BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 30 January 1911, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

i AWFUL PLIGHT OF A SHIP'S CREW. I desperate ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE I FAIL. (From the Australian Cable Service). Eureka (Cal.). January II). Early this morning the three-master wooden steamer Lakme, owned by C. Nelson and Co., of San Francisco,' and employed in the coastal trade, became, disabled in a hurricane., which quickly drove her towards the rocky coast in the vicinity of Cape Blanco. The master of the steamer. Watson, seeing the perilous position of the Lakme, made two desperate ell'orts to reach her and rescue her crew of 13 men. But the storm was so fierce and the seas were so tremendous that both attempts failed. The Lakme continued to drift helplessly before the hurricane. As a last resort the craw threw oil overboard to smooth the water a little and lowered a boat, but it had scarcely reached the water when it was caught up by a huge sea and dashed to pieces. Later in the day, when the position of the disabled vessel had become critical, the crew succeeded in passing a line to the Watson, which was gallantly standing by waiting for a chance- to assist. For a while it seemed as though the Lakme would he saved, but as soon as the line took the full strain of the tow it parted.

All efforts to get another line aboard the Watson failed. The master of the Watson, in reporting the occurrence, said he stood by as long as there, was any possibility of rescuing the drowning men, but was eventually "compelled to leave them to their fate.

FIREMEN'S SPLENDID HEROISM. HUNDRED GIRLS RESCUED. New York. January 20. The magnificent heroism of the firemen at Atlanta City, Georgia, was yesterday the means of saving the lives of a hundred girls who had been cut off from escape from a blazing factory.

The fire had secured a strong hold on the lower portion of the building, which was used as a shirt waist factory, when the brigade arrived. The employees, nearly all girls, had made their way to the third storey, which was as far away from the fire as they could get.

It seemed certain that the whole of them must perish, and their desperate predicament, as the vast volumes of smoke and flame rolled higher and higher, made the great crowd of helpless spectators almost frantic. The unfortunate girls themselves gave vent to the most heartbreaking cries for help. But for a time it appeared as though none would be forthcoming. The firemen, working with desperate energy, rigged their life-saving gear and hose. Some of them dashed through the fire in the lower part of the building. Others ascended by the ladders to the floor on which the screaming employees were gathered. Sometimes a fireman would be caught by a big volume of smoke and sparks, and collapse. But instantly another man would take his place. One by one the girls were lifted through the windows and carried down the escapes. Most of thorn were helpless from the intensity of their terror.

As the fire progressed the rescue work became more and more dangerous, but the firemen persevered, with a heroism that kept the huge concourse of spectators cheering hysterically the whole time. Eventually the last girl was passed out of the blazing building and parried down. The fire-lighters had won one of the fiercest battles with the Haines that has yet been waged in America.

But 20 of their number were hors de combat. They had been overcome by the smoke and fumes.

SUBMARINE STAYS DOWN. FIFTEEN MEN IMPRISONED. Berlin, January 18. The German submarine U3, a large vessel of 300 tons, dived to the bottom of Kiel Harbor to-day. and staved there.

The crew sent up a telephone wire by means of a buoy, and this was quickly picked up by a boat's crew from one of the warships, and attached to an instrument.

Communication having been established, the officer in charge of the submerged vessel reported that he and the crew were all well, and in no immediate danger, having oxygen enough to last two day.s. The salvage ship Spulkan got to work on the sunken submarine at once. Powerful cranes were rigged, ropes and chains were attached to the submarine, and late in the afternoon she was safely hauled to the surface. The officers and crew were unhurt in any way.

The trouble was caused by the accidental filling of the bunkers.

RUSSIA AND THE JEWS. ABROGATION OF TREATIES. Now York, January 20. At a meeting of the Hebrew Congrefations' Union, held at the Astor Hotel, the abrogation of every treaty between the United States and Riyssia was advocated.

The reason given for such a step was that Russia had dishonored official passports when presented by Jews. It is stated that the resignation of the United States Ambassador to Turkey was caused by the slur cast by Russia on the Jewish people, which prevented him officially visiting Russia. KITCHENER AND THE WAR OFFICE. AN OFFER TO FIND HDI WORK. London, January 20. The War Office recently made an offer to Lord Kitchener to find him employment. No reply has been given to the offer yet. ft is considered certain that Sir John French will be appointed Chief of Staff. It is considered that Lord Kitchener would be an impossibility in that ppsition, as, if he were chief, many of the senior officers would have a very unhappy time.

BIG AEROPLANE FLIGHT. DESTROYERS ORDERED OUT. "Washington, January 20. An important aerial race is to take place next week from Key Wcht to Havana. In order io minimise tlie danger of disaster, the U.S. authorities have ordered three fast destroyer? out to patrol the ocean over which the aeroplanes will fly.. SELLING FAKED PICTURES. FRENCH NOBLEMAN'S NOMINAL SENTENCE. London, January Hi. After a month's trial at Tours, France, on a charge of swindling the Duchess Dochoiseul Praslin, formerly-Mrs. Hamilton Paine, of Boston, of ,C40,()0(), by selling faked pictures, Count Deaublay Degatiginy, the son of a London tailor, has been given the nominal sentence of one month.

The verdict was greeted with tremendous applause. The Count was immediately liberated, as he had already served nine months. The charges against the Countess Degatiginy, formerly .Mrs. Lunt, of Boston, were withdrawn, and she was acquitted.

FHENZIKD MOTORING. TEN .MILES IX 412 SECONDS. Vancouver, January 1(1. There was some sensational moioriii" at the Playadelrey Motordrome, San Francisco, to-day. Ralph de Palma. won the 10 miles open event in a Simplex automobile in 412 sec. —lowering the record by JO^see.