THE WORK OF RESCUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20646, 19 August 1930, Page 12

THE WORK OF RESCUE.

i 'LAST HOUKS ON BOAED. ■ - , . - W; STEADY RISE OF WATER. 'LOSING FIGHT BY CREW. THE TAHITI DISAPPEARS. ; j-jV.- 'r ; '■ - : WATCHING VESSELS LEAVE. |' *i• '• v • " • During Sunday night the Tahiti drifted helplessly on the Pacific with tho Norwegian tramp steamer Penybryn in close attendance. Meanwhile tho Matson liner Ventura was dashing at full speed to the scene; The wireless operator on the ' Tahiti was in constant touch with both the Other vessels. The weather remained favourable. Little news was received from the stricken liner in the early hours of yesterday morning but shortly before daybreak tho following messago from tho captain of the Tahiti to tho Penybryn ,was intercepted:— zUy 5 ajn.—'Will appreciate if you will stand by. Will transfer mails and passengers to the Ventura on ' arrival at daybreak. Engine room • full and water gaining. Four hours later the work of abandonship commenced as the following brief advice shows:— 9 a .m.—Pumps stopped. Launch/ing starboard boats. Soon after the leak developed the Tahiti took a list to starboard and this increased as the water rose. As the port boats were not mentioned it is probable that they could not be lowered owing to in the list. Tho work evidently proceeded expeditiously and without a. hitch as Captain in another messago said:— 10.50 a.m.—My passengers are now on board the Ventura. Thbn followed the removal of the letter mail."? and it was during this operation that six bags were lost and fifty damaged by' water. Tho news that all had left tho Tahiti reached Auckland shortly before five o'clock yesterday afternoon whon the Unibn Company received a message from Wellington. It stated that the Ventura had then taken on board tho crew as well ' «3 ( the-passengers. She had also taken tho letter mail and light luggago, but it had been found impossible to remove the jheavy mail and heavy luggago. It was not long after the complete abandonment of the Tahiti that tho Vessel foundered and thus ended tho career of a ship that had more than her share of adventure and misfortune. For over forty-eight hours her officers and crew had fought the rising water but it had proved a losing fight. Then, when magnificent seamanship had resulted in the saving of all on board, tho Ventura steamed away, ber captain sending the following advice to San Francisco:— 5.35 p.m.—All hands from // Tahiti on board Ventura and well. We will proceed to Pago Pago .immediately. Will give further advice later. Approximate deviation duo to rescue work 1400 miles.. /As soon as the safety of all was assured the Penybryn left tho sinking Tahiti and headed south. When flho answered the S.O.S. summons she was baiind from Cuba to Auckland with a cargo of sugar. She is running short of coal and tho steps taken to replenish her bunkers will depend upon the progress mfode with her present supplies. In tho meantime, the Union Company's Island steamer Waipahi, which was scheduled to sail for Rarotonga on Thursday will bo in readiness to leave to-morrow with coal to spare should this bo found necessary. LATEST CRICKET NEWS. REQUEST FROM TAHITI. 'JWhat is the latest cricket score?" This was the next- message heard from the Tahiti following one received shortly before midnight on Saturday, which said: '""S.O.S. Standing by to abandon ship. - -bulkhead given way." : - *bfl first wireless operator is Mr. F. N. V n ' tho second is an AuckJfctchett, whose parents live in Old Mill Road, Grey Lynn. 1