TAPPING ON HULL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23356, 26 May 1939, Page 13

TAPPING ON HULL

CREWS MESSAGES CONSTANT TOUCH KEPT DIVERS' RISKY TASK SUCCESS OF EFFORTS (Received May 25. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 25 The U.S.S. Falcon anchored yesterday over the Squalus at 5.32 a.m., and prepared the giant diving bell through which it was hoped to raise the officers and crew from the ocean floor. It announced that no attempt would be made to raise the submarine until the inmates were rescued. The divers descended from the Falcon at great risk', owing to the depth of water in which the submarine is lying. A message of hope was flashed from the Falcon, "The diver is on the deck." This intimated that one of the divers had reached the Squalus and made contact with the crew by tapping, indicating that the latter were still, living and hopeful of rescue. Lowering Rescue Chamber At 11.14 a.m. the Squalus reported to the Falcon: "Things are comfortable and most satisfactory." The Falcon announced that the attempt would be made to lower the rescue chamber shortly. The Falcon radioed at 11.40 a.m. that the rescue chamber was on the way down, and it was expected that it would require hours to affix, since the divers could only work in brief relays. In the meantime the Falcon was in constant communication with the Squalus, the latter's crew tapping out messages and the Falcon's oscillograph picking them up. » Officer Brought Up Contrary to the traditions of the sea, one officer, Lieutenant John C. Nichols, was brought up with the first seven, in order to report on the accident. the condition of the remaining survivors and also ot the submarine, and possibly to aid in the rescue work. The rescue chamber then brought up a further eight survivors from 'tho submarine, ,and later an additional ten.The Navy Department then reported that 33 men wero alive, but 26 were undoubtedly dead. A message from Milford, Connecticut, said that Mr. Simon Lake, aged 73, inventor of the even-keeled submarine, was prepared to join the rescuers if his services were needed. Ho said that the depth would bo a serious handicap. "It is very difficult to do effective work at 240 ft.," ho said. "Modern diving apparatus is not strong enough to stand tho pressure."