LINER ON REEF

Southland Times, Issue 21197, 25 September 1930, Page 7

LINER ON REEF

ALL THE CREW RESCUED DESTROYER RUSHES TO RESCUE MISHAP NEAR ABERDEEN (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 23. Early this morning, in a dense fog, the 6600-ton liner City of Osaka struck a submerged reef about 15 miles north of Aberdeen, one of the most treacherous parts of the Scottish coast. She was bound for New York from Newcastle. Wireless messages brought a prompt response from the destroyer Walker, which was engaged in autumn exercises with the Fifth Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet, and which raced to the assistance of the disabled vessel. Lifeboats were soon in attendance, but as the City of Osaka was firmly wedged on a rock, with her bow well down in the water and with rocks all round, it was unsafe for the lifeboats to attempt to rescue the crew. Meanwhile distress messages had brought the Life-Saving Corps to the spot, and from a cliff 200 ft high, by means of a breeches buoy, about 60 Lascars and Japanese members of the crew were brought ashore. The captain and officers, with a white member of the crew, remained aboard to conduct pumping operations. Throughout the rescue work complete calm prevailed among the crew. The latest wireless message from the wrecked vessel states that the weather is clearing and the sea is moderating. A further report states that the vessel developed a list and the captain and officers were taken off in lifeboats. STEAMER ASHORE BELGIAN CREW SAFE. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 23. The Antwerp steamship Ida, 500 tons, went ashore near Prawle Point, South Devon, in a fog late last night. The Plymouth and Torquay lifeboats answered her distress call, but before they reached her she went on the rocks almost directly under the cliff on which stands the coastguard station. The first shot of the rocket apparatus line from the coastguards was successful and the Belgian crew of 12 were safely brought up the cliffs by a breeches buoy.