain Wurpts, of the North German Lloyd liner, Bremen, on the arrival of that vessel at Queenstown. The captain and crew were accorded a civic welcome in view of their heroic attempts to rescue the crew of the .British steamer Laristan, which foundered during the terrific storm in mid-Atlantic on January' 27. The Bremen stood by the Laristan for 24 hours in blinding hail and snow storms. It was impossible to lower the boats, but lines were thrown on* The crew of the Laristan succeeded in fastening one line to a boat which was dragged to the Bremen. One of the seven occupants was drowned. The Bremen stood by throughout- that night, but at dawn the Laristan was invisible and the sea was strewn with wreckage. Twenty-five souls aboard the ill-fated vessel were drowned. Captain Wurpts was very disappointed at having been unable to rescue all the members of the crew. He told how he searched for them for hours in vain owing to wrong wireless directions. After the six men had been saved the rope fouled the Bremen's propeller and the boat drifted off. Several unsuccessful attempts were then made to shoot lines, with lifebuoys attached to them on to the Laristan. Finally two lines were connected with the sinking vessel, but Captain Wurpts said that to his regret the men on the Laristan did not avail themselves of these opportunities. The Bremen remained near the other vessel all night, but her wireless calls were not answered. The last seen of the Laristan was at 6 p.m. Three firemen who were among the six men saved said they came up from below just in time. The boat was badly damaged and incapable of holding more than seven men. They thought their plight was hopeless, but regairded the damaged boat as their only chance of safety. TWENTY- MEN RESCUED. CREW OF DUTCH STEAMER. LINER WESTFALIA'S FEAT. Reuter, NEW YORK. Feb. i. The Hamburg-American liner Westfalia, which was reported yesterday to have gone to the assistance of the Dutch cargo steamer Alkaid (3000 tons), succeeded to-day in rescuing the 20 men who comprised the crew of the latter vessel. The Alkaid was disabled by the fierce storms in the Atlantic. She was lying 1000 miles east of Newfoundland.