FATE OF SAXLLBY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 692, 18 November 1933, Page 5

FATE OF SAXLLBY

SEARCHING VESSELS REPORT NO SIGNiS OF BOATS OR SHIP MOUNTAINOUS SEAS ' (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 16 ■Much' anxiety is felt regarding thu fate of the 27 memibers of the crew of the Saxllby who are believed to have abandoned the ship and 'taken to the hoats in a great Atlantic storm when about 400 miles off Valentia (Ireland). The last message received from the Saxllby ' stated that she was trying to get her boats away. Communication with the vessel has not since been re-established and Gaptain Mitchell, of the freighter Manchester Regiment, in a message yesterday afternoon, when 92 miles east of the Saxllby, said he had received no answer to repeated calls. He reported that his vessel was making very little headway owing to the height of the gale, the high mountainous seas and frequent heavy squalls, but there were indications of the weather improving.

Several other vessels proceeding to the help of the Saxllby's crew, included the1 Berengaria, which was expected to reach the scene about midnight, but owing to the heavy weather she h'ad to reduce speed. According to a later message from the Berengaria, whose searchlights were sweepintg the mountainous seas, fears are entertained by its officers that small boats could not live long under such conditions. A Lloyd's telegraph received from Valentia wireless station states: "The following timed 9 a.m. was received from the Dutch steamer Boschdijk, 'searching the spot. Nothing seen so far. Visibility has heen good since dawn.' " "Received from the Mlanchester Regiment, 9 a.m.: 'At present searching* in the vicinity of the last known position of the Saxllby. Visibility good.' " The Cunard Company received th'e following from the Berengaria at 9.45 a.m.: "The search for the Saxllby was unsuccessful. Proceeding." Little hope remains that any of the crew of the Saxllby have survived.