LINER’S PLUNGE TO DOOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1055, 20 August 1930, Page 9

LINER’S PLUNGE TO DOOM

TAHITI WENT DOWN BOW FIRST "LOST IN BOILING WHIRLPOOL” PASSENGER’S DRAMATIC STORY United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reced. 10.35 a.m. MONTREAL, Today. A MESSAGE from Pago Pago states that the chief radio operator of the lost Tahiti, Mr. F. N. Davidson, telling of the rescue, stated that the passengers were on the Ventura just in time, as all the bulkheads had started giving way, and the holds were filled to the ’tween-decks. The forward part of the ship listed heavily, the nose being much deeper than the stern.

An earlier message to the New Zealand Press Association said that dramatic details of the sinking of the Tahiti were related today by a passenger who is now on the Ventura. According to his narrative, the Ventura arrived just in time to rescue, the scores of men, women and child ren who were clinging to the sloping decks of the Tahiti. Masterly seamanship by the captains and officers of both ships prevented a disaster, for the heavy swell which was rolling might have proved fatal for the lifeboats, which were bound to have been scattered if they had been launched during the night. A curious feature was that the water entered the Tahiti through the shaft tunnel and finally flooded the I forward holds carrying the bows down. It. was bow foremost that the liner took her last, plunge. “The bulkheads were giving way and the water rose to the ’tween decks, scarcely 15ft. from the main deck,” said Mr. El Watkins, of San Francisco, who described how the ship’s list increased hourly. “Great good fortune attended us all through, for this curious business might easily have been a terrible disaster, and it would have been a miracle if any of the passengers had ever reached the shore. “AN AWFUL SCARE” “For three days we underwent an awful scare. For 36 hours we did not know at what moment we would have to take to the boats. That is a tough outlook in a vast uncharted sea. “Twice before the Ventura arrived Captain Toten ordered us away. Then we got respites as the crew found the water was not gaining. “It was God’s mercy the Ventura appeared hours before we expected her. Even then it was a close race, for we just managed to cheat death, that is aH. “We were grateful to the steamer Penybryn for standing by, but she had not the equipment to move us and lacked accommodation. Lives would have been lost if we had started to transfer to her. So our officers just hung on until the Ventura hove-to alongside us. “First the women passengers, then the men, and finally the crew were transferred. When all were on board the Ventura an attempt was made to save the mails. How the old Tahiti sagged and staggered in the restless seas, but still just managed to remain afloat! "All the letters were saved, but the newspapers and parcels were lost. “The boats were returning for more parcels when all of a sudden the Tahiti lurched, took another roll, and the waves swept her bows, which did not rise again. “Then the old liner straightened on an even keel, white spray flew as her bridge was engulfed, her stern rose with the lone port propeller hanging idle, and away she went out of sight in a boiling white whirlpool. “There was an acre of splintered upperworks and debris still floating there as the Ventura turned and steamed away.” TAHITI’S PASSENGERS RESUMING JOURNEY TODAY TOFUA ONE DAY LATE The Tahiti’s passengers for San Francisco will continue their interrupted journey today when the Ventura will leave Pago Pago with them on board. At this port the Matson liner will land the Tahiti’s crew and those passengers who were to have landed at Rarotonga. The departure of the Ventura from Pago Pago today will be only four days behind schedule time, but it is possible that she will be able to make up some of the time during the re-

mainder of the journey and that she ! will arrive at San Francisco on Sep- j tember 1. The Tofua, which was diverted from i her course to rush to the Tahiti, is now j resuming her normal Island run, j except that she will call at Pago Pago to take on board the crew and those passengers landed from the Ventura and who will be returning to New Zealand. The Tofua is expected to return to Nukualofa this morning and she will reach Pago Pago next Monday. She will afterward call at Apia and Suva, leaving the latter port for Auckland on August 23. The Tofua will reach Auckland on the evening of Tuesday, September 2, only one day behind scheduled time. COAL AT SUVA The Penybryn, the Norwegian vessel which stood by the Tahiti, reported that she was running short of coal and arrangements were made to send the Waipahi tomorrow to the Kermadec Islands to meet the Penybryn and supply her requirements. Advice having been received that the Penybryn is now proceeding to Suva, where she will be able to replenish her bunkers from the Union Company’s supplies there, the Waipahi will now not be sent. The Penybryn is expected to reach Auckland at the end of next week with her cargo of raw sugar. Upon arrival at Suva from Pago Pago and Apia the Tofua will spend only one day at Suva, instead of her usual three, and she will bring fruit only from Samoa. The fruit from Suva will be brought by the Niagara, which is due at Suva on September 5 from Vancouver and at Auckland on September S. LOSS OF TAHITI HARBOUR BOARD’S SYMPATHY The Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon recorded its sympathy with the owners of the Tahiti in the loss of the vessel. The bo*ard also recorded its appreciation of the splendid efforts of the master, officers, and crew in avoiding a calamity when the Tahiti was abandoned. WELCOME TO VENTURA SAN FRANCISCO CONGRATULATES CAPTAIN MEYER United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 11.35 a.m. SAN FRANCISCO, Tuesday, j The Mayor, Mr. Rolph, announced that a civic welcome will be extended to the Ventura. He has wirelessed to Captain Meyer: “San Francisco congratulates you on your heroic and successful rescue of the passengers and crew of the ill-fated Tahiti.” The United States Secretary of the Navy, Mr. C. F. Adams, announces that the naval governor of American Samoa will take steps to aid the passengers and crew of the Tahiti if the Ventura lands them at Pago Pago. “Naturally we will stand by and do anything we can in the meantime.” says Mr. Adams. CARGO BOAT DELAYED TO ASSIST SERVICE Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The sinking of the Tahiti has disorganised the cargo-carrying service from San Francisco and in order to assist in this difficulty Spedding, Limited, has delayed the departure of the Parrokoola from San Francisco on Saturday for a further few days. The Parrakoola is a faster vessel than the Tahiti.