VESSEL IN DISTRESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18584, 19 December 1934, Page 6

VESSEL IN DISTRESS

VIOLENT ATLANTIC GALE DRIFTING HELPLESSLY SHIPS RUSH TO RESCUE (British Official Wirolesß.) Rec. 2 R.m. RUGBY, Dec. 18. Ships of three nations, four of them great liners, to-day raced through a violent Atlantic gale to help the Norwegian steamer Sisto, 1120 tons, which had sent out distress calls. The Sisto Was on the voyage from Quebec to Europe, and a, message from her stated: “Need urgent assistance; rudder apparently broken. Hurricane and tremendous sea ; ship drifting bi'oadside to wind; lifeboats washed away; bridge partly smashed; sea rolling on deck." The Norddeutscher Lloyd liner Europa, and three United States lines vessels, the Washington, Manhattan and President Harding, together with the New York, the Canadian Pacific Company’s Beaverdale, and the Vacuum Oil Company’s tanker Mobiloil, the last two registered in London, answered the Sisto’s call. The weather was such that the President Harding, 14,000 tons, hid to hea veio, and the Manhattan, 24,000 tons, could only make 10 knots. When the Washington arrived, she found the British tanker Mobiloil already standing by the ,Sisto and pumping Oil to windward of her. The Mobiloil signalled her urgent need for vessels- with more oil, as her supply was insufficient. The Sisto’s crew wished to be taken .off.. A later message stated that the New York was nearing the scene. Rough Weathof was also experienced round British coasts, and the Walmor, Deal, and Lowestoft lifeboats all answered calls from coasting craft in distress.