Statement of John Harry Swindell, Master, S.S. Trongate |
| John
Harry Swindell, Master of the Trongate, submits the following statement: |
| Saturday the
30th November, 1929: 6
a.m. Harbourmaster
on board, orders raise steam and interview Administrator. |
| 10:30
a.m. |
Commanded proceed
Norwich City |
| 2:00
[p.m.] |
Full away
to enable boat to arrive Gardiner [sic] Island daylight. |
| Monday, 2nd
December:Arrangements
completed with M.V. Lincoln Ellsworth |
| Tuesday, 3rd
December:6:50 a.m.Sighted
Gardiner Island. |
|
7.30 |
sighted
Norwich City and crew on beach. |
|
8.30 |
stopped
half mile off wreck. |
|
9.0 |
launched whale
boat, water provisions, boat unable to return.
Lincoln Ellsworth motor boat alongside.
Steamed ship round south East corner.
Launched ships boats, first mate in charge.
Lincoln Ellsworth doing same and launching motorboat.
Observed boatmen transporting crew and whaleboat across lagoon.
Trongate, also Lincoln Ellsworth standing by. |
| |
2.30 p.m. |
Fired rocket
line on shore, received message: Send water, biscuits, weather too
bad, try tomorrow. |
|
3. p.m. |
Whale boat successfully
over reef. 3 survivors, our boat again ashore, unable take water or
stores. Heavy surf, many attempts made to launch unsuccessfully. |
|
6.30. |
Head
south and full away for one and a half hours. |
|
8. 0 |
Stopped engines
for night. |
| |
| Wednesday,
4th December: |
|
6.30 a.m. |
Ship's [sic]
head north and full away. |
|
7.40 |
Alongside position. |
|
8.30 |
Three more survivors
and received message "To the Master s.s.Trongate - the positions
as to getting over that surf appears to be hopeless. The only thing
I can see for it is a cruiser with a seaplane to alight in the lagoon
inside, if possible. Send us as much water as you can as we have none.
We have meat but a case of milk would come in useful also matches,
chlorodyne as some of us are getting diarrhoea and any old boots (on
pair size tens) and any old hats and tobacco. These (native) men from
your ship say there is too much risk from sharks should the boat capsize
when crossing the reef. Sorry to put you to all this bother and we
all thank you for your assistance. |
|
|
|
Sincerely yours, |
|
|
D. Hamer,
Master
|
|
|
Boat
sent ashore with all requested.
Finding a better landing.
Three more survivors over reef. From now on rescue completed. Boat
taking water kegs and barrel each time and various requirements. The
last survivors arrived on board "Trongate" 2.15 p.m. Method:
whale boat over reef to "Trongate's" boat. "Lincoln
Ellsworth's" launch towing to "Trongate." |
|
About 2.30 p.m.
12 men transferred
to "Lincoln Ellsworth" |
|
3.30 p.m. |
Full away. |
| |
| Without the
whale boat manned by Missionnary, Harry Tama, Pa, Lanifale, Faletule,
Leinipoa, this rescue could not have been effected.* |
| The M.V. "Lincoln
Ellsworth" and s.s. "Trongate" rendered equal service. |
J.H. Swindell
|
Master,
s.s. "Trongate".
|
* These
names are spelt differently here than in Capt. Swindell's Statutory
Declaration. We are inclined to think that the Declaration is
more nearly correct.
|
