SHIP IN PERIL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1922, Page 5

SHIP IN PERIL

SINKING FAST. JBAGIC 5.0.5.. CALLS. HELPLESS l.’J A STORM. VESSELS TO THE RESCUE. A thrilling story of the sea is told in a series of wireless calls for help received yesterday from the large schooner Helen B. Sterling, which was reported in a sinking condition 120 miles north-west of the Three Kings. Two women and a child are on board in addition to the crew. The first message was picked up by the Awanui (North Auckland) radio station at 8.5 yesterday morning, telling that the vessel was leaking and sinking fast, adding: “Come quickly or we perish.” Then followed throughout yesterday a series of messgaes describing the helpless plight of the ship, indicating that rough weather prevented the launching of the boats, one of which was smashed.

Several vessels have gone to the schooner’s assistance, including the Australian cruiser Melbourne and the liner Opawa. The last wireless from the schooner, received at 9.27 last night, stated tha* she was still afloat. H.M.A.S. Melbourne was in touch, and expected to reach the scene at one o’clock this morning.

MANY S.O.S. CALLS.

fRAGIC PLIGHT OF SCHOONER. SINKING IN ROUGH SEA. PERIL OF LAUNCHING BOATS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, La r t Night (5.5 p.m.) The secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department received the following information to-day from the superintendent of the wireless station at Awanui: “At 8.5 a.m. we received the following s.o.s. call from the schooner Helen B. Sterling: “Sinking; position, 170 east, 31/10 south; mainmast gone; leaking and' sinking fast; come quickly or we perish.” At 9.23 the H.B. Sterling repeated the s.o.s. call and her position, adding: “Almost gone.” The H.B. Sterling acknowledged receipt of a message sent out by H.M.A.S. Melbourne, which stated that she was going to the H.B. Sterling’s aid. The H.B. Sterling stated that her mainmast was carried away early this morning, and that the ship was making water fast, and the operator sent farewell messages to personal friends in case assistance did not arrive in time. SEAS SWEEP SCHOONER. At 9.47 the H.B. Sterling operator said his power was likely to fail any time, as heavy rolling was interfering with the supply of. fuel to his gas engine. At 10.35 the H.B. Sterling advised his position as 120 north-west of the Three Kings, and said he could not last much longer. At 11.27' the H.B. Sterling stated his wireless engine was failing, but he would call again at 2 if able. He asked the Melbourne to hurry. The latter told the H.B. Sterling she was coming at full speed and would reach the scene at four o’clock, and expected to sight the schooner at 2.30. At 1.35 p.m. the H.B. Sterling advised: “We can’t last another hour; we are waterlogged and seas are sweeping right over us; they are clearing out the boats, but the boats cannot live in this sea. The wireless receiver is out of action. We are 210 miles north-west by half north.” He then sent personal messages of farewell, only fragments of which were received. At three minutes past two H.B. Sterling stated that they were all making ready to take to the boats, which it was not considered would last half an houx. At 2.10 H.B. Sterling’s operator said he was now off to take his chance in the boats. WAITING TO GO DOWN. At 4.41 H.B. Sterling repeated the s.o.s. call and stated: “Boats are all ready; waiting for her to go down.” To the Melbourne the H.B. Sterling’s wireless operator said: “Please burn searchlights all night; hurry, we may go down any minute now; receiver out of order; anxiously waiting for you. We have a child and two ladies aboard. Three men were injured in trying to launch the stern lifeboat, but it smashed to picies. We are going to take our chance with the other two boats, floating off when the ship sinks. Can’t hear any sign of you; am now going up to take my place in boat.” The liner Opawa was also proceeding to the rescue, and other vessels—the Cyrena, Kaiwarra, Ulimaroa, Waikawa and Manuka—were aware of the schooner’s distress, and some of them deviated from their courses, until it was found that they were too far from the distressed schooner- ' to reach her in time.

At 5.30 p.m. the Melbourne wirelessed: “We are approximately on the position 120 miles north-west by north and half north from the Three Kings. Weather thick, with rain and wind, east fresh gale and rough seas. Visibility low. Studying all signals. Think this is position indicated.”

No further information has reached the

THE LATEST NEWS,

MELBOURNE NEARING THE SCENE. IN TOUCH WITH SCHOONER, 1 VESSEL STILL AFLOAT. / Wellington, Last Night (11.55 p.m.) The secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following further information, from the radio station at Awanui regarding the Helen B. Sterling. At 6.23 pjn. H. B. Sterling told HJi. A.S. Melbourne: “Got receiver fixed up after a fashion; use maximum power.” Later H. B. Sterling stated he could hear the Melbourne faintly. The Melbourne is searching an area between the parallels of 31-40 and 32-20 and meridians 171-20 east and 170-50 east tonight, and will go back over it to-morrow. The Melbourne suggested to the Opawa that she (the Opawa) should search a similar area to the windward of it. The Telegraph Department received a message at 9.27 p.m., stating that the H.B. Sterling and the Melbourne are in communication.

The Melbourne sent the following message to the H.B. Sterling: “We are certain to find you; hope you will see our searchlight at 1 a.m.; do not start your flares before 1 a.m.; keep a good heart,” Later the Melbourne sent the following to the H.B. Sterling: “Am proceeding to 31-1 S, 169-18; shall take longer to reach this position.”

AUCKLAND RECEIVES CALL.

POSITION OF THE SCHOONER. BOUND FOR PAPEETE. Auckland, Last Night. A wireless message received here at 8.50 to-day reports that the Helen B. Sterling is sinking fast. Her position is 170 east, 31.10 suoth. H.M.A.S. Melbourne was communicated with by the Admiralty, anil has gone to her assistance. The position given is about 230 miles north-west of New Zealand and 175 miles south of Norfolk Island. The H.B. Sterling left Newcastle on January 4 for Papeete. The Union Company received a message regarding sending a boat to the H.B. Sterling’s assistance, but as the Ulimaroa was within 200 miles of the scene it was not considered necessary.