WORK OF RESCUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1922, Page 5

WORK OF RESCUE.

MAGNIFICENT RESULTS. “SNATCHED FROM DEATH.’* TRIALS OF THE HELPERS. TIME OF TERRIBLE ANXIETY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, June 3. The crew of the Wiltshire have all been rescued, a magnificent conclusion to two nights and days of terrible anxiety. Captain Hayward came ashore last night at dusk, the entire crew having preceded him without accident of any kind, and in the teeth of a howling gale. At daybreak yesterday the landing party from the Katoa, who had got four men ashore the previous night, continued their fine work at the wreck and, when the naval party from H.M.S. Philomel arrived after a terrible journey from Tryphena, 12 more of the crew had already been brought ashore. The Katoa’s men had previously succeeded in capturing a line from the Wiltshire and, when this had been replaced by a stout rope, the crew were brought over two at a time from the wreck. With the strengthening of the rescue party and the improved gear taken down from Auckland by the xiaval men, the work of transferring the Wiltshire’s crew was speeded up, two men coming ashore at a time and each trip taking only six minutes to complete. HEROIC WORK. The work continued without mishap throughout the day, all the rescuers working heroically, until at last what had seemed impossible had been accomplished. One hundred and three men had been literally snatched from fhe very jaws of death. With the exception of the last 30 men to come ashore, who are camping on shore until daylight enables them to make the journey in safety, the crew of the Wiltshire were taken overland to Tryphena and are now on board the Katoa, which will leave for Auckland as soon as their comrades join them today. The crew of the Wiltshire had attempted to get lines ashore repeatedly by floating them on timber. The Katoa’s party, seeing these efforts, climbed down 100 ft. of an almost sheer drop to the face of the cliff and scrambled out to reach the lines where heavy seas were breaking with a thunderous roar. All were nearly overwhelmed by each wave, as they lay fiat on the rock, clinging with fingers and toes.

At last the line floated near, but was caught in the rocks. Seaman Kehoe plunged into the surf, secured it, and got back to the rocks, narrowly escaping being hurled to death on the rocks by the immense seas. The life line was carried up the cliff to a precarious position and the heavier line drawn up. PLIGHT OF THE HELPERS. Residents arrived from all over the island when alarmed by telephone to help. The rope was tied to a pohutukawa tree on the cliff, and by great pains an endless pulley was rigged. The Katoa’s men had already been up all night in heavy weather, with little breakfast, and were very fatigued. They managed to get four men ashore before dark, but the lack of a suitable pulley on the wreck and the sag of the rope in the sea meant heavy pulling. The position of those on the cliff was precarious. There was a muddy ledge beneath the tree, sloping down to a precipice, and protected only by the branches of the tree.

That night the wreck signalled with Morse, but the shore had no lamp. The shore party huddled together all night in pouring rain. Three residents, one an old and sick man, came across the island late in the afternoon, and arrived in the darkness. They kept walking most of the night to keep warm. Those ashore were chilled to the bone. Yesterday morning early the shore party continued its magnificent rescue work, landing a dozen men before the arrival of the relief party from Auckland. The Philomel’s contingent lost no time in getting to w*ork. Ten men were now able to pull the endless rope, carrying two men at a time, and taking 15 minutes for each trip. MEN ASK FOR WATER. A supply of biscuits had arrived and these were sent off to the wreck. The crew had been famished and thirsty, billy of creek water sent over on the rope was jerked empty repeatedly. The men on the Wiltshire incessantly asked for water, as their water tank was inaccessible.. Biscuits and cigarettes were, however, sent out. The naval pulley was now rigged, and this made the hauling easy. This improvement was effected by noon, so that two men were now being landed in six minutes. The sling was riding up clear of the waves. . The wreck all this time was lying in the same position as at first, her after end being forced by the waves into the forward hold with a grinding noise like a dredge, as the doomed vessel was moved about by the sea. At 3.30 p.m. only 35 men were left on the wreck, and all were landed to-night. The crew saved only the clothes they stood up in and what they had m their pockets.