TAHITI’S CREW ARRIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1930, Page 6

TAHITI’S CREW ARRIVE

AUCKLAND’S WELCOME. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association, l AUCKLAND, Sept. 3. The steamer,* UTofua’’ arrived from Suva this afternoon with the officers and crew of the Tahiti, and first-hand accounts were heard of the disaster which overwhelmed the ship. Tile starboard tail shaft of the Taiti snapDed suddenly in the tunnel. It was followed by a big inrush of water. From that time the Tahiti dipped deeper and deeper by the stern. When the passengers had been taken off, the captain, and a small party visited the ship and broke a few 'portholes. The Tahiti listed very little. Both the port and starboard boats could bo used. The Tahiti finally dipped her stern below a wave, and stern-first, she slipped into the depths . of the Pacific. FIREMEN AND GREASERS .. . PRAISED.. Great praise is given the- .firemen and greasers, who were below when the water implied in. They stayed at their posts until they could stay no longer.. - . A civic reception was tendered to Captain Toten, of the Tahiti, his officers, and crew. Captain Toten paid a tribute to the magnificent assistance he had received from his men. He praised the part played by the Penybryn, which, he said, gave the first feeling of safety. Warm tributes were paid by Captain Toten and others to Captain Salvesen, of the Penybryn, and a message was read conveying the Government’s gratitude. "When interviewed, Captain Toten would not make a statement. “I can say, however,” he said, “that the .passengers were splendid, and there was not a murmur from them, and that their behaviour was fine. The officers and crew also did everything that was required.of them and more.”. The officers and crew of the Tahiti, left- 'this evening for Wellington; where the nautical inquiry will he held.

. THE INQUIRY. . >. . ... ..... WEBUINGTON. Sept. 3. The Tahiti;,.inquiry opens liere on . September ,9th. 1 , ' ALL HEROES., , ; STOKERS AND .GREASERS.. . f . • : \ NEVER BUDGED IN FLOODED ENGINE ROOM. AUCKLAND, Sept. 3. “Give all the praise you can to the engine room staff, who were on duty when the smash came,” said Mr A. Thomson, second engineer of the Tali iti, who was in the engine room at the time of the mishap. “I can’t Apeak too highly of . the two greasers and ,tho three firemen who were on watch. They were Messrs Rook and C. Douglas (greasers), and J. Dignan, A, ,Florey .and W. Geddes (firemen). Right- from the jump those men behaved like men, and they did their jobs without, flurry or. confusion. Everything wa/s carried out..in. the most, orderly, fashion under the circumstances. As a matter . of fact, when, the, water rushed in through the tunnel to the engine room, those men still stood to their posts. Truly they were wonderful! When it came to a .skeleton crew, to see who would remain lielow, the whole of the firemen, trimmers and greasers tossed up. They are the heist, crowd of men I have ever had anything to, do with in my life. Rook was greasing the starboard engine when she went. 7 rushed to the after end of the tunnel, and was met bv a flood of water. The starboard engine was racing madly, and Rook was endeavouring to shut off the steam. I rushed to the engine and managed to stop it. Meantime, cool and collected, Rook went to his post, and when I called to liiiil, he had one of the watertight compartment doors' almost closed. Although the water was increasing rapidly, every’nian below stood to his post; And' not ilekve the engine room until they were practically forced to. Their first consideration was for the passengers.” Mr Thomson said that the position looked very serious at the start. It appeared as if the Tahiti would sink rapidly, hut later it was found that, on account of the measures taken below, she would remain afloat for several hours. When asked if the vibration on the Tahiti was excessive before the/ accident, Mr Thomson said that, seeing she TO, a light ship, it was nothing out of the ordinary. As a matter of fact, he had been on such vessels as the Lusitania and other Atlantic boats, and their vibration, in comparison, was greater. Even when loaded the Tahiti had a certain amount of vibration.