MID-OCEAN RESCUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1922, Page 4

MID-OCEAN RESCUE.

PASSENGER JUMPS IN SEA. PICKED UP BY SHIP’S BOAT. The liner Papa-roa, which arrived at Wellington last week from London and Southampton, via the Panama Canal, had an uneventful voyage, save for an episode in which a third-class male pi '- senger jumped overboard and Wvs smartly rescued. On September 18, at about noon, tfye passenger* in the after end of the ship saw a man deliberately climb over the rails on the starboard side and leap into the sea. The alarm was smartly given, and as is usual under the circumstances, the ship’s helm was put hard over without reducing her speed, and the emergency boat was quickly lowered in charge of the fourth officer.' Mr. T. Beale. Altogether six life-buoys were thrown overboard. The emergency boat was soon within reach of the man, who was calmly supporting himself by a life-buoy. He was lifted safely into the boat. The Paparoa, in the meanwhile, had approached, and within 21 minutes the lifeboat and all hands were back on the deck of the liner. The incident occasioned some alarm among the female passengers, and all accorded the crew of the emergency boat a hearty reception for their rescue. The passenger concerned was none the worse for his immersion. He, however. remarked, on finding himself uaci on the liner, that if it were midnight he would jump overboard again. Captain Ashworth then decided that it was advisable to put the main in restraint, and he was in safe custody on the arrival of the vessel at Wellington. The man, who said he had been suffering ■from fits of despondency, is 42 years of age, single, and a gardener by occupation. He is booked for Melbourne, to which city he belongs, and will probably be taken on to Australia. Although a gale had been raging during the three days prior to the episode the weather was fine, and there was only a moderate sea. Five out of the pix life-buoys were recovered.