CREW’S ARRIVAL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15308, 5 June 1922, Page 5

CREW’S ARRIVAL.

WARM WELCOME. (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 5. The Wiltshire’s crew arrived by •the Katoa on Saturday night and received a warm welcome from a huge crowd on the wharf. The Governor-General was the first to board the vessel and greet. Captain Haywood, whom he invited to be his guest at Government House. The Mayor also extended a welcome to the Captain and crew. The men were given a grant of £2 each and a parcel of clothes. •They were conveyed to the Sailors Home where all possible was done for their comfort. Two cases were ladmJ-tted to--hospital. John Foster, an A.B. on • • the Wiltshire, who fell on the

BRITISH SEAMEN. The Wiltshire’s surgeon, Dr. McCullough, had touch to sny in praise of the patience and courage of the crew. “Of a total of 103” he said, (including a stowaway), “not one mail could be iustly complained of- They displayed all the attributes of British seamen, being cheerful all through the ordeal.” Fielding, an assistant steward, win have to t«» hoapk-ai as he is suffering from a sprained ankle sustained a fortnight ago. THE SKIPPER. It is said, ot Captain th at, despd hmfirnlijy, " he was the most cheermi man oh board'. He was ouo to do' anything for. anybody with smiU i ing lips, disguising a breaking 1 heart AN OFFICER’S ACCOUNT An officer of the Wiltshire spates that it was a wonderful performance. “A'j one o’clock on Friday ■about 60 of the crew had been landed. After that- Wh had fewer workers on boai’d, and, of course, on the breaches buoy bohh ends have to play. Situated as we were it was a most difficult job. The fewer men left on the ship the longer it took to complete the job. Captain Haywood wished to land last, but it- was the special desire of the few men who remained on board that, owing to the early darkness, he should be landed. He went down the line with the fourth officer. When half -way over he > ellapsed, but the fourth officer immediately threw his legs around him " (thus keeping him in tbo breeches buoy and shouring out a warning to the shore. The last to leave the ship were the chief and second office is Messrs. Goddard and Harris. WHEN SHE STRUCK.

Immediately the Wiltshire strr«t all hands were summoned to the boat deck and the officers held a consultation as to what was to be done. When it became 'appaunt that the only thing to do was to hang to the ship and that the lifeboat launched would be matchwood before it got away from the ship’s side, word was passed that the crew could go down to the social lrall. The ship’s pianist went to the instrument and rattled out a tune. This cheered things up a bit, and he went, on wish the good work until he came to the end of his repertoire. Then a lad named Winslow produced a mandolin and carried on the work. The stewards made coffee as long as the water lasted, but the supply did nok last lonjg. A HERO. The Wiltshire’s crew ‘generally expressed < the opinion that the man who braved 'the elements and risked his life to secure the line drifted from the ship deserved the Victoria Cross. They were firmly convinced that Seaman J. Keohe, of> the Katoa, alone made possible their relief. In saying this 'they were not unmindful of , the great work of the party from the Philcmel, the settlers on* the island and tliose aboard the tug Te Awbina.