SINKING OF THE TAHITI

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1930, Page 3

SINKING OF THE TAHITI

A FORTUNATE escape. j % Among the passengers„by the over-.,; due tram from Christchiirch on Sat-| urday night was Mr Bob Heinz, who was a member of the crew of the illfated R.M.S. Tahiti ;>whiei|sank recj ently in the Pacific Oteeah.' Sir Heinz' has a few days’ leave' (before resuming his seafaring occivpfttion, and he is home for a week with';his parents,' Mr and Mrs-6. Heinz,of 'Park Street// Mr Heinz is well and hearty aftei* his trying find is ’quite ready again for the sea. He states they had an anxious time during the i period of disaster, though with the 'crew of the ship it was not so bad, as all had constant duties to perform, all hands being kept continually employed at special duties. The ordeal was worse for the passengers huddled in the vestibule of the saloon quarters, where they had to . .pass their time as best they could. Later on when their rescue was, assured, the spirits of the passengers rase, and they were able to stage a concur:,:, while some promoted a dance, but •it was not very spirited. Mr Heinz was particularly sorry for a mother and (three tyoung children aboard.: All had their life-belts on, and the little /ones slept in them, with the mother I on constant guard. When tlie accident happened, a if. accident which none can explain, except by theory, Mr Heinz was'off duty and asleep. The crew were roused by one of the watch stating they were required for duty on. deck.. Before., allcould respond, a mate appeared in. their, quarters, and hinted at the nature of the disaster and. all sprang to duty. Mr Heinz said everyone worked with a will4 and none shirked tM^vS'bt'k^l.'Ea'eh' ’taan' did all* tliat;,4ie..wus yto.jd r and, all , deserve., credit* well dope. His first duty was doivn in the flooded engine irooni where he quickly sensed the tlariger. The room was knee deep in /water. The electric lights were out as a result of the flooding af the ; dynamo. Only flares were available., iat the time. 1 and these < cast ' dark f&adows. danger was • Si. | ■

the bulkhead which had to resist the swell of the ocean. Fortunately ii was calm comparatively, with only a regular swell. Still a. great swirl ol water followed the steamer which was kept on the safest course by a man at - tire £,h’lieel' constantly. The steamer was drifting all the time, and in the three days covered over one hundred miles. The ‘bulkhead was strengthened|without •delay, spars and other gear "being sent down below, for the holding of the bulkhead saved the boilers from flooding. Pumps were started without delay. Even the hand pumps were used and the stewards were detailed to man the latter. Bailing was resorted to also. Large drums abohrd wer© used, . and the wiitches were kept going continually hauling np the drums Full of water. These, adjunctive aids helped and assisted to check the rising water.

When an inspection was made of the afterhold, it was found the water had invaded.to a considerable depth. This hold was above the tunnel of the shaft where what must have been ah.vSjpjr. serious fracture occurred. In the 1 hold was a quantity of dunnage used'jfdr stowing cargo. Some of it consisted of large baulks of timber, uThese were afloat, and there was a danger with the roll of the ship they might ram the bulkheads. A party of>men were detailed to secure the timber and dump it pn deck. This : was, not an easy task, but was ac- . cpmplished safely in the end. I When the order was given to clear -away -the ship’s boats, Mr Heinz bad special duties to perform, and saw j ; th 9 t the awnings were cut away, and j -.any water lodging in the boats was drained out, and the sea plugs in j good..,oder.„ Those responsible had to see*also that there were supplies' of fresh-water, and ample food in each boat, as well as extra blankets and other necessaries. Thi« was all done in ample time, and everything was ready for emergency should it be found that the water was gaining unduly. Once or twice there was cause serious alarm owing to the,strain-, inej bulkhead in the engine room? This was at night, and it was raining | and the Captain was loath to order 1 the passengers into the boats and the. opeh'Vsea. in the dark. Renewed ef-i forts' were:' ltuitle to. hold the bulk-pheadr-tVPd "coiltiline the pumping and bailing, ysnd - the position was saved, for the 'time being. T• j : .

