THE LOST TAHITI

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1930, Page 3

THE LOST TAHITI

HONOLULU, Aug. 20.

i ’ lifter the Tahiti accident, and while ..they were awaiting the arrival of the ’“Ventura,” the passengers on the Tahiti rigged radio listening sets, and they heard the description of their own plight being broadcast from Sydney. heard the cricket score in the Australia, v. England Test match. There was a difficulty when the passengers were instructed to take their positions beside the life boats. They ref used to remain in place, as they were more interested in the radio sets than in the lifeboats.

:r -Ope. young man was in the engine robiiv siiaviiig when the orders were given to abandon the ship. He showed no concern or hurry. When told to hprry up, he said that he wanted to .nice, clean shave before board-, big ’■a 1 ' foreign vessel. British ensign was hoisted before|the Tahiti took her final plunge. Oiiptain Toten boarded the Ventura last boat, bringing along an Ahnmcan ensign, which was unfurled .before reaching the Ventura, cheers from both the British <afd- : t4:meriean, passengers. of’tlie passengers stood in sil::en.ce.,v,with their hats removed, as the 'vr&seirtdok her filial plunge. The older members of the crew, and the officers. who had been in the Tahiti a considerable time, shed tears, and,were unashamed of their emotions.

.. vAj! the lifeboats of the Tahiti had Keles knocked in their air tanks and the plugs were pulled, and the boats were .allowed to sink after the rescue wqpk was finished. The crew were very well drilled in “Abandon Slhip” practice, and. each time the call came, there was marked precision and calmness, with the passengers taking their part as if it were an' 1 everyday occurrence, and were being staged for their entertainment. The men passengers passed jokes among the women and children. The mail was removed by Mr J. C. Greig, the New Zealand Government .agent, from their compartments, the Watertight bulkheads of which were

bulging from the pressure on the other .side. About 24 bags were wet from .wash, and spray in the boats. He took off two hundred and thirty bags of -first -class and registered mail. The balance, which comprised second class mail , matter,, was abandoned. The only injury or loss of life was that of the ship's pet canary, which was a- wonderful singer, and will be remembered by all ex-passengers. While being banded from a Tahiti boat to a .Ventura passenger, the cage was dropped overboard and the bird was drowned.

When described as a hero, the Chief Engineer (Mr Charles McPherson) said;.' “Don’t call me the hero ! The ,hero Js the fellow who made the pumps. The pumps worked wonderfully, without the slightest hitch, and it was due to them, that we were able to remain afloat until the arrival of the Ventura.”

Before the. arrival of the' Ventura, the Tahiti’s stewards took charge of the bailing apparatus, which was rigged over Number Three and Number Four -hatches, with BGgal. receptacles on the end of a wire attached to the winches. They continued hoisting and empty--yigpvatpr over the side without a pause from;:-the time of the accident to the abandonment of the ship.

HAPPENINGS ABOARD © —— PASSENGERS’ STORIES " -———O —- ■ MANY INTERESTING INCIDENTS o A LOST CANARY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

The passengers were not permitted to sleep, but they remained in the social hall and lounges. Mattresses were spread on the decks, also rugs and blankets, etc. The passengers were continually in the mood for dancing to the jazz music that- was coming in over the radio from Sydney and Wellington Radio Stations. The Tahiti was slow, in sinking, and the carpenter returned, smashing the glass lights in the portholes with a sledge hammer, and thus saving the Ventura time in standing by until the derelict menace had been removed.

FRISCO’S HONOURS. FOR VENTURA’S OFFICERS. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20. The San Francisco City, County and State civic and commercial officials are preparing an immense reception in honour of Captain Meyer and Chief Engineer Knudsen, when the liner Ventura arrives here ,on September Ist. A royal welcome is planned to demonstrate the appreciation of the officers’ conduct in connection with the Tahiti rescue, which is widely applauded. Special attention is accorded to Mr Knudsen, the Engineer, who, in point of service, is the oldest Chief Engineer in the Matson South Sea and Australian services. THE LOST LETTER BAGS. DETAILS OP MAIL ABANDONED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. The Secretary of the General Post Office, Mr G. McNamara, announces that he has received advice from the New Zealand Mail Agent, who was on the Tahiti, that all of the letters and registered mails for North America and Great Britan were transhipped from the Tahiti to the Ventura, with the exception of 15 letter bags, as follows : Wellington to Toronto, one bag; Wyiington to Winnipeg, one bag; Auckland to Boston, one bag; Auckland .to Hamilton (Canada) one bag; New Zealand Post Offices (forwarding offices not stated) to marine post office, four bags; Marine post office to London E.C. four bags; Marine post office to London, W.C., one bag. These five bags for London would contain the final day’s postings at the various post offices throughout the Dominion; also one bag of registered articles from Dunedin, and one bag of registered articles from Oamaru,

There were 208 bags containing newspapers and packets for Great Britain, Canada, United States, Rarotonga, and Papeete, and 43 bags containing parcels for U.S.A., Rarotonga, and Papeete abandoned. The letter mails for Rarotonga and Papeete are being returned to Auckland by the Tofua, leaving Pago Pago on Sunday. The route via San FTancisco is not used for the despatch of parcels to Great Britain and Europe. This route is used for the despatch of newspapers not over eight ounces. Heavier newspapers are only sent via Frisco when specially superscribed prepaid.