A FEAT IN ENGINEERING

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 146, 22 June 1899, Page 3

A FEAT IN ENGINEERING

FITTING A TAIL-END SHAFT AT SEA.

The question has been, raised in connection with the mishap to the Perthshire whether it was possible to fit a tail-end shaft at sea. This query is answered by the following- extract from "The Mercantile Marine Service Association Keporter" of March, 1898: "Very seldom indeed has the Cardiff Exchange presented such a gay and g-eneralJy festive appearance as was the case on March 28th. The occasion was the presentation of £500 by the underwriters to the officers and crew of the Castanos (s), owned by Messrs Morel, Cardiff, for a clever piece of work in fitting- a tail-end shaft and propeller in the Atlantic, under circumstances already briefly reported. A large platform had been erected at one end of the Exchange and effectively draped, whilst the galleries and roof were a mass of bunting. By '& o'clock some hundreds of people had assembled to witness the presentations. The Mayor (Alderman J. Bamsdale), who was accompanuied by the Town Clerk, and supported by a number of the leading merchants and shipowners, was loudly cheered on ascending the platform. Having been briefly introduced by Mr T. Morel, jun., he said they had met that day to do honour to men who had honoured themselves. They had performed difficult work well and loyally, and work which reflected credit not only on themselves and their employers, but also on the port from which they hailed, (Applause.) Mr T. Morel, jun., said the occasion was a peculiarly interesting one. The work which these men had performed had been accomplished only three times before, and he believed he was correct in • saying that this was the first time it had been done in the Atlantic. On January 16th of this year, at 2 a.m., whilst the Castanos was on her passage from Cape Verde Islands to Galvesion, in ballast, a heavy shock w;us Celt through the ship, and the engines commenced to race furiously. On the vessel being stopped it, was found on looking over the stern that the tail-end shaft had broken short, and the propeller dropped off. No time was lost in consultation. All hands immediately set to work to riggear and cut the tunnel top off ready to disconnect the tail shaft. This work occupied two dnys, all hands working night and day, and at the end of that time the spare tail end was in .the tunnel ready to be connected. Then commenced the difficult task of getting the spare propeller, weighing nearly eight tons, over the side, the hood aft rendering this work most difficult, especially as the ship was lying broadside on to the swell and rolling heavily. All the time the sea was washing over the stern, tube, and men working over the side. On the sixth day the propeller was shipped, when the sea grew worse, and work had to be stopped for the night. Consequently it'was not until'the next day that the work was completed and the engines again started. The ship arrived at her destination on the 20th. When the matter was laid before the underwriters they immediately signified their appreciation of the services by granting the sum of £500 to be divided amongst the officers and crew. (Applause.)"

Captain Win. Croxton received £113 and gold watch; Mr (1 J. Shepherd, chief engineer, the same; and the balance of the money was distributed in varying amounts among- the remainder of the ship's company.