EXCITING VOYAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVIII, Issue 10944, 16 June 1927, Page 2

EXCITING VOYAGE.

CARGO OF RAILS BREAKS LOOSE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 15. Short of coal, the cargo steamer Pipiriki, bound from New York to Sydney, put into Auckland la6t evening. Her officers reported that the vessel had encountered stormy weather, both in the Atlantic, when on her way from Liverpool to New York, and in the Pacific. Included in the steamer'6 cargo are 4000 tons of railway iron for Western Australia, which was the canse of much trouble and anxiety on board when the vessel was crossing the Atlantic. A week out from Liverpool the steamer ran into stormy weather, and was subjected to a severe buffeting. On April 9 the wind increased to hurricane force. At the height of the gale the violent rolling of the ship caused the iron rails in No. 1 hold to break adrift, and they were thrown" about with the lurching of the steamer. The ship was at once hove-to and the work of securing the rails All the deck hands, under the direction of the officers, toiled in the hold, it being realised that the loose rails were Ifkely to cause serious damage if not secured, and at the end of four hours the men's efforts- were successful, the awkward cargo being made fast. The damage was confined to several twisted stanchions.