RESCUED FROM OCEAN

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1926, Page 2

RESCUED FROM OCEAN

SUPERB SEA AI AN STUB. Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Jain 30. ,\ feat of superb seamanship, practically unsurpassed in the annals of merchant shipping, is revealed in a wireless story hv a passenger on the President Roosevelt, which is due at Plymouth nil .Sunday, with those rescued from the Antiuol. The story is published exclusively in the “Daily Express." It. vividly outlines the liner’s four-day vigil amid seas climbing to peaks of fifty feet in height, under a hurricane raging at one hundred miles an hour and with swirling sleet and snow, with which drifting fog intrigued to make the task next to impossible. After sighting the Antiuol, the President Roosevelt stood by all day long. It was imposible to launch a boat. During a wild night, the President Roosevelt lost contact, and in the morning she found the Antiuol was out of sight. It was not until late on Monday that she was again located, she having drifted 58 miles in the storm. She had listed thirty-five .degrees to starlmnrd. Her portable boats were stove in. and her engine-room was flooded. The steering gear was disabled also, and the bridges were smashed. The President Roosevelt then launched a l>ont. in charge of Chief Officer Aliller. It was immediately struck by a sudden squall, and was whirled toward the President Roosevelt. Lifelines were cast, hut they were lifted hv a giant.sea and the little hunt was capsized and hurled the men aboard into the o'can. With a super-human effort. Jail hut two of them managed to reach a ladder. The terrified ] avengers, however, watched two ill-fated men carried off towards 'tin l Antinol. One swimming hard, passed close to the stern of (lie tossing hulk, from which a line was thrown. Just ten feet separated him from the line's end. luit lie'could not grasp it. and lie disappeared. Night then do- i sec nilcd.

The following day there was failure after failure. Four boats were lost. There was a moderating sea that night and full moonlight enabled another attempt to be mode, when a lifeboat succeeded in reaching the Antinol, where il secured twelve of the men, and brought them to the President Roosevelt.

The Antinol was then listing forty degrees. Chief officer Miller made a second courageous voyage, a searchlight picking out the path, and tho lifeboat brought thirteen men, including the captain, who waved his hand affectionately at the Antinol when the I son t- put off. thereby completing one of the ocean’s most dramatic rescues. TRIBUTE TO AMERICANS. FROM BRITISH GOVERNMENT. LONDON. Jan. 30. Ihe British Foreign Office has requested the British Ambassador to convoy to President Coolidge'the British Ministry's appreciation of the captain and crew of the President Roosevelt, and also their sympathy "ith tho relatives of tho American sailors who sacrificed their lives. A similnr message has also been sent on behalf of Lloyd’s

The Daily Express says; “The Board of Trade, breaking down the ordinary procedure, is despatching a special representative to Plymouth to meet the President Roosevelt, and to obtain the captain’s and others’ complete report Of the circumstances, which will he presented to the Admiralty for immediate presentation to the King. KING GEORGE’S PRAISE. WASHINGON, Jan. 29. King George has sent President

Coolidge, a cablegram praising tho crew of the American liner President Roosevelt for rescuing in the Atlantic gale all hands from the. British freighter Antinol, and expressing regret that two of the rescuing force lost their lives.

In his reply, President Coolidge cabled : “The event is hut another illustration of the heroism and gallantry which have characterised alike tho mariners of the Lnited Estates and Great Britain.”

The King has asked the President to assure the bereaved families of the lost sailors of his heartfelt jfinpnthy.