CREW OF THE MANUKA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 11

CREW OF THE MANUKA

CAPTAIN'S WARj}I TRIBUTE FrPuEJVIAN'.S MARKED BRAVERY A tribute to the marked bravery displayed by the crow of the steamer Manuka on the occasion of her wreck was paid by Captain Ross, master of the vessel, in an interview given last week to the Grey River Argus- " The crew's behaviour at the time of the wreck was worthy of the best traditions of the , merchant service," said Captain Ross Clark. "If was clue in no small measure .to them and t,o'i the exemplary conduct of the passengers in obeying the orders promptly and cheerfully I hat there was no loss of life." Continuing, the captain staled thai it was a difficult matter to particularise as to .the actions, of any of those on board, but ho thought that the maimer in Which tho firemen assisted in every pos•iiliie ivriv was worthy of special mention. After tho ship bad been on tho rocks for an hour and a-quarter, the .hre.men voluntarily went to relieve, the watch, despite the fact that it was uncertain how long it would bo before the ship went down. Qne fireman had to be compelled to .go aboard a lifeboat and don a lifebelt. [The other members of tho crew also behaved in worthy manner.. (.'aptain Ross Clark instanced one steward, who had oeen safely ensconced m oiic of ,the lifqboats, when ho suddenly reappeared on (jeqk, and carried messages between the captain and the radio operator. The latter' stuqk to his until heJiad fo.be, called away, and then he assisted in every possible way. Despite the fact fhaf he could not swim, and was oi" advanced age, the ship's carpenter hung on to fhc last, and had to be scut, off to the shore, on a line. The. third otlice.r, purser, and boatswain all worked like Trojans, and helped to get Hie last boat off, which proved a very difficult task.