MOTOR-SHIP TRAGEDY.
CAPSIZE OFF NEW GUINEA. HEROIC NATIVE RESCUERS. SYDNEY, Jane 21. A messago from Port Moresby, New Guinea, says 15 persons, including the resident magistrate, Mr. F. Berge, and his four children, wero drowned when the motor-ship Vaiviri capsized in a storm off Kercma, 150 miles west of that port. After a nine hours' struggle in heavy seas heroic natives rescued Mrs. Berge. Thirteen other people also wero saved. Tho vessel's complement consisted mostly of natives. When tho ship was only a few miles from Kcrema the steering chain snapped and the vessel wallowed helplessly in .the sea. Then sho veered broadside on and overturned. Mr. Berge was in the cabin with three of his children, and they all went down with tho ship. Mrs. Berge and her baby girl were thrown into tho sea with the nativo members of the crew. Tho nativo seamen took the baby in relays and attempted to swim ashore. Tho mother also was supported by the crew for nine hours and eventually reached land.
Tho baby was held up for four hours, but a hugo wave tore her out of tho natives' hands and her body later was washed ashore.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 9
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197MOTOR-SHIP TRAGEDY. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 9
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