TASMAN DRAMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1938, Page 5

TASMAN DRAMA

TOWLINE PARTS IN FIERCE GALE ORDEAL FOR CREW OF MOTOR SHIP BATTLE AGAINST HEAVY SEAS IN LIFEBOAT By Telegraph —Press Association. Copyright. SYDNEY, August 16. The “Sun” publishes a dramatic radio story today from the motor-ship Salamaua from which the Mako broke loose in a howling mid-Tasman gale while being towed from Auckland to Sydney. It is expected that the Salamaua will arrive here tomorrow or Thursday. The towline parted on August 9 and the situation became grave, as the Mako could not be allowed to drift and become a menace to navigation. The Salamaua, therefore, patrolled the high seas for two nights, keeping in view the pin-point lights of the deserted Mako, which was bucking alarmingly. Qn Thursday last Captain Andrew Smith, master of the Salamaua, ordered the launching of barrels to which lines were attached in the hope that these would drift towards the Mako and become entangled with the broken towline, allowing it to be recovered.

This failed, and the watch continued until Friday, when a crew of European volunteers, including four engineers, courageously put off in a lifeboat and battled against the nasty sea, finally reaching the Mako’s broken line which was tethered to a lighter. The line was brought aboard the Salamaua in difficult and hazardous circumstances. There were times when the two vessels were heaving so close together that a crash seemed imminent. The Salamaua resumed the tow on Friday afternoon.