SINKING OF THE TAHITI

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1930, Page 11

SINKING OF THE TAHITI

BISHOP BENNETT’S STORY , GREAT VIBRATION NOTICED. HEROIC EFFORTS BY SAILORS. j I By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7-30 p.m. Apia, Aug. 24. The story of the sinking of the Tahiti and the rescue ot the passengers from their peril is told by Bishop Beunet{, one of the passengers, in a special message to the Press Association. There was little indication on the deprirture of the Tahiti from Wellington that there was anything wrpng with the engine room except for cne excessive vibration of the ship. This was iso excessive that it was difficult to read and, liquids werg spilt at ; the tables. The passengers wbre inforined lit worn due to the light cargo. There was..a total of 107 passengers and 148 fcrewl The ship was averaging 360 miles a day with the best day’s progress 378 inilris. : All was going well when a loud report;'was heard on Friday morning at 4.30; The vessel was shaken from slim to stern and the engines suddenly stopped. The passengers were quietly in-' formed that something serious had happened and told to dress. By the time the passengers reached the deck all the lifeboats were ready to be lowered. Each passenger was informed of the hum'ber of his lifeboat. Lifebelts were served out and never taken off till the passengers boarded the Ventura. The second class passengers had to vacate their quarters : on account of water coming through the deck. All the passengers assembled in. the first- • class, lounge for the whole period. The ' staff: provided meals as usual without intermission. There was no panic and no excitement. The officers never met the to explain the position and • the passengers never worried the officers; they felt they were doing their best, The time was spent with games and : cheering each other with music. , The behaviour was splendid. Although it was learned that the causp of the trouble was that the stari boaril propeller shaft had broken, penetrated the tunnel and ripped' holes under the stern, causing a big inrush of water, the exact location and details of the trouble : will never be known as it wasi'under- tee. water ;J<lycl:. 'So great i was-thb : water; pressure (that it jvah im-j i possible tb imriiediately close the bulkhead !doors... By. the..great heroism of the engineers, working constantly in deep i water, the bulkheads were closed but were in constant danger of giving way at any time. Several times the engine room was in danger of being swamped. Water poured on both dynamos. BAILING BY MAN-POWER. To keep the ship afloat it was necessary to keep down the water level in holds 3 and 4, where there were over 1 '2O feet of water, so two buckets holdiiio- 50 gallons each were manipulated by man power and winches and were kept bailing water from each wed without intermission night and. day. The officers and crew never rested until the passengers were safely on the Ventura. Undoubtedly their work kept the ship afloat, for if the water had o-one over the top of the bulkhead vhe ship would have swamped. Fortunately there'was always enough steam to work the winches. The wireless was a great consolation to the passengers. After the accident a message was sent to Wellington and a reply received within 20 minutes. Then the dynamo became wet so no further messages were sent or received until it was repaired. An auxiliary broadcast set on a lifeboat, with a range of 150 miles, was then used and the Tahiti communicated with the Norwegian ship Penybryn, 120 miles away? There was great joy when she informed the Tahiti that she was returning. On Saturday morning between 1 and 2 everybody was called out. to the lifeboats as there was bad news from the engine room. All boats were properly equipped with food, water and blankets. It was a pathetic sight,_ especially the crying- children,, who ‘ did not.; know yvhat"was happening. With the .exception.of a few kerosene lamps the ship was in darkness. The sea was fairly calm but there were big rollers from the south about, eight feet high and-a stiff breeze. Everything looked- very ' dark and sad for us. MESSAGE OF HOPE. The engineers and crew were still working at top at the engine room and the crew never ceased ’bailing water. Then came a message that the outlook was better and that we could retire again into the lounge and await daylight. By daylight the difficulties bad been adjusted. The main hope then centred upon the Penybryn. We expected to see her early on Saturday afternoon. All eyes were glued on Ihe horizon. As night fell the captain sent up rockets periodically and fired bombs which made very loud explosions. About 9 p.m. rockets were seen from the south, and at 10 p.m. the Penybryn’s lights appeared?- At 11 olclock she circled round us. She us earlier because .the fresh breeze drifted us over two knots hourly. _Wc wrircover. 100‘ niiles away frorh the spot where the accident had happened, which was 1340 miles from ’New Zealand and 460 miles from Rarotonga. The depth of the ocean was 18,000 feet.

A wonderful feeling of relief came to all when we realised that the Penybryn was standing by all night in ease of accident. We were specially grateful when wo knew she was doing th’S. at the risk - of running short of coal. There was great joy wlien we were ;n--formed that the Ventura was rushing to our aid and would arrive next morning. For the first time the. passengers had a little sleep in their’ chairs and on the floor of the lounge. A certain amount of tension had been relaxed by the presence of one steamer and the expectation of another. At 10 o’clock on Sunday the Ventura met us, having come 700 miles out of her way, ploughing through a head sea at over 10 knots an hour. When the Ventura received tho call from the Union Company she was only three hours- away from her. destination ,at Pago. Pago. As: the -shioke appeared bn' the horizon all the passengers were ordered unto the boats. Although the sea was not breaking much big rollers made things unpleasant in the boats. It was nearly an hour before the Ventura arrived. ■ ’ . .. As.each boat arrived alongside cheers .‘ were given by the

gem. Each passenger had to climb the rope ladder. It was a difficult task with the swell and some had to have a rope tied-round the body to assist; them in the ascent.