THE RUSH TO THE RESCUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16749, 2 June 1922, Page 7

THE RUSH TO THE RESCUE.

A MEMORABLE NICHT. ON BOARD THE KATOA. (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND-, June 2. A '‘ Star ” reporter, telegraphing at 4 a.m.. said that the steamer Katoa had a memorable night responding to the appeal for assistance. She had been six hours on her voyage from Auckland to Whangarei, when at 11.10 p.m,, her wireless operator picked up a S.O.S. call. The night was a filthy .lie. and the steasnefl- was liattling against strong head seas. The cargo carrier had left the Barrier 2o miles behind, when she received the signal of distress. With strong seas behind, her course was hastily retraced. She came round the northern end of the island, exchanging rockets with the wreck. Though she actually had passed the Wiltshire, the latter’s position was not discovered. Ihe difficulty of the Katoa’s task under such tempestuous conditions and the darkness of the night was accentuated, as was revealed subsequently by the frightfully snug manner in which the doomed vessel was piled against the coast. Hie Kntqa, hardly seeing) a length ahead, coasted about until 6.30 a.m., when she received a wireless message from the Arahura, stating that the latter was ten miles front the wreck and was pro-

ceeding at a speed of fourteen miles an hour. 'The captain of the Katoa remained at Tryphena and kept in touch rvith the Arahura by wireless. In this manner it was arranged that the Katoa should send, a party ashore, and accordingly a party of five—the chief officer, the purser, the third officer, and two able seamen—set out about 9 a.m. A second party, consisting of the boatswain and an able seaman, was dispatched a few hours later with storm appliances and blankets. The. Arahura hung around till 3 p.m., and her 100 passengers will long remember the buffeting .she received until she wa,s advised to proceed on her journey south.

The party on the Tawhina had an unenviable trip, but the powerful little vessel made good progress against the stiff north-easter, despite the fact that she was shipping seas continually. The nearest point was sighted about midday. and when Rosalie Bay opened up the Wiltshire was revealed, piled up at ill! acute angle, and seemingly her

own length from the shore. Her back wan obviously broken, and the forepart, from the funnel forward, was clearly defined. Some lifeboats were discornable in the davits, and pathetic little groups could be made out huddled to the starboard on the forecastle. Though the tug approached to within two nr three hundred yards it was. powerless to render any assistance. No signs of recognition were made from the unfortunate vessel, and the tug returned to Tryphena. There her party boarded the Katoa. In the evening the tug went out into the roadstead and brought off the Philomel’s party with their salvage apparatus. THE KATOA’S REPORT. GALE STILL RAGING. (Pm* Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 2 (12.30 p.m.) Tlie Secretary of the G.P.O. has received the following message from the postmaster at Coromandel: “Gale is still raging. Very cold weather prevailing. Katoa. reports that, as far as is known, what is still left of the wreck is still hung up on the rocks. The wreck is not visible from the Katoa. ”