REMARKABLE SALVAGE WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 8

REMARKABLE SALVAGE WORK

STEAMER WAIKOUAITI SWIMMER DIVES FOR INGOTS OF TIN. I Fcr PnJßs Association.J INVERCARGILL, Dec. 5. Although it was believed that the partially submerged state of the ship would prevent more cargo being salvaged from the Waikouaiti, a few more tons were taken from the holds at low tide to-day. The cargo saved included 20 cases of olive oil, 30 cases of lubricating oil, and. a few ingots of tin. The salvage work was not easy for the men. A fairly heavy sea was running and a stiff nor'-wester blowing. The Waikouaiti, which was showing more signs of breaking up, had set-

tied deeper in the water and all the cargo in the holds was under water. To resume salvage work the men had to stand in the water almost up to their necks. They wore lifebelts lor a time, but later they discarded them as they hampered the work. A feature of the salvage operations was the amazing performance of an Invercargill swimmer, who dived, into one of the holds and brought to the top on each occasion an ingot of tin weighing 56 pounds. Several ingots wore saved thus. MORE CARGO SALVAGED [ Per Press Association.! INVERCARGILL. Dec. 6. Wire netting, barbed and fencing wire, cased oil and Westinghouse brakes, were among the cargo salvaged from the Waikouaiti to-day, the men again working deep in water and diving for cargo. One of the diversions of a trying day was the weird groanings which came from the ship to-day, and she is expected to break up any lime. The split across the deck has now gone down both sides.