DRAMA OF THE SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1932, Page 3

DRAMA OF THE SEA

VESSELS IN COLLISION. MOTHER AND BABY SAVED. LONDON, Decern Ik r 1. Dramatic rescues in pitch darkness were made in the English Channel recently after the Blue Star liner Afr o Star 11,867 tons and the Norwegian motorsh ip Clin rente, 1327 tons, had come into colFsion. The 15 members of the Norwegian crew and the three passengers, including a 21-year-old mother and her 12-month-old baby, were saved eftor a magnificent display of seamanship and r.ouraee. The Charentc foundered three hours rftcr the collision, and the Afric Star, which had left London for Buenrr, Aires on the previous afternoon, put .hack for Hie Thames. She w"3 badly holed above the water-line. There word only a whistle and few sbo’ifr. no warn big before He two ves•Hs crashed.; The (iffi'erix and cr°w ot the Afric ®ter raced from He r brnV'••o the lifeboats- Stewards aroused the passengers, who were warned to on tlie«> li:"«. belts and go. to their stations. The boats wore swung o»t while the Afric Star maintained her srhcd'in an effort to keep the Charpnte afloat. Rone ladders were flung the forecastle on to the decks of the Norwegian stennmr. the captain of which gave orders to abandon shin.

. Mrs Orbea, the woman passenger on •v- rmo—tv'o.. M*as on Fed on 1o leave the vessel, but she refused to go unt 1 her baby girl was taken off fi"st. One of the Norwegian oflicers volunteered for the oliff’cnlt task. Tim child war, lashed to a lifeline. Another line was made Lost to the officer, and. taking tlm baby in bis arms, lie managed to «Umh up the tone ladder, elingmg to it with one hand, and was hauled to safety. Mrs Oi’Lea then got on to the rope 'odder in her night clotlie-s. She had'd imbed half way up wh°n the Cbnr-ont-n yaw°d awav. and the ladder swung and crashed against the hull of the Afric Star. Mrs Orbea bad no 'ine attached, but she managed to h n -0g on to tV swinging hdd f, r. In 11 minutes every pagr.en.ger and sailor Pad be-'*n rescued. There was no panio of any kind on either vensel. While the rescue work was going on the wireless officer of the Afric Star went on calmly with Ill's work. He upnt o:■ ‘ S.O.S: calls. ‘Which were answered by tugs from Dover. The tug Lady Brassey was the first alongside. and the crew of the Chnrente were transferred to her. Mr Orbea, a -San Sebastian business man, and bis family were on their way to Stockholm. Mrs orhea's home, for a holiday, They lost nil their belongings.