VIEW FROM SHORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 11

VIEW FROM SHORE

BOATS TAKEN IN TOW NEWS SPREAD RAPIDLY EXPLOSION NOT HEARD ON LAND The Niagara was within about 15 miles of land when she foundered. Some time before, her lights had been discerned by the watch at an observation post on the coast. No indication was given of her encountering trouble. When the lights disappeared it was assumed that the vessel had passed beyond the limit of visibility and no distress rockets were seen. First advice of the disaster was contained in messages from Auckland. The staff at the post was augmented by a police sergeant and a constable despatched at six o'clock. Until midday visibility was hampered by a thick haze, but the 18 lifeboats could be seen scattered over an area of a square mile awaiting assistance. Gradually the boats were taken in tow and the survivors transferred to the rescuing ships, the task being completed by early afternoon. From many points along the eastern coast the work of rescue was plainly visible, although the big ships engaged in the task were standing well out to sea and were consequently low on the horizon. News of the disaster travelled fast and settlers along a coastal front of more than 50 miles were watching for wreckage or boats containing survivors. However, in the slight sea and the easterly current none of the boats approached land. When the explosion occurred the Niagara was well within sight of habitated land. However, at the time when she foundered few people were awake and this was considered to account for the fact that the noise of an explosion was not heard, nor was the vessel apparently seen when in difficulties before she foundered. CONFIDENCE OF YOUTH MATTER-OF-FACT BOY CHILDREN PLAY ON HATCH A boy of nine or ten years stood out rather prominently among the rescued passengers by reason of the fact that he was fully dressed, even to his tie. "When they said that the boat was going to sink," he explained calmly to a questioner, "I thought I had better put on all my clothes." The matter-of-fact boy may be a quick" dresser, but he certainly made himself thoroughly neat before he went on deck. "One of my vivid memories," said a passenger, "was seeing one of the ship's officers leading along a very pale-faced bell boy by the hand in a very fatherly manner and putting him into a boat." "The children did not take long to make themselves at home on theurescue ship," said another. "I saw two of them still in pyjamas playing ball on a hatch on the way down. They were quite serene. The adventure had made little if any impression upon them." In one boat there was a baby. Someone produced a tin of condensed milk. A man placed it inside his singlet and warmed it to some extent by contact with his body. A spoonful or two was then mixed with water, and the baby was fed. The mother of another baby had thought quickly when she was warned of the accident to the ship. She filled a thermos flasjc -with hot water and gathered all the baby's clothes before going on deck.