THE LOST TAHITI

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1930, Page 3

THE LOST TAHITI

VENTURA’S CAPTAIN TELLS OF RESCUE. .. , • -. r VANCOUVER, Aug. 19. •-A dramatic description of the foundering of the Tahiti is furnished by Captain W. Ri Meyer, of the “Ventura-,” who gives full praise to the coolness and seamanship of Captain Toten, but rather: neglects to recount his own part in the adventure. Captain Meyer describes the damage when the Tahiti’s propellor was lost and when steps were taken to cope with the inrush of water into the ruptured tunnel. Hi then tells of his dash in the Ventura to the scene, saying: “We sighted the Tahiti at 9.15 a.m. on Sunday. Her passengers were trying to put on life belts as we arrived alongside at 10.30 and at 1.30 p.'m. all hands were safely on board the Ventura. The -passengers spoke in glowing terms of the coolness’and fortitude of Captain Toten and the heroic efforts of the engineers arid all of the crew of the illfated Tahiti, which was rolling in long swells. This indicates that splendid seamanship prevailed during the rescue. The radio officers, with only the auxiliary apparatus working, owing to the dynamo being below water, with the engineroom flooded, added new laurels to their already splendid record. The Tahiti was foundering rapidly, when Captain Toten and the last of the crew left at 3.40 p.m. and she went ■out of sight at 4.42. One-thivd of the ship stood perpendicular above the water when she dived. Her position is 'latitude 24/40 south, longitude 166/15 west.” ..FURTHER PARTICULAR^. • NEW YORK, Aug. 20. Governor Lincoln has outlined the details of the Tahiti disaster, which have been indicated to him in radio exchanges, as follows:—The Tahiti lost her propellor on August loth, while about 700 miles from Raratonga. After the losing of the propellor, the afterpeak was flooded, stopping the ship. The leak continued to gain greatly, flooding No. 3 and No, 4 holds, and the engine room. The Ventura responded to the radio appeals, and started for the. Tahiti immediately. Meanwhile -the Penbryn, Abtinos and Tofua all responded, but they were smaller and slower ships than the Ventura. On Saturday at 11.30 a.m. on the sixteenth the engine-room bulk-head threatened to give way, and the Tahiti -started to abndon ship. It was at this point that an “Abandon Ship” S.O.S call was sent out,’ intimating that the lifeboats had been lowered, after which the Tahiti lost radio contact with many Pacific stations for several hours.

VENTURA’S CHEERFUL MESSAGES

NEW YORK, Aug. 20. Continuing his account of the TaJiiti sinking, Governor Lincoln says: “The. battered wall held, however, -and the crew continued pumping hard. A report came from the Ventura that she expected to arrive at noon on Saturday. This news gave the crew new hope. The Tahiti’s engine room at daybreak on Saturday was beyond control, with the water theatening to kill the dynamos. Again the Tahiti reported : “Abandoning ship,” but they did not do so, being encouraged by messages pertaining to the arrival of the Penbrvn. Her new position, reported on Saturday afternoon, put the Ventura four hours closer. The Ventura was now making sixteen knots, which was better than was anticipated. Rue to difference in the navigation calculations, the Penbiyn failed to sight the Tahiti as soon as had been expected. PENRRYN’S ROCKETS SIGHTED. The Penbryn then started to fire which were sighted by the sinking ship at 7.40 p.m. on Saturday. During the night the Penbryn stood ready to take off the passengers, crew and mail at a moment’s notice, but, due to a somewhat improved 'situation, this was delayed pending the Ventura’s arrival as plans had already been made for the north-bound passengers, including Sir Hugh Allen and Bisbop Bennett, to continue their voyage on the Ventura, which, at that time, was expected to arrive. VENTURA’S ARRIVAL. At 8 a.m. on Sunday, in the forenoon, the Ventura sighted the Tahiti, and by 1.50 p.m. all of the passengers and members of the crew, as well as mail and light baggage, and a, consignment of gold, was aboard the Ventura. The Tahiti finally sank at 4.42 p.m., and the rescue ship proceeded to Pago Pago.

