SIX LIVES LOST WHEN N.Z. LINER ABANDONED

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1948, Page 7

SIX LIVES LOST WHEN N.Z. LINER ABANDONED

Struck by Atlantic Hurricane

LONDON, September 16. The crew abandoned the 7,000ton New Zealand Shipping Company ship “Leicester" in the Atlantic after it was struck by a hurricane on Tuesday, when about 400 miles south-west of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

The vessel left London on September 4 for New York. Mountainous seas caused the “Leicester” to list 55 degrees before she was abandoned. Thirty-nine survivors, including Captain H. N. Lawson, took to the boats and were picked up by the Argentine steamer “Tropero” and the American steamer “Cecil N. Bean.” The rescue ships reported great difficulty in picking up the men, many of whom were floundering _in the heavy seas, churned up by a 70-mile-an-hour wind. Six of the “Leicester’s” crew of 45 were lost. There was one New Zealander in the crew.

Wlhile this rescue was being carried out, the American coastguard cutter “Bibb,” was racing to the assistance of a Portuguese schooner, the “Gasper,” which was in difficulties, 900 miles east of Halifax. The “Bibb” eventually reached the “Gasper,” which was taking water in the rough seas, and, after some difficulty., effected a rescue of the “Gasper’s” crew. One man from the schooner had previously been lost. The “Leicester” was formerly the “Samask”, a sister-ship of the “Samkey,” which disappeared with all hands in the Carribean on March 17 after the ballast had shifted on a voyage from Liverpool to Cuba. “SAM” SHIPS' RECORD

Captain Hamish Lawson, of the “Leicester,” who was among those rescued, was last January appointed captain of the “Samkey.” a few days before the ship sailed on her tragic voyage Captain Lawson had an attack of mumps and could not take command. Later he was transferred to the “Leicester.”

Other “Sam” ships lost were the “Samwater,” abandoned on fire off Portugal in January, 1947, and the “Samtampa,” driven ashore in South Wales in April, 1947. The New Zealand Shipping Company announced that among the members of the crew of the abandoned “Leicester” rescued by the “Tropero,” is W. Wadsworth, of Port Chalmers, New Zealand. The “Tropero” is due at Montreal on Sunday. The New Zealand Shipping Company is in touch with the relatives of the three New Zealanders on board the “Leicester.” The ship was last loading in New Zealand on November 9 fop New York.

Officers’ Previous Visits to New Zealand

P.A. AUCKLAND, Sept. 17 The master of the steamer, Liecester, Captain H. N. Lawson, who is sale aboard the Argentine steamer, Tropero, was making his second voyage in the vessel, his first command as an officer of the New Zealand Shipping Company for many years. Captain Lawson served before in several liners including the Rimutaka and Rotorua. He served during the war in command of escort vessels of the Royal Navy on convoy duty in the Atlantic and then joined the New Zealand Shipping Company’s motorship, Hororata, as chief ofticer. Captain Lawson obtained command of the Leicester from the Hororata in February, and made his first voyage to New Zealand. During the war, he married Miss Betty Green, who was manageress of the English women’s cricket team which visited New Zealand some years before the war. Their home is at Windermere, England.

Chief Officer James Bayley has made a number of visit to Auckland, and was married in England six months ago to an Auckland girl, Miss Ngaia Grey-Flynn. N.Z. SURVIVORS (Rec. 10.10) ■ LONDON, Sept. 17 The New Zealand Shipping Company has received a message from the United States ship “Cecil N. Eean” that she is proceeding to Bermuda with twenty survivors from the Leicester, who include two New Zealanders, F. H. Baddeley, junior engineer, of Wanganui; and R. C. Hutson, fireman, of Hamilton. The fifth engineer of the Leicester, Frank N. Baddeley, is a son of Mr and Mrs P. Baddeley, of Kakatahi, near Wanganui. He joined the ship in Wellington and sailed with her to England and he intended leaving the sea' on his return in her to New Zealand. Mr Baddeley’s parents to-night received from him a radiogram, sent from a rescue ship as follows: “Shin wrecked, but a msafe and well. He is aged 21. and was employed at Wellington before going to sea.