The Washington times., 1930-08-18
7AH|TPSCREW.
WINS HIGH
PRAISE
Matson Liner Ventura Saves
252 in Thrilling Epic Dash
TO the Stricken' Boat


To the Stricken' Boat
Continued from Page -
ships company our safety Is
now assured"
Three Ships to Rescue
"All hands aboard saved!"
was the cryptic but thrilling
climax affixed to the rescue by
Capt. A. r. Totem Of the Hahiti
in q message radioed to an
anxious maritime world.
In danger Of laundering since
Saturday. after casting her pro-
pellor and tail shaft hundreds at
miles off the regular shipping
lines while on the way from
Australia to San Francisco, the
Tahiti flung out an SO. 8. that
launched three vessels miles
apart on q dramatic race to the
stricken vessel in time to take
aboard the terrified passengers
and hopeful crew. -
The Norwegian steamer Peny'
bryn was first to sight the list
ing tunnels Of the helpless ship,
but the captain Of the Tahiti
preferred to keep his passengers
aboard until danger became more
acute In order to avoid trans
ferring his passengers and crew to
another vessel while a heavy sea
endangered such operations.
Ventura Arrives
With the freighter standing by
carefully watching the disabled
vessel, the Matson liner Ventura
finally drew alongside after a
record dash from the Samoa Is
land regions and hove to hardly
a few moments before the third
bulkhead Of the Tahiti gave way,
listing her sharply to port.
To the Ventura goes the credit
for thrilling dash through the
South Seas and the rescue Of those
aboard the Tahiti. When the
stricken ship flashed a distress
signal, the Ventura was hundreds
of miles away.
Crew Is Beaten
Twice before the arrival Of the
Norwegian steamer, the captain
Of the Tahiti issued orders to
abandon ship.
Each time actual abandonment
was delayed when the crew mo-
mentarily stemmed the inruShing
waters.
Finally, however, the crew was
beaten. Bulkhead after bulkhead
collapsed and then the final or
der to abandon ship was given.
Passengers who with lifebeltS
attached had hung together
awaiting such orders Immediately
filed in the best Of order into
the lifeboats and seasoned crews
from three vessels manned the
oars.
Despite a fast running sea, the
transfer Of the passengers, many
Of them Americans, was accom-.
plished without as much as a
wetting to any one of them. They
were allowed to take along a
load Of their most priced posses
Sions.
The crew Immediately after took
to the lifeboats. with Captain
Totem last to leave, according to
late reports.
Capt. A. T. Totem, Of the Tahiti,
finally deSpairing Of saving his
stricken vessel, clambered into a
waiting lifeboat q few short
moments before she sank after
suddenly listing heavily to port.
All reSuced passengers and crew
were reported in excellent physi-
cal condition aboard the Ventura.
Americans on Board
According to the official pas.
senger list here, the following
Americans were aboard the
Tahiti:
Mrs. s. e. Robinson, Boston
author; Mrs. Betty Tilly, New
York newspaper woman; James
Vernon, b. T. Jsgrig, Florence
0N1V14ADVAS SeSA1AGS O~GCSS 4OVWWy
Oates, Jane Oates, John Sulli-
van, Mary Sullivan, Helen
Switzer, Mary WamsIey, Ernest
st. Johns Watkins, Ernest
Lloyd Watkins, Elizabeth Clark,
Spokane, WASH; George Reed,
Iowa: Stanley Bales, New
Zealand clergyman resident in
America; Frank Barra, Brook
lyn; Mrs. V. Jense, Los Angeles
viOlinist.
In addition, Sir Hugh Allen,
president of the British Academy
Of Music, and Bishop Bennett
Of New Zealand, were among the
passengers.
The Tahiti left wellington
August IL and was due in San
Francisco August 20. Two days
at sea she lost one of her two
propellors.
Alexandria Woman