STRICKEN BRITISH LINER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 511, 14 November 1928, Page 1

STRICKEN BRITISH LINER

Nearly 148 Sill! Missing

RESCUE SHIPS’ GREAT WORK

North Atlantic Disaster

rE sea has taken a grim toll of those who abandoned the British ship Vestris when she foundered off the coast of Virginia on Monday afternoon. Although most of those who took to the lifeboats have been rescued, the major part of the search for the others has come to an end with from 132 to 136 passengers still unaccounted for.

( United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association)

Reed. 11 a.m. NEW YORK. Tuesday. 'Most of the survivors of the stricken steamer Vestris have been rescued: but many are not accounted for yet. The steamer American Shipper has wirelessed stating that she picked up three lifeboats with their survivors, and is still standing by. The message also stated: "One boat and one raft are still missing.” A further message from the French ship Myriam said the latter had rescued two lifeboats with survivors, including Captain Carey, of the Vestris. Officials of the Lamport-Holt Line here declared that each lifeboat was capable of carrying 57 persons, on which basis between 250 and 285 persons should now ha,ve been rescued. No actual casualties were reported up to 8..30 this morning. A later message says: “It has now been definitely established that 181 survivors have been rescued to date as follows: The Myriam picked up 53 of the passengers and crew, including the captain; the American Shipper picked up 33 passengers and 90 of the crew; the battleship Wyoming wirelessed, ‘Passing through the wreckage, we picked up five people from the water.’ ” The Radio Marine Corporation intercepted a message that the steamship Berlin is carrying the passengers of two lifeboats, but it is not known whether these had been transferred from another rescue ship. Later messages from the scene of the disaster bespoke a possible tragedy. The Wyoming reported that she had rescued another survivor who was clinging to the wreckage. Shortly after this the Berlin sent three messages in quick succession. The first read; "Rescued a man, be-, lieved dead, in a drifting lifeboat.” The second message read: “Rescued one man drifting in a lifebelt. He tells that a woman with a child is drifting here within a radius of two miles.” The third read: “We are still searching for two lifeboats and a makeshift raft, reported to have two women on it.” It is thought possible that the first and second messages may be confused, but no confirmation is at present available. The last of the foregoing messages from the Berlin was at variance with , other reports regarding the number of lifeboats and rafts still missing, espe- ; cially with a message relayed to | coastguard headquarters at Washington from its Norfolk (Virginia) base, which advised that all the lifeboats had been picked up, but one raft was i missing. This message also stated that the American Shipper and the Myriam were proceeding to New York, while ' the Wyoming was heading for Hampton Roads. Coastguard headquarters ordered the cutters Mascoutln, Manning and Modoc to continue the search, with the destroyers Davis and Cucker. The Berlin later wirelessed that the j first of her messages was erroneous.

I and the second should be substituted for it. In the meantime, the naval dirigible Los Angeles is expected to leave Lakehurst late to-day to aid the search. It is now definitely established that there are at least 205 survivors saved, and possibly 212: but this still leaves at least 127 of the passengers and crew unaccounted for. The major part of the search has come to an end with 132 to 13G persons still unaccounted for. The battleship Wyoming, which was planning Ito withdraw, reported that it had i sighted “a number of dead,” and it ! “was not thought possible that any j could be living” beyond those already i saved from the rough, ice-cold sea. 1 The plan for the Los Angeles to aid in the search was abandoned when the Wyoming stated that it was not necessary, as the coastguards would pick up the bodies. ’ Vice-Admiral Taylor, of the Wyoming, radioed to the Navy Department early yesterday afternoon that eight lifeboats and one makeshift raft had been left on the Vestris. One boat and the raft capsized 15 minutes before the first rescue ship arrived. Some were picked up, but “others have been afloat ever since.” A message received at New York from Mr. W. W. Davies, formerly American correspondent of the Australian Press Association, and now a representative of the Buenos Ayres newspaper “Da Nacion,” states that he is suffering from immersion, but it is j not believed that his condition is 1 serious. The American Shipper, which is returning with rescued passengers, including Mr. Davies, is due here tomorrow morning. ALL NIGHT IN BOATS SURVIVORS’ FEARFUL PLIGHT DIRIGIBLE TO SEARCH C Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10 a.m. NEW YORK, Tues. Latest messages from the rescuing vessels reported that all the Vestris’s passengers and crew had been picked up except the occupants of one boat ; and one raft. Officials here claim I that this means at least 250 persons ; have already been rescued. ; A later message says 100 persons were still not reported rescued by ; noon. One unidentified man was found dead from exposure on a raft. It is almost a full day since the 339 passengers and crew abandoned the ship. Only 203 are definitely accounted for. ; with most of the lifeboats picked up. Rescue work began before dawn. Rescue ships were attracted by flares ! from the chilled persons who were tossed nightlong in the lifeboats. The liner Berlin, the tanker Myriam J and the battleship Wyoming shared the resuces. Other ships are searching.

The dirigible Los Angeles has been ordered to leave Lakehurst at 6 p.m. to join the search. A compilation at 1 p.m. showed that 215 had been rescued, with one dead. A total of 123 persons had been unaccounted for. The steamer American Shipper had 123 survivors, the Myriam 63, th£ Berlin 21 and the Wyoming S. The Berlin wirelessed that she picked up a man alive who had drifted 22 hours in a lifebelt. Dots of small wreckage is drifting in strong northerly winds and high seas. DEAD SIGHTED MESSAGE FROM ADMIRAL (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 10.10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. Vice-Admiral Taylor, aboard the battleship Wyoming, wirelessed on Tuesday afternoon that a number of the Vestris dead had been sighted. He would discontinue the search in the evening. It was not thought possible that any more could be rescued. The admiral sent a message that of the eight boats and one makeshift raft that left the Vestris, one boat capsized at 6 p.m. on Monday. Some of her people were picked up. The raft is evidently broken up. Other boats were picked up.