The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-20
RESCUE Of TAHYF'S
PASSENGERS AT SEA
IS LIKE CL0CKW0RK
Crews Of Steamer and Ventura
Behave So Well That Only
Two Women Faint
During Work

Pago Page. Samoa, Aug. 20.-lP}-
A transpacific liner sank in a re-
mote spot in the South Seas last Sun
day and the net effect among her
317 passengers and crew members vas
the fainting of two women during the
operations.
Stories Of the remarkable rescue
echoed through Page Pago today as
the rescue ship Ventura sailed away
to San Francisco after making q
seven hour stop here to facilitate
handling the survivors of the British
steamer Tahiti.
The Ventura, which made q TOO
mile dash to the Tahiti and snatched
her human cargo from the face of a
threatening sea just before the
doomed vessel went down, arrived yes
terday afternoon and departed last
night amid cheers of all Pago Page.
Messages Congratulate
The air lanes were swamped with
messages Of thanks and c%ongratula-
ton for Captain w. r. Meyer and
the crew Of the Ventura. A banquet
was given to rescuers and descued.
First assistant engineer Thompson Of
the Tahiti also was hailed a hero.
Every signal station in the harbor
spelled out well done" in information
al code flags as the Ventura ap-
preached. Every available whistle
and other noise maker in Page Page
was brought into play to greet the
ship.
The cool Medicines of Captain A..
H. Totem of the Tahiti and his crew
came In for large measures of praise.
Praise Both Crews
Sir Hugh Allen. director of the
British Royal College of Music, a
passenger OF the Tahiti, praised the
conduct of the ill-fated liners crew
IS we'll as the work of the rescuers.
None of the passengers. he said, knew
Of the danger until hours after the
propeller shaft broke. He said the
fight to keep the Tahiti afloat and
the rescue operations were carried
out as If they were drills.
Bishop Bennett, another passenger,
said pass ngers became slightly nerv-
Gus when. a conmotion was heard
among the crew but came on deck
only to meet smiling officers and
stewards who requested them to don
life preservers.
Ships lights went out Saturday
night when water reached the electric
generators. Flashlights and q few
lanters served the sleepless company.
About II o'clock that night the Peny-
bryn arrived. This bolstered the
morale aboard the stricken ship and
all eyes scanned the eastern horizon
for the Ventura.
After completing the rescue work
the Ventura stood by until the Tahiti
sank.
There was no uncertainty among
the passengers >Hnd crew Ut the
Tahiti, said Bishop Bennett. All
hands were admirable In handling
the situation. It was done 50 we'll
that it seemed to lack direction"
Chief officer Trask Of the Ventura
said all boats Of the Tahiti were
scuttled and air tanks smashed. When
the stricken ship did not sink as
rapidly as expected, Captain Totem
and the carpenter of the Tahiti went
aboard her, opened two water tight
doors and ran for it.
They had time to laugh. however.
when the carpenter slipped on the wet
sloping deck in his scramble back to
safety. In five minutes the Tahiti
stood up on her stern and sank.
Captain Meyer remained non-com-
INITIAL. He seemed to regard his rescue
feat as a part Of the days work and
was anxious to get under way again,
hoping to make up some OF the time
lost in turning back to save the hui
man cargo of the Tahiti.