THRILLING SEA RESCUE

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 11

THRILLING SEA RESCUE

NIAGARA PICKS UP DISTRESS SIGNALS AT NIGHT THREE MEN TAKEN FROM DRIFTING LAUNCH CLEVER WORK IN HEAVY SEA. [Pe» Untied 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 radio message published in the ‘Star’ from Mr R. 11. Gordon, who says:— A thrilling rescue was made by the Niagara last night about ten miles off the Hen and Chickens Islands. The passengers had just finished dinner someone called out: “We are turning round to pick np a boat in distress.’’ Immediately all was excitement, and the rails were lined with people, many in evening dress, ready for the dance that was to he held later. Dame Nellie 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 rather nasty sea was running. Amid the dark waters could bo 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 slnp within a few yards of what proved to be a fishng launch, tossing helplessly about in the trough of the fairly heavy sea that was running. It was 7.55 p.m. when the second officer (Mr R. N._ Turner) 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, who could dimly be seen in the gathering dark, cried out that their engine was disabled, and that they had lost their sails, and the launch was unmanageable. A lifeboat in charge of the chief officer, Mr M'Donald, with seven men, was rapidly lowered, and quickly reached the tossing derelict—as smart a bit of boat work as on© could hopo to see. There were three men in the doomed launch. One of them seemed discinelined to leave. “Jump for it,” said Mr M'Donald, who saw that the case was hopeless. The fishermen then abandoned the launch, grabbing a few odds and ends of clothing. The names of the rescued men arc;— John Buchan (Auckland), married, aged about 45. Norman Blackburn (Matamata), married, aged about 55. Cyril Ledger (Auckland), aged about 19, single. Within fifteen minutes of filing launched the lifeboat was alongside the Niagara again, and the three wearylooking 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 darkness made the incident all the more thrilling. “Well,” said Captain Hill, after the men had been given some hot food and were taken to his cabin, “1 shall have to take you on to Sydney”; to which one of the fishermen replied, with a laugh: “ Better than going to Davy Jones’s locker.” It was a hard plight for them. All their savings and years of work had to bo abandoned. There was no chance of salving the launch, which was practically a new boat, worth about £I,OOO, and was only insured for £375. The name of the wrecked launch was the Tka. She left Auckland on a fishing trip on Friday night, the fishermen expecting to return on Sunday night. When they were between Tiri and the Noisies bn Sunday evening,'hauling in a seine net, the accumulator met with an accident, the engine being put out of action. The occupants tried to sail to Mansion House Bay, Kawau, but it was blowing hard and the weather was thick, so that there was no hope whatever of making port. To make matters still more hopeless the sail was blown away, and the launch was being steadily carried out to sea by a southerly wind. The men began to feel that their case was hopeless. “I’ve been to sea all my life,” said Mr Buchan, “and that was the first time I started to think of danger.” “ Once I saw that wo were past the Hen and Chickens light,” added Ledger, “I thought it was all over.”

Battered by heavy seas the launch strained, and began to leak. The men had no sleep, baling 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, whose mime is unknown to them, passed out of sight. 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 Caplan 1111 have been concerned in rescues. On her last voyage 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 says that, with the wind blowing from the quarter it was, the fishing launch would have inevitably drifted to sea. passing outside the Poor Knights. Captain Hill told the men that he keenly sympathised with them, but it was impossible to salve the lan noli.

The Niagara’s passengers were deeply touched by the incident of the rescue, and a subscription list was immediately started for the shipwrecked crew.