RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5608, 3 May 1919, Page 3

RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN

FRO3I SINKING STEAMER. , A timely rescue iu mid-ocean wni; , ■fleeted by the steamer Dongarra, wh'cn ir rived at Sydney last week from New fork. The Dongarra was crossing the wojt:ru ocean cn route to New York to load 10,- Australia, and when 250 miles to the north-east of Bermuda, on February 10, a wireless call—S.O.S.—for assistancp was flaked I, P by the operator. It caino from the American steamer Accoma, which was repo-ted to be in a sinking condition. The course was altered, and all speed was made by the Dongarra for the distressed vessel. She was sighted next morning in a sad plight—sinking, with all hands standing by the boats prepared to abandon ship. There was a high sea running, which rendered the work of rescue both d iiicnlt and dangerous, and owing to the rough conditions it was arranged by wireless that portion of the crew of the Accoma should attempt to get away lit ora the sinking steamer in their owi. boat. This they did, and it was only after a desperate struggle and perilous trip that 1G persons, including the capi tain’s wife, were safely got on boa re [the Dongarra. j The boat’s crew from the sinking ' steame r suffered badly from exposure, ‘ and wore unable to return to the sink • ing vessel. A call lor volunteers among the crew of the'Dongarra to man a boat was readily responded to, am. ;Mr M'Lean, the third officer, sot on |in charge to rescue the remainder cl t the crow of the Accoma. It was a fim ' pieco of seamanship working the storm- , tossed lifeboat alongside, but. with tin liberal use of oil to calm the seas, 3;r 31‘Lean and his men had the satisfaction of saving the 34 men roina.imi;-, on board the sinking ship. '1 hoy i.m 1 ti jump for it, and only just got ( ea. , in time, for the steamer was fast ;-tI tlincr down, and was expected to take her' final plunge at any moment. A«_ o hands— forty in number—were s.n'.r t ; >nd landed safely in New York. 4 31 r 3.V Lean and the boats crew o, •- the Dongarra Rave been commended foi • their gallantry, and in due course t.ien plucky conduct will be su. ably recop I'ipcl ifv tl.o United States Government ! " The' Accoma was a new wooden res 1 i M the time of the disaster she was bound In’™ Nt, ' v VorU to