A STEAMER ADRIFT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7813, 4 June 1909, Page 3

A STEAMER ADRIFT.

;; Per Press Association. •- WELLINGTON, June 3. Captain Watson, of the steamer 'Bleriaeim, which arrived to-day,., reports' that he picked up the steamer Woottdii disabled 1 m Cook Strait. Ihe Blenheim towed the Wootton to the vicinity of Cape Palliser, and then had to let her go, owing to shortness of ipoal; : , ' , The Wootton had a sea anchor out "•when the Blenheim steamed away. The Wootton (Captain Scott) is a wooden vessel of 150 tons, owned ] by the Kaiapci Shipping and Trading Company. She . left Wellington last . Thursday for Nydia Bay (Pelorus Sound) and Lyttelton. :Captain Watson states that .he crossed the Wairau bar at 4.35 p.m. 'yesterday. At 6.20 p.m. he sighted a vessel ■m distress; She was carrying t.wo-red lights, firing rockets, and exhibiting flareups. On drawing near her, ebme" seven miles out of his course to the. south-west, Captain,-. Watson as : 'certained that it" Vas-;:the Kaiapoi steamer Wootton:;..He spoke the vessel, and asked if he: could fender any assistance. Those on: board said the „phip:had broken down,r.ilwidr ; aßked to vto towed to WellingtoniGnlWiith great difficulty the Blenheim drawq alongside near enough to throw a line torn board. 'A, stiff N.N.W. sea was running at the:'time', and made towing extremely ■hazardous., Captain Watson cou,lp?,?noli discover the precise details, asithtfee ©a board both vessels were tooiljiasy with the towing operations. ■' \ .r: The Blenheim towed the Wootton till 6.40 this morning, and she; castoff then about eighteen miles south of Pencarrow. There was then a heavy north-west gale blowing through the strait. Captain Watson had to leave the Wootton. where she was, .because 'he had not enough coal to take both •vessels into Wellington. The weather „ iwas 1 making the passage very slow, as the vessels were against a strong head "•■.wind all the time. , o The tug Ducp left shortly after 2 o'clock and returned between 8 and •9 to-night. She reports having searched .fhe coast line for-22 miles south oi v Eencarrow,. but, saw no traces of the •Woottpn- Those ,on board ; the Duco could see several miles further along the-coast. There was a, heavy galo blow--1 ing, with a..heayji sea. *'i- TThe st^ari^er .Duchess .will probably be despatched "'to search to-morrow ievening. "."-.-. - . .