MOTOR SHIP OVERTURNS.
FIFTEEN LIVES LOST.
HEROIC NATIVES.
(Received Saturday, 9.50 a.m.) - SYDNEY, This Day.
A Port Moresby message states that, fiften persons, including the Resident Magistrate, F. Berg, and his four children, were drowned when the motor ship Vaiviri was overturned in a storm off. Kerema, 150 miles west of Port Moresby. After nine hours’ struggle in heavy seas, heroic natives rescued Mrs Berge. Thirteen others were also .-saved.. . When the ship was only a few miles from Kerema, the steering chain snapped and the vessel wallowed helplessly, and then, veering broadside on, overturned. - "
Berge was in the cabin with three of his children, and went down with the ship.
Mrs Berge, with her little girl, was thrown into the sea with native members of the crew. These took the baby in relays and attempted to swim ashore. The mother was also by the crew for nine hours, and eventually reached land. Tho baby was held up for four hours, but a huge wave tore it out of the natives’ hands. The body was later washed ashore.
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Bibliographic details
Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 June 1930, Page 5
Word Count
178MOTOR SHIP OVERTURNS. Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 June 1930, Page 5
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