THE PERTHSHIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 158, 6 July 1899, Page 8

THE PERTHSHIRE.

ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY

FOUND OFF NORFOLK ISLAND.

SYDNEY. June 19

The s.s. Talune, with the Perthshire ill tow, entered Sydney Heads shortly after 7 this morning, and was taken to an anchorage in Neutral Bay.

Naturally the steamer bears considerable evidence of the severe handling she received while drifting for fifty clays practically at the mercy of the winds and sea in an ocean which is not characterised by its calmness, and which, during the greater portion of the time that the Perthshire was helpless, .was swept by almost continuous boisterous gales.

Beyond the outward signs which the sterner bears of having been for a long while buffeted by the sea, no damage has been done, and it is understood that the large quantity of frozen meat on board is in excellent order.

After dropping her tow at Neutral Bay the Talune's run up the harbour to 'her berth at the Union Company's Bridge-street wharf was in the nature of a triumphal procession.

The shrill whistles of the smaller steamers, even if it brought about somewhat of a pandemonium, was, in its way, a hearty welcome, and as the Union steamer drew near her wharf large crowds cheered almost continuously.

A Press Association representative interviewed Captain Spinks of the Talune as soon as the steamer was made fast.

He learned that every night, when well off the coast, rockets were fired hourly from the deck of the Talune. The Perthshire was sighted at 3.30 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, the 13th, in lat. 29.?. south and longitude 1G8.3S east .about. TOO miles from Sydney. She asked for assistance and the Talune stood by till daylight. The weather at the time was fine, with a moderate breeze. By 8.30 the Perths'hire's hawser had been got aboard, aud a- start was made. Proceeding at half-speed progress throughout Tuesday and Wednesday was fair. The wind had, however, been increasing, and on Thursday morning it was blowing a moderate gale, with sharp rain squalls and heavy head sea. At 8 o'clock the tow rope, anxiety about which had been felt throughout the night, parted. Preparations were immediately made to re-establish the connection, a task which the high sea rendered exceedingly difficult.

Eventually a line was passed aboard the Perthsire by means of a rocket, and the chain cables were by means oi this connected.

A fresh start was made at four in the afternoon, and despite the strong head wind and heavy sea the cables, whie'h were tested to the utmost, held throughout Thursday night and Friday.

The weather then moderated and the wind veering to the south-west sail was set on the Perthshire, and without further incident the two steamers arrived in Port Jackson early this morn-

Captain Spinks has been warmly congratulated on all sides on the long and successful towing feat accomplished by the Talune.

Captain Spinks kept to thy track marked out by him at Wellington, and the result has demonstrated the accuracy of his judgment. A cable from the owners of the Perthshire was awaiting him conveying congratulations, and Captain Spinks lias also been warmly congratulated by the local shipping men upon his luck and success in the face ofo adverse weather. The Talune's passengers also presented an addi-ess. When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had been repaired, and she was heading north under steam at the rate of 4£ knots per hour. She was then within 43 miles of Norfolk Island. From the date of leaving Sydney on April 26 throughout the long drift the weather was stormy. The steamer was carried helplessly some 1400 miles, crossing and recrossing the track of steamers and expecting to be picked up at any time.

No "attempt was made to mend the shaft till she had drifted out oY thi track of New Zealand steamers.

The Perthshire broke her shaft at six o'clock on the evening of the 28th of April. The fracture was within four feet of the end, but the engineers succeeded in repairing the shaft on June 11th after ten days labour by means of a patent coupling. But for the passengers aboard .the captain would probably have attempted to make port unaided. Though the experiences of those on board were exciting they suffered little inconvenience. The only fear was that the steamer might drift ashore after passing out of the track of regular commerce.