MID-OCEAN RESCUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18675, 3 October 1922, Page 7

MID-OCEAN RESCUE

PASSENGER JUMPS IN SEA, PICKED UP BY SHIP’S BOAT. INCIDENT ON PAPAEOA’S TRIP. The liner Paparoa, which arrived at Wei* lington last week from London. and Southampton, via the Panama Canal, had an uneventful voyage, save for an episode m which a third-class male passenger jumped overboard and was smartly rescued. On September 18, at about noon, the passengers in the after end of the ship saw a ntau deliberately climb over the rails on the starboard side and leap into the sea. The alarm was smartly given, and as is usual under the circumstances, the ship’s - helm was put hard over without reducing her speed, and the emergency boat was quickly lowered in charge of the fourth officer,' Mr T. Beale. Altogether sis lifebuoys were thrown overboard. The emergency boat was soon within reach of the man, who was calmly supporting himself by a lifebuoy. Ho was lifted safely into the boat. The Paparoa, in the meanwhile, had approached, add within 21 minutes the lifeboat and all hands were back on file deck of the liner. The incident occasioned some alarm among the female passengers, and all accorded tlie crew of the emergency boat a hearty reception for their rescue. The passenger concerned was none ■ the worse for his immersion. He, however, remarked, on finding himself back on the finer, that, if it were midnight he would jump overboard again Captain Ashworth then decided that it was advisable to put the man in restraint, and he was in safe custody on the arrival of thg vessel at Wellington. The .man, who said ..ho hao been suffering from fits of despondency, is 42 years of age. single, and a gardener by occupation. He is boobed for Melbourne, to which city he belongs, and will probably he taken on to Australia, Although a gale had been raging during the three days prior to the episode the weather was fine, and there was onlv a moderate sea. Five out. of the six lifebuoys were recovered.