HOW THE VESSEL SANK PASSENGERS’ STORIES —o- —- THEIR FEARS AND TRIBULATIONS FINE WORK OF SHIPS’ OFFICERS » THE RESCUERS PRAISED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

j A CLOSE SHAVE FOR. THE SURVIVORS. MONTREAL, Aug. 19. 1 A message from Pago Pago states that radio operator Davidson of the Tahiti, telling of the rescue, stated that the passengers were just on the Ventura in time, as all the bulkheads had started giving way and the holds were filled in the ’tween decks. The forward part of the ship listed heavily, the nose being much deeper than the stern.

“SAVED BY WIRELESS.” NEW YORK, Aug. 20. The New York Times has a leading article headed “Saved by Wireless,” in which the paper states: “The case of the Tahiti is worthy of honourable mention in the annals of sea officers, and the men of the Tahiti arid the Ventura behaved handsomely, the Tahiti’s, by their fine seamanship and good discipline, -and the Ventura’s by their rescue in a heavy sea without loss of life. Captain Meyer has won golden opinions from his employers. There are confidence and hope in wireless, since the captain and men fight harder to save a ship a-nd the passengers when they know another ship is on the way to rescue.” VENTURA DELAYED. ON JOURNEY TO PAGO PACO. PAGO PAGO, Aug. 20. Although the Ventura had expected to arrive here at one p.m. to-day, she has not made the speed which she hoped, and is therefore delayed. The Ventura has, however, finally escaped from a radio pocket which shut her off from communication with the shore, and there has resulted an exchange of communications between Captain Meyer and Governor Cat wood S’. Lincoln, of American Samoa. Various passengers have also wirelessed brief accounts of their experiences to newspaper correspondents.

VENTURA GOING CANNY. NEW YORK, Aug. 19. It is explained here by nautical men that the delay in the arrival of the Ventura at Pago Pago is obviously due to the very careful and slow navigation made necessary by the ship being compelled to cut across from one navigation route to another, and that the danger of unfamiliar reefs, etc., is compelling Captain Meyer to proceed cautiously.

PAGO PAGO REACHED. SONOMA’S OFFICERS. HONOLULU, Aug. 20. Pago Pago advices state that the Ventura arrived there at one o’clock this afternoon, after completing the rescue of the pasesngers and crew ol the Tahiti. They were greeted in Pago Pago harbour by whistles and sirens, and the Naval Station hand played lively music, including “Hail! hail! the gangs are here!” All were enthused over the gallant, speedy race against time made by the Ventura through the reef-studded lonely area of the Pacific. The calm assurance and the wellknown efficiency of 'Captain Meyer had a considerable effect in sustaining the admirable spirit of calmness and resigned acceptance of conditions by the Tahiti passengers and crew and also of those ashore anxiously awaiting news of their fate. This news was only available through the Ventura, which, radioed the messages on the rescue work. Chief Engineer Knudson has had long experience on the Ventura and on her”sister ship the Sonoma and great credit is due to him for the wonderful performance of the Ventura on her long speed run. The Ventura’s auxiliary machinery, ice plants, fans, and electric lights were all shut down, thus saving every ounce of steam for the engines. The Ventura arrived on the scene in the forenoon, and at one fifteen all of the passengers were aboard. . Several times Captan Toton had decided to put the passengers in the boats, hut his excellent, tool judgment