It was a . groat relief when the Penybryn hove in sight.,-.-Signals were made all "through the- night'as a guide far Pro approaching steamers. The Penybryn was a welcome sight to all. She was cleared to receive the passengers and crew, but as it was known the Ventura was approaching, it was resolved to wait. The Penybryn is a well manned ship, and good seamanship was shown in manoeuvring the steamer to be as helpful as she could in breaking the sea, while a. well manned boat from j the Penybryn helped with the transfer of mails, etc., to the Ventura. As soon as the Ventura’s smoke was sighted. Captain Toten, a very ea-p----ib'o officer, gave the order for. the first boat to be launched. Mr Heinz was one of the crew of the boat which was launched successfully. Women and children were put aiboard, there being over thirty souls in all in the life-boat. The Penybryn’s Captain thought the life-boat was heading for his ship, and lie manoeuvred to make 1 the passage shorter and safer, but the boat passed on to meet the Ventura, and the boat load of women and children were spoil in goocP pun r,tors on the. American steamer yWhich Jb'ntl. been making preparation ‘for the reception of the derelict passengers and', crew. The No. 1 life-boat made four or five trips between the Tahiti and the Ventura carrying passengers, mails and luggage.

When the rescue was assured the passengers ami crew had l>ecn to'd to. save what light things they' could. Pasesngcrs boxes were brought up from below, and they put the selected n.rtpilesj'in pillow cases lyid and thesfe’‘ were left ready to' rescue ■ift-er the human lives were saved: The crew also, had their bags ready in onp -adjacent alleyway, and, after the mails and ’ v passengers’ ' luggage were taken,the! • crews’; belongings were pickedhipa Mr Heinz’s hag \y»sthe last, to be lifted from the ship, and lie owes the saving cf it to a chum on One of the other life-boats who saw it in time to bring it away with the last load.. In one of the trips of the boat Mr Heinz served on, a quantity of gold, valued at ten thousand doilarsyc-was. transferred from one ship to the other. It was done no in canvas •and was very heavy. It was Mr Heiliz’s duty to see it aboard the and he was relieved

greatly when-ho s-uv. It Jiauled safely from the life-boat, oyer the..side ol the American steamer. •

On the - . Ventura they bad a -splendid reception add everything possible was done for their comfort. Working at high pressure on the Tahiti there had not been much time for eating, drinking or .sleeping. .There was little chance of a meal for the crew, and a tot of rum was welcome .when they came of their wet jobs. Sleep was hardly possibly with the; noise ol the winches grinding Constantly, so that it was a relief to get away from the 1 strain and anxiety aboard the Tahiti, to the ordered comfort and absence of duty aboard the Ventura. 1 They were well feel''and eared for. and entertained at a banquet before leaving. At Pago Pago where they were landed, they were domiciled in the American, military quarters, am! Mr Heinz had a glimpse of Island life lie had long hankered after. Tliev liad <a few days in which to recuperate before sailing by the TofYtn. which ca,'led to pick them up, and take all requiring to do so to Auckland.

As to the aoo?dent itself,;it is wrapped in-mystery. -The shaft-car-ried away, and in 'tiding so must have done great damage to the stern. The enquiry whjrh is to he held may throw some light on the mishap, but probably the witnesses may only theorise. A little while ago /the Tahiti passed through a severe, storm, and may have been strainedV Tint tlie shin was surveyed < -at. Sydney, . arid. <ta sail. The outstanding feature of the experience was the splendid way a'i went about,.-.tbeiW' tasks. J)cspit© the eonstant pvork hind the.’sippriJ)! duties feqnite<r, '[order wYrs' rtv|r icd oid promptly; : 'No- doubt the had a picked crew, 1 and though 'the nositionj'pvas V<kv serious t tltfe ; [outset, everyone qnitk’v settled. bis jpb, and qqcried it oitti'ijheerfiUlyt aiid •witli dll ; alheritv. all oonrerned 'did ail'tliat was possib'e, and no doubt it ,was the special ■effort pofc forward which kept, the Tahiti afloat- till; succour was safely at hand.