CAUGHT IN A HURRICANE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 277, 29 November 1897, Page 4

CAUGHT IN A HURRICANE.

SHE STRIKES A ROCK,

NARROW - ESCAPE FROM

WRECKAGE.

TOWED TO WELLINGTON BY THE

TARAWERA.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sunday.

Considerable excitement prevailed in the city last evening Avhen neAvs Avas circulated that the Sha.v-SaA-ill Company's fine ship Nelson, 1,126 tons, Captain G. Perriam, which had just arrived after a 97 days' passage from Liverpool, had had a very narroAV escape of being lost in the Straits early in the morning. In more than one respect the voyage Avas a sensational one. The vessel left Liverpool on 23rd August, and met with favourable Aveather until the 7th November, Avhen she Avas off Cape Leuwin. Here she met with three tremendous south-westerly gales in four days and sustained a large amount of damage. In the first gale, which only lasted six or seven hours, the fore topsail yard Avas carried aAvay, ahd next day'the ship weathered a gale of similar duration Avith but slight mishap. On the tenth, however, she experienced

A PERFECT HURRICANE, Avhieh raged for about 24 hours, and during Avhieh the glass fell to 28;40. The captain ran the vessel before it under topsails, and about eight p.m. a fearful sea came on board, smashing the port lifeboat, several of the rails, and some of the cabin doors. For hours the ship Avas literally buried in Avater, and those on board had a most anxious time. . The first destructive sea Avas follo.ved shortly aftenvards by another awful volume of Avater, which caused wholesale havoc' One of the forward lifeboats Avas swept overboard, the forecastle and deck-house AA'ere damaged and smashed in a variety of Avays, and as a climax the jib-boom and foremast stays Avere carried a .vay, leaving the foretopgallant mast in imminent danger of coming do .vn. This latter contingency, hoAvever, was preA rented by the braA-ery of chief officer Davis, Avho managed, at the risk of his life, to make a stay fast to the tottering mast. THE GALE MODERATED next' morning and the ship proceeded on her course, experiencing fine Aveather to Cape Fare .veil, Avhieh Avas breasted on Friday mornin^ last. The Aveather in the early party of Friday night Avas thick and misty, and Captain Perriam deeming it unAvise to run through the Straits under such circumstances hove the ship to off Stephen's Island. About ten o'clock, lioavever, the Aveather cleared and the vessel Avas headed through the Straits under easy sail. BetAveen three and four a.m., Avhen off Cape TeraAA'hiti, all hands Avere turned out as the wind had increased to the strens'th of a gale, and the captain was desirous of anchoring. At half-past four a.m. shortly after passing Avell outside of Karori Rock, the vessel TOUCHED ON A ROCK, but hung there only for a moment. The impact Avas so slight that the captain, AA'ho was on the poop at the time directing the man at the Avheel, had some doubt as to Avhether it Avas really a rock that had been hit. The pumps Avere immediately ordered to be sounded, but a,n examination shoAved the vessel Avas not making any Avater, and as the sea Avas increasing every mirtute the captain deemed it prudent to put the ship's head out to sea and tun before the AVind. About an hour afterwards further soundings were taken, and the officers Avere surprised and startled to learn that, the gauge shoAved 17 inches in the hold. The pumps were at once got to Avork, but THE WATER GAINED RAPIDLY, and the skipper clapped on sail with.the intention of running for Cloudy Bay in order to. beach the vessel. By this time the gale had increased to hurricane force. Soon afterAvards the Union Company's steamer TaraAvera, bound from Lyttelton to Wellington, .vas sighted, and the Nelson signalling that she Avas sinking the TaraAvera bore down on her, and arrangements Avere made for tOAving the disabled A-essel to Wellington. This Avas about seven a.m., and after long and hazardous operations the tavo vessels got under Aveigh at one p.m., being then bet.veen 10 and 15 miles oil' Wellington Heads. 0 .ving to the gale and heavy sea very great difficulty AA'as encountered in getting the toAvlines fast. At the first attempt the ship's haAvser carried aAvay, but the second try Avas successful, and the steamer's line was made fast. In the teeth of the gale the TaraAvera could only make sloav progress, and it AVas after five o'clock Avhen WELLINGTON HARBOUR WAS ENTERED. The steam tug Duco stood by the Nelson from the Heads, and as it happened this Avas a fortunate arrangement, for when a couple of miles off the Avharf the Tarawera's tAvo lines carried aAvay, but the Duco Avas equal to the occasion, and safely berthed the ship at the outer tee of Queen's Wharf at' half-past six p.m. Soundings then shoAved bet.veen five and six. feet of Avater in the hold. Extra pumps Avere soon brought into requisition, but they did not Avork at all satisfactorily, and the water sloAvly gained. At one a.m. the gauges showed over eight feet, and as a stron«northerly gale Avas bio .ving fears Avere em tertained that the vessel .vould take a list and share the fate of the Coromandel. The captain collected all the ship's papers and his oavu A raluables, and removed them to the Avharf, while the ere ay made a similar move with their belongings. Fortunately the Avorst fears were not realised, and .vith better working of the pumps as morning Avore on a mastery Avas obtained o .er the inrush of water, and by midday the register showed only four feet six inches, which Avas gradually reduced during the afternoon, uutil at five p.m. the depth Avas only a little over three feet six inches. EXAMINATION OF THE VESSEL. A diver has been engaged to-day examining the vessel's bottom, but so far has only found seven of the butts started amidships on the port side. This is not considered sufficient to account for the great inflow of water, and it is expected the vessel Avill be found to be more seriously damaged further aft, or on the starboard side,Avhich has not yet been examined. THE CARGO. The Nelson has 1,479 tons of cargo for Wellington and about 800 tons for Dunedin. The principal Wellington lines are : 260 packages whisky, 350 cases beer and stout, 3,200 sacks salt, 500 kegs soda. The balance comprises Avire, iron, earthenware, and sundries. Immediately on the vessel's arrival a start Avas made to discharge the cargo in order to lighten her, but operations Avere suspended to-day, all efforts being directed on pumping. The cargo in the lower hold, comprising chiefly salt and soda, must be damaged beyond recovery, but hardAvare, liquors, etc., in 'tween decks portion of hold, cannot suffer to any extent. The insurances are not obtainable to-day. The amount of salvage to be paid to the Union Steamship Company Avill probably be a question for adjustment. Universal sympathy is expressed for Captain Perriam, Avho has been in command of several of ShaAV Savill's fleet in the Ne.Y Zealand trade for the la&t 20 years, and during that time has never had a mishap in navigation. The Nelson is believed to have struck Thorn's rock, on which the barque Gras-

mere was totally Avrecked two years" j* Also, to slioav that he Avas on a ri«h_ course Avhen the ship struck, Captain F«_ riam explains that he saAv Penearro.y li„u right ahead. a )