STILL GOING STRONG

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 27

STILL GOING STRONG

It will probably come as a surprise to many who remember her to learn that the, well-known Colonial clipper Nelson—once a very popular ship on the New Zealand run—is still in service. During the 28 years she plied her trade to the Dominion, the Nelson brought a large number of settlers out, and many of them will still be alive today and retain clear memories of one of the most perfect specimens of the shipbuilder's art. She was a very lucky ship, too, and had several narrow escapes from disaster during her early career.

Originally a full-rigged ship, the Nelson now sails as a barque, and has been employed for some years in. the

Chilean coastwise trade, carrying lumber from Puerto Montt to the northern ports. She is owned by Jerman Oelckers and Co., of Puerto Montt, who also own the barque Guaytecas and the schoonel Calbuco. The Nelson was one of six clipper ships built in 1874 by Robert Duncan for Patrick Henderson. She was, according to Brett's "White Wings," specially built to carry passengers, and her accommodation was all that could be desired. At first she ran in opposition to the Shaw, Savill Company, but later, when amalgamation took place, sailed under their flag. The Nelson was a vessel of 1247 tons and traded to New Zealand from 1874 to 1902. As late as 1916 she was in Sydney Harbour. FAST RUNS. j The Nelson made several fast runs out to Dunedin—one in 75 days and a second in 77 days port to port. The 75 days' passage was in 1874, her first voyage to the Dominion. She first sailed from Glasgow with 317 passengers on October 1, but owing to stormy weather was compelled to shelter at Rothesay. She sailed again three days later, but another gale drove her back forty miles. Finally she left Tuscar on October 17, crossed the Equator on November 6, only 19 days out, and sighted the Snares on December 29, making Port Chalmers on December 31. She also made some excellent runs home—one in 72 days from Dunedin and another in 79 days from Timaru to the Lizard. She made over twenty voyages and never but once exceeded 100 days. The exception was to Wellington in 1892 when she took 106 days. The Nelson did some remarkable sailing when bound Home from Dunedin in 1875. She ran the distance between Otago Heads and Cape Horn in 19 days. Although the Nelson has sailed the seas for nearly 65 years she has had more than one narrow escape from going to the bottom. Her worst experience was in 1897, on the passage out to Wellington. That year, when she was 45 days out from Liverpool, the ship met tremendous gales. Mountainous seas swept her deck, smashing the houses, and carrying away one of the boats, the jibboom, and the foremast stays, and the fall of the topgallant mast was only prevented by the bravery of the chief officer, Mr. Davies.

OLD COLONIAL CLIPPER NELSON

After this gale all went well tin til the Nelson was abreast of Cape Farewell, on November 27, when the weather became thick and another severe gale sprang up. During the storm the ship touched on a rock, believed to be Tom's Rock and soon it was found she was making water rapidly. The pumps were manned but the water continued to gain and the gale increased to hurricane force. Fortunately, when the ship was in this perilous position near Cloudy Bay, the steamer Tarawera was sighted and Captain Perriam signalled that his vessel was sinking.

The Nelson was taken in tow and on arrival at the Heads the Tarawera was

relieved by the tug Duco. The ship was leaking badly and when, she was docked three holes about an inch in i diameter were discovered under the! fore hatch on the starboard side; there were also numerous dents in the plates, but the damage was not as serious as contemplated. In one of the holes a piece of rock was jammed and in another a fish was squeezed. A salvage claim of £5000 was made by the Union Company for the services of the Tarawera in towing the ship into port but they were only awarded £2000. The Nelson was repaired and later proceeded to Dunedin, where she loaded for England. The Marine Court suspended the certifi- j cate of Captain Perriam for one month and he was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry. The Court also drew the attention of the Marine' Department to the danger of that part of the coast and urged the necessity for a new survey. • MORE DAMAGE. The Nelson had a narrow escape in 1893 when bound out for Wellington. She had a stormy passage throughout and on October 18 encountered a gale of hurricane force j during which the ship broached to and the cargo shifted, The vessel suffered so much damage that Captain Perriam made for the Cape of Good Hope, where repairs were effected. Captain Kelly, who was in- command of the Nelson on the voyage out in 1892, reported exceptionally heavygales. The ship left Barry, North Wales, on August 12, and experienced light winds until October 18, when a terrific gale was encountered. Large quantities of water flooded the decks, carrying away bulwarks and doing other damage on deck. The cargo shifted and was righted under great difficulties. Despite these adventures the Nelson is still going strong and is one of an interesting quartet of old-timers. Besides the already-mentioned Guaytecas and Calbuco, and the Nelson, there is also to be found on the West Coast of South America the four-masted barque Omego. These four vessels must be among the least known of the dwindling band of "white wings" remaining in service iii the various trades in which it still seems possible for the sailing ship to earn»a living. The Nelson, at. least, deserves a less inglorious end to a useful and colourful career.