ATLANTIC DRAMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22447, 17 December 1934, Page 12

ATLANTIC DRAMA

BRITISH VESSEL FOUNDERS SEVERAL LIVES LOST (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, December 14. A wireless message to the Mackay radio station reported that two members of a lifeboat crew from the Belgian steamer Jean Jadot were lost to-day when the boat capsized in mountainous mid-Atlantic seas while attempting to rescue the crew of the foundering British steamer Usworth. The message stated that two members of the Usworth’s crew were rescued from the water. Previously the Jean Jadot’s lifeboat rescued five of the Usworth’s crew and presumably returned for more. The Usworth sent out distress calls before dawn. The Jean Jadot and the Cunarder Ascania are standing by. A VIOLENT GALE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, The crew of the British steamer Usworth, of 3535 tons, numbered 30. She was seriously damaged in a violent gale. Her steering gear was broken, and she had a heavy list. The crew, according to advices, were in a condition of great exhaustion. The Cunard-White Star liner Ascania and the Jean Jadot managed to launch lifeboats, while the Ascania stood to leeward in order to shelter and assist them. EIGHT DEATHS REPORTED NEW YORK, December 14. Eight lives are believed to have been lost to-day in the raging mid-Atlantic northern shipping lanes as rescue ships attempted to save the crew of tire foundering Usworth. Reports to the Mackay radio station said that two members of a lifeboat crew from the Jean Jadot were lost when the boat capsized while carrying 12 survivors from the Usworth. Six of the Usworth survivors were drowned. A LATER MESSAGE DEATH ROLL MUCH HEAVIER NEW YORK, December 15. (Received Dec. 16, at 10 p.m.) Captain J. G. P. Bissett, master of the liner Ascania, wirelessed to the New York Times a detailed account of the foundering of the Usworth in the North Atlantic on Friday, putting the correct loss of life at 72, which included sailors from the Jean Jadot. Nine of the Usworth’s crew were saved. Two are aboard the Jadot bound for Antwerp, and the remainder on the Ascania, en route to Halifax.

Captain Bissett said he picked up ah S.O.S. at midnight on Thursday, and steamed 100 miles, arriving at the scene at 7 o’clock in the morning in mountainous seas. The Jadot was trying to make contact with the Usworth with life lines. The Ascania made similar efforts till noon, but rescue was impossible in tlie high seas, which continued. Streams of oil from the Jadot failed to calm the water. A lifeboat from the Jadot reached the Usworth after a terrific struggle and removed 14 men, but, when attempting to return to the Jadot, the lifeboat capsized, drowning 14, including two of the lifeboat crew. At 1.30 in the afternoon the Ascania launched a lifeboat and picked up the remainder of the crew, but three men fell in the ocean and were drowned, through overeagerness to board the lifeboat from the Usworth. Captain Bissett praised the volunteers from the Jadot and his vessel for making perilous lifeboat attempts. He said he left the scene at 3.30 this afternoon, with the Usworth in a sinking condition.