FINE WORK OF RESCUERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20104, 15 November 1928, Page 10

FINE WORK OF RESCUERS.

ROUGH WEATHER BRAVED.

BOAT AND RAFT MISSING.

SOME OCCUPANTS PICKED UP

OTHERS FEARED TO BE DEAD

Austrnliiin Press Association—(Tnited Service (Received November 14. 5.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK. Nov. 13

Messages received this morning from tho vessels which went" to the rescue of tho 339 castaways from tho lost liner Vestris staled that all had been picked up except the occupants of one lifeboat and ono raft Officials in New York said that if this news was accurate over 200 of I ho passengers and crew had been rescued.

The steamer American Shipper wirelessed that she had picked up three lifehoats with survivors and was still stand inir by. Tho French ship Myriam sent a message saying she had rescued tho occupants of two lifeboats. The owners, Lamport and Holt. Ltd.. said each lifeboat was capable of carrying 57 persons. At noon there came a report (hat over 100 persons wero still missing. Later reports were conflicting. One stated that an unidentified man had been found dead from exposure on a raft.

Survivors Picked Up by Vessels.

'Subsequently it was reporter] that a full day after tho 339 passengers and crew abandoned the ship over 200 were definitely accounted for, and most of tho lifeboats had been picked up. Tho rescuo work was begun before dawn, tho ships being attracted by flares lit by tho chilled castaways who had been tossed about, all night in the boats. The liner Berlin, the oil-tanker Myriam and the battleship Wyoming shared in the rescues. Other ships also searched. At 1 p.m. it was announced that 206 people had been rescued and one dead man had been found. The American Shipper had 114 survivors on board, tho Myriam 63, the Berlin 21 and the Wyoming 8. Of the last eight five were taken out of the water as the Wyoming passed through wreckage.

Confusing Nature of Messages.

The Wyoming reported that she had rescued another survivor who was clinging to some wreckage. Shortly afterwards tho Berlin sent two messages in quick succession The first said she had rescued a man who had been drifting 22 hours with a lifebelt around him, who said a woman and a child were drifting within a radius of two miles.

The second message said the Berlin was still searching for two lifeboats and a make shift raft reported to have two women on board.

The latter of these messages from the Berlin was at variance with other reports about the number of lifeboats and rafts still missing, especially with a message relayed to tho coastguard headquarters at Washington from its base at Norfolk, Virginia. This advised that all the lifeboats had been picked up but one, and that a raft was missing. This message also stated that the American Shipper and tho Myriam were proceeding to New York, but the Wyoming is continuing her search. The coastguard headquarters ordered tho cutters Mascoutin, Manning and Modoc to continue the search with the destroyers Davis and Cucker. Thero toe re strong northerly winds at the scene of the search and high seas.

Eight Lifeboats and a Raft.

Early this evening the search had almost been completed. The Wyoming reported having sighted a number of bodies. At that time it was not thought likely that any of the castaways beyond those already saved from the rough and icy sea could still be alive.

A proposal that tho dirigible Los Angeles should aid 111 the search was abandoned when the Wyoming wirelessed that it was not necessary as tho coastguard would pick up the bodies. Vice-Adniiral Taylor, of the Wyoming, radioed to the Navy Department that eight lifeboats and tho makeshift raft left the Vestris. One boat and the raft capsized 15 minutes before the first rescue ship arrived on the scene. Some of the occupants were picked up but the others were not seen.

The Australian journalist, Mr. W. W. Davies, is among those rescued. In a • wireless message received from him he says ho is suffeting from his immersion in tho sea. It is not believed that his condition is serious.

Tho American Shipper is returning with her rescued quota, including Mr. Davies. She is duo at New York to-morrow morning.