and his knowledge of sea and his vessels, together with a calm and sympathetic, but firm, control of the situation, kept the passengers and crew from this exposure and hardship until it was absolutely necessary. Tlien the work was carried out without loss or injury in perfect calmness and cheerfulness. The Tofua is calling here on Sunday to lift the crew and passengers left at Pago Pago. The passengers and crew left behind at Pago Pago sent to the Ventura, on her departure, the ‘best wishes and kindly thanks for tlieir consideration after the rescue. HOW THE VESSEL SANK. PASSENGERS STORIES. PAGO PAGO, Aug. 20. The first stories from passengers of the Tahiti who are here, indicated that the masterly seamanship on tinpart of the captains of both the Tahiti and Ventura, prevented an appalling disaster. Twice before the Ventura arrived when there seemed no hope of rescue at hand, Captain Toten gave orders to the passengers to take to the lifeboats. All aboard the Tahiti were grateful for what appeared to be their deliverance wpien the freighter Penbryn hove in sight and made her way to a point near the distressed Tahiti, but although she stood by and was willing to succour the disabled and sinking craft, the Penbryn lacked the equipment to transfer the Tahiti’s company. Fear ruled the Tahiti for three days throughout the harrowing experience but the passengers were orderly and obedient to the dictates of wiser minds. When rescue came to them, the women passengers were first transferred, then the men, and finally the crew. When the passengers learned that the Penbryn which had been the first hope to them was known herself to be in dangler, there was much heartfelt regret expressed, and there were questions whether something could not be done to help the- little steamer which is running short of coal, on the run to Auckland, and may face oncoming south-west gales. Fervent 1 opes were expressed that she may successfully reach Suva where she was heading to recoal. Continuing their accounts, the passengers stated when all hands were aboard the Ventura an attempt was made to save large quantities of mail in the Tahiti’s holds. Some of the bags were already taken off the ship and the boats were returning for more when tlie Tahiti lurched and took another roll.

The waves swept over her bows which fail ’d to rise again from under the water. Then the doomed liner straightened on an even keel, her stern * rosfi-’ and she disappeared in a boiling white whirlpool. There was a mass of splintered up perwork still floating as the Ventura steamed away.

Captain Meyers, when informedthat in San Francisco plans are being made to accord him and his crew a. reception as heroes, modestly de-f claimed any outstanding credit for what had been an act of duty, performed according to the code of the sea. “The Ventura did her duty., She could do no more and would nev-. er do less. The bravery of the little Penbryn must not be overlooked. Her master with much more limited facilities in an even finer sense performed an act of duty in accordance- with the code of the sea.”

Davidson is enthusiastic about the part played by radio. “It was our link, seemingly not only with agent--, ies for our rescue, but more to keep the world informed of the desperate efforts made to keep the ship afloat.” The r.adio operator continued: “Tlie. passengers got off just in time. The forward part of the ship was listed heavily with her nose much deeper than her stern. The bulkheads were giving way, and the water had risen in between decks scarcely fifteen feet from the main deck. Just then the. cre,w were transferred. When all the humans were aboard the Ventura an attempt was made to save the mail. All the letters were saved but newspapers and parcels were lost. “All of a sudden the Tahiti lurched and rolled a bit and then plunged how foremost disappearing from view. “All passengers of the Tahiti arc deeply grateful to the Captain and crew for keeping the vessel afloat r.s long as they did.” PAGO PAGO, Aug. 20. When the Ventura arrived a great crowd cheered as she clocked.

VENTURA’S CAPTAIN CRITICISED (Received thip day at 8 a.m.l SYDNEY, Aug 20. Hudbrackham of the Evening Press. Sydney, severely criticises the failure of the Ventura’s master to respond to early radio queries from Australia regarding the condition and circumstances of the Tahiti’s passengers whereto the United States Consul here, Roger Tredwell points out that the radio station at Pago Pago was owned by United States Navy Department. Therefore the captain of the Ventura was not entitled imimc'cllately .to rtespond through that station to commercial traffic, but he was able to take command of that station and send emergency messages which he actually did announcing the safe rescue of all passengers, also the late of the Tahiti’s mails and ship. His next duty was to report to the companyj Then doubtless other radio traffic was dealt with in order ol precedence.