A MID-ATLANTIC RESCUE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 13

A MID-ATLANTIC RESCUE

LINER CAPTAIN’S CHOICE LISIILR.M AX’S 1/11’T! SAVED By Charles West Author nl "T in' Wav of (lie Merchant •Service’ The giant liner was cleaving her way across me Atlantic —out to win tlie lone Ribbon for the fastest Western Ocean

passage. Down below in her stokehold halfiiaked individuals, looking more like .still Hites nt ills ■'natanic Maje-Jv titan Human beings, sweated and lulled to satisfy the cravings of the capacious maw into which they incessantly shovelled the fuel necessary to maintain the maximum turn of speed. From the meanest scullion to Hie Leviatluui’s commander, all were keyed up ami determined to wrest the laurels utick from their foreign rival who held the coveted prize. There seemed little doubt that this trip would see the Blue Ribbon under the British Hag once more. The dining saloon was a galaxy ol light, and colour; it was difficult, to realise that, one was really at sea. There was no movement —so beaut ’dully was the vessel attuned to the architects conception of the “perfect ship’ that there was hardly any perceptible vibration.

Many notables were amongst, the passengers attracted by the prospect ot a record passage, Tho-e to whom time was of vital importance bad hookedAmerican linamial magnates with contracts running into millions, statesmen with documents in their possession that swayed destinies of nations and tor whom special trains and even aeroplanes were awaiting the. vessel's arrival. Theatrical and operatic stars whom

thousands of English people were waiting to welcome. The cream ol the sporting, professional, political, medical mil business world, together with the usual crowd of wealthy idlers and .sight -et-rs, all were dining in the luxury to

which they were accustomed, whilst the liner, a vast, quivering, throbbing fabric, tore through the water like a .rrevhoimd loosed from the leash.

High above, all on the bridge and crow s next, watchful eyes searched Hie horizon and keen alert navigating officers guarded the safety of the lives and property committed to 1 licit' care. The captain, host for the time- being, was seated at (In- bead of his (able in the saloon and clieerfullv discussing the. probability of winning the Blue Ribbon. •A steward handed him a note and

with apologies he left (lie table. Stepping into the elevator, he was whirled away to the bridge. The look-out man had sighted a tiny dark object just underneath ( I lie rays of the moon—powerful glasses focussed upon it. made it out to lie a fisherman's dory-—adriil piohablv from one of the schooners on the “Itanks.” The grey-headed captain gazed thoughtfully at the object should lie alter his course and bear down on it? That would mean delay, and be was carrying mails. Still there might lie somebody in the boat —again tfieri- might, not. Then what about the Blue Ribbon, his life’s ambition, almost within his reach wlial would his owners say? What about his passengers? Millions of dollars were at stake if lie did not reach port at the appointed time.

Then I here was his own reputation amongst his sea-faring brethren. lie would be held up to ridicule—the laughing stock of the profession. Suppose there was nobody in the dory? If there was. he would he dead. Did a corpse count against the desires of that vast amt wealthy floating population? On him alone (lie decision—the most ■liipemlons of his career. On the one hand lame, honours, acclamation, tut attaining of what he had striven total! his life, tin the other, what? The rciiioli-i possibility of rescuing a castaway a Jislici man. For a moment lie hesitated. Then I lie promptings of his great- and noble mind responded, and i In- traditions of the Merchant Service prevailed. If Iheiv was a life t.u bo saved it was his dutv and privilege to save it.

lie turned to the. officer of the watch and gave him orders. "Ring stand by” ■’Starboard 30 degrees” "(Hear away •mergency boat” "Half speed”—"Tell the surgeon lie ought to go in the boat in cast 1 there is someone there”—‘‘.Star-

board a little more” -“Slop your en-gines'—-"Steady as you go.’ Six sailors -<-ill l the chief officer ami doctor sat in <he boat- awaiting Hie order from Gio bridge, and the news having spread about the ship, every passenger was on

deck—dinner lorgolten one thought only in I lieir minds. Was that huddled form in the dory, now plainly discernible to all on board, alive or dead? Forgotten Hie business deal that was taking seven millionaires across 2000 miles of ocean. Forgotten the triumph that awaited in the Albert Hall Hie world’s greatest singer. Forgotten the

loitering throne of the European monarch whose, destiny in a sealed envelope was careful!v secreted on the person of

a famous statesman. Even the pale, eli'eminate youths and the rouged and powdered, bobbed and lip-slicked datn.els who thought- the world ( wcll lost sii they could jazz between the soup and the |i>ili -felt something stir within t licit jelly-fish souls as the great liner cam© to rest, a, stone's throw from the dory containing that grim inanimate form- for the lirst time since birth they were lace to lace, with reality. “Lower a wav the boat.” “.Shove off

forward." “Give way. men." No encouragement was needed. A lew strokes of the, oars and the white-painted lifeboat was alongside the dory—stalwart arms tenderly lifted the body of the fisherman and placed him in the stern sheets, where the doctor attended to him. A stentorian shout was sent across tin. waters to the ship, “lie is alive. "Ho is alive,” and the answering cheers from nigh oil 2COO throats must have startled the denizens of the deep. The boat returned and with its occupants was hoisted up. The liner’s engine.-: throbbed once more as sin* resumed her

course and speed. Fnder the ministration of kindly hands the hardy fisherman speedily recovered—be had been adrift for four ila vs, unable to get back to his vessel, the “I’ll Try." of (’luster, owing to gale and fog. The usual collection was i a ken up and he was later returned to his people none the worse lor his adventure!.

No spectacular rescue this—no mighty feat of salvaging a valuable ship and

cargo with its attendant monetary reward. No newspaper columns calling attention to the deeds of the rescuers. No pinning on of medals lor valour by a grateful country’s representative. No civic reception nor freedom of large cities. But. the lieartv hand-clasp ol a brother sailor in distress. A “thank

von. captain. 1 guess I was nearly all in." And the satisfaction of a life saved and a temptation overcome. One’s duty performed as it should have been. The coveted Bine Ribbon was lost. A