NIAGARA TO THE RESCUE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 9

NIAGARA TO THE RESCUE

THRILLING INCIDENT ON VOYAGE FISHERMEN ADRIFT IN LAUNCH PICKED UP WHEN THINGS LOOKED DESPERATE Passengers by the Niagara, bound for Sydney, witnessed a thrilling rescue on Tuesday night. When some hours out from Auckland, distress signals were observed. A smart bit of seamanship brought the big steamer within a few yards of what proved to be a fishing launch tossing helplessly about in a fairly heavy sea. The occupants were picked up and are being taken on to Sydney, white the launch has been abandoned. By Telegraph.—Press association. Auckland, February 29. Further details of the picking up of three men from a launch in distress off the coast by the Niagara are contained in a wireless message published in the “Star,” from Mr. R. H. Gordon, who says a thrilling rescue was made by the Niagara last night about ten miles off Hen and Chickens Islands. . The passengers had just finished dinner when some one called out: “We are turning round to pick up a boat in distress.” Immediately all was excitement, and the rails were lined with people, many in evening dress, ready for a dance that was to be held later. Dame Melba rushed up from her cabin, and soon every one of the ship’s big passenger list was on deck. A strong breeze was blowing from the south-west, and a nasty sea was running. Amid the dark waters could be seen a lurid flare every few seconds. Slowly the liner swung round and headed for the signal of distress. A smart bit of seamanship by Captain Hill brought the big ship within a few yards of what proved to be a fishing launch tossing helplessly about in the trough of a fairly heavy sea. It was' 7.55 p.m. when the second officer sent a note down from the bridge stating that signals of distress were observed, and by 8.15 p.m. the ship was alongside. The occupants of the launch dimly seen in the gathering dark cried out that their engine was disabled and that thev had lost their sails and that the launch was unmanageable. “Jump For It.” A lifeboat in charge of the chief officer with sever men was rapidly lowered and quijklv reached the tossing derelict. There were three men in the doomed launch. One of them seemed disinclined to leave “Jump for it,” said the chief officer, who saw that the launch’s case was hopeless. The fishermen abandoned the launch, grabbing a few odds and ends of clothing. The names of the rescued men are: John Buchan, Auckland, married, aged about 45; Norman Blackburn, Matamata, married, aged about 55; Cvril Ledger, Auckland, aged about 19, single. Within fifteen minutes of being launched the lifeboat was alongside the Niagara again and three weary-looking figures clambered up the rope ladder. The passengers, who had been running from side to side following the rescue, loudly cheered the rescuers and rescued. It was a neat bit of work all through and the strong breeze and the darkness made the incident all the more thrilling. “Well,” said Captain Hill, after the men had been given some Jiot food and were taken up to his cabin, “I shall have to take yon on to Sydnav,” to which one of the fishermen replied with a laugh, “Better than going to Davy Jones’s locker.” All their savings and years of work had to be abandoned. There was no chance of salving the launch which v. as practically a new boat, worth, about £lOOO, and only insured for £375.

Carried Out to Sea. The wrecked launch was the Ika. She left Auckland on a fishing trip on Friday night, the fishermen expecting to return on Sunday night. \\ hen the' were between Tiri and the Noisies on Sunday evening hauling in a Seine net, the accumulator met with an accident, the engine being put out of action. They tried to sail to Mansion House Bav, Kawau, but it was blowing hard, and the weather was thick, so that tlieie was no hope whatever of making port. To make matters more hopeless their sail was blowing away and the launch was being steadily carried out to sea by the southerly wind. The men began to feel their case was hopeless. “I’ve been to sea all my life,’’ said Buchan, “and that was the first time I started to thing of danger.” “Once I saw' that we were past Hen and Chickens light,” added Ledger, “I thought it was all over.” Battered by tl'.e heavy seas, the launch was strained and began to leak, the men had no sleep, bailing continuously. Luckily they had plenty of food. Although in the middle of the Gulf, they never saw any vessel until yesterday morning, when a steamer passed about a mile off. People could be seen on her bridge. The drifting fishermen made frantic efforts to attract attention, but the steamer, the name of which they did not know, passed out of sight. Niagara to the Rescue. Things looked desperate. Then at dusk they saw the Niagara come up with her blaze of lights. Buchan burned benzine flares and joyfully they saw help coming towards them. Oddly, this is the second occasion within eight weeks in which the Niagara and Captain Hill have been concerned hi fl rescue. On the Inst voyflge south, when 300 miles from Honolulu, they picked up the crew of the burning schooner Doris Crane. On that occasion also it was Mr. Turner who picked up the signals of distress. Captain Hill savs that with the wind blowing from the quarter it was, the fishing launch would have inevitably drifted to sea. Captain Hill told the men that he keenly sympathised with them, but it was impossible to salve the launch. The Niagara’s passengers were deeply touched bv the incident of rescue, and a subscription list was immediately started for the shipwrecked crew.