LOSS OF LINDENBANK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23807, 13 May 1939, Page 19

LOSS OF LINDENBANK

FAMOUS RESCUE RECALLED COURAGEOUS CAPTAIN OF OIL TANKER The cable message published on Thursday morning, . announcing the sinking of the British tramp steamer Lindenbank in the Sulu Sea, between the Philippine Islands and Borneo, recalls an incident in 1935 when the same ship, in distress off the coast of South Australia, was saved from almost certain destruction on the treacherous Carpenter Rocks. . . Drifting in a heavy gale after her propeller had been lost, the Lindenbank sent out distress signals. After eight hours of anxiety, those on board the Lindenbank saw the British tanker British Strength, coming through the heavy seas to their assistance, the tanker having travelled 75 miles after receiving the distress signals. The tanker managed to get a line aboard the Lindenbank, and towed the vessel back to Melbourne. Captain E. T. Atkins, master of the British Strength, after the incident said: " One solid wave would have been enough to send us "all to eternity as we were manoeuvring for position in that heavy sea. At one stage less than 100 yards separated my ship from the Lindenbank. Had we touched our cargo of benzine would have explodod." The British Strength towed the Lindenbank 230 miles. The gale which had caused the loss of the latter's propeller continued for 24 hours after the tow began. With the heaivy weight of the crippled ship astern, the British Strength steamed at five knots. Both vessels rolled and lurched with a gale on the quarter. For 48 hours the master of the British Strength maintained a vigil on the bridge, and not until the Lindenbank was entrusted to two tugs at the heads of Port Phillip did he go below to his cabin. This has since been cited as one of the most daring and courageous sea rescues made,