H.M.S. GOLDFINCH IN A HURRICANE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 161, 10 July 1899, Page 5

H.M.S. GOLDFINCH IN A HURRICANE.

THE VESSEL HAS A NARROW

ESCAPE

DELUGED BY SEAS.

When the gunboat Goldfinch moored in Farm Cove yesterday (says the Sydney "Telegraph" of July 5) after her run from Auckland she presented a most weather-beaten appearance, and upon boarding the vessel tangible proof was given that the little ship had passed through a most trying ordeal. "The Goldfinch encountered a gale of hurricane fury on the run from Auckland," said an olh'eer, "and had an extremly narrow escape. The ship," he added, "was completely deluged by the seas, the water at one time being about knee deep in the cabins, and the fittings and ship's papers were almost totally destroyed." The sails were also torn to ribbons in the hurricane squalls. Her jibbooin was carried away, and it was only by good seamanship that the Goldfinch was brought through the tempestous weather.

The gale was evidently the same in which the Union Company's boat 3 fared so badly. In the mountainous seas which accompanied the storm the Goldfinch knocked about to an alarming extent and completely buried herself at times in the waves. All hands had a thrilling time, and several were injured through being knocked down on deck by the sens. Lieutenant Lewis met with a painful accident during the gale, the top of his finger being- torn off by a piece of wreckage. A stoker was also badly knocked about. The seas broke on board with tremenous force, threatening to sweep everything before them, and during the worst of the gale several of the crew narrowly escaped being carried overboard. Lieutenant-Commander Leq-att describes the experience as the worst he had during his career in the navy. So badly was the vessel strained in the hurricane that she sprung a leak, and the pumps had to be kept going continually for the safety of the vessel. The leak is an old one and has previously given some trouble, all efforts to locate it having been unsuccessful.

"We left Sydney," said one of the officers, "on May 18th, and proceeded direct to Noiimea, where we exchanged an officer with. H.M.s. "Wallaroo. We made a stay of ten days at Noumea and then set out for Auckland. The passage across was uneventful, and occupied about a week. A fortnight was agreeably spent at Auckland, the Goldfinch leaving for Sydney on Juno 24th. , . i ...

"Up to the 27th the weather was fairly fine, and good progress was made; but on the evening of the dute mentioned stormy conditions developed, the wind shifting to the east, and increasing until it reached hurricane fury. . Erom midnight of the 27th until 6 a.m. on the 28th the storm was at its height, and it was during this time that the Goldfinch had such a severe buffetjng. The vessel was. hove to.under storm canvas, and as showing the force of the wind, the heavy sails were quickly- reduced to ribbons, the little ship labouring and straining heavily in the mountainous seas. It was pitch dark, and the hands were exposed to considerable danger in moving about the deck attending to the navigation. The ship had been battened down, but, notwithstanding these precaution^ the water found its way into almost every part of the ship. Altogether," said the lieutenant, "it was one of the worst nights put in at sea since the vessel was commissioned. •

"The seas broke on board without let or 'hindrance, smashing three of the boats, and entering .cabins and officers' rooms, and playing havoc with the fittings ■ and personal effeots. When at last daylight broke, the gale moderated, but it was only a short respite, for next day the storm came on with renewed vigour from, the south-west, and dangerous cross-seas swept the gunboat fore and aft, the position of the vessel being extremely critical. The officers and men were working up to their necks in water. Speed was reduced to .between one and three knots per hour during the gale, and at times great difficulty was experienced in keeping steerage way on the vessel, the screw racing heavily. The weather continued more or less stormy until the Heads were made shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday morning!"

Owing to the loss of the cabin fittings, there was no convenience for meals in ■ the ' messroom, and officers and men were compelled to hold on. by one hand and eat their food standThe Goldfinch has come here to dock and refit prior to returning to England to pay off, her commission having expired. The Goldfinch will probably proceed home by way of Torres Straits, calling at Thursday Island, Batavia, and Singapore. ' She is a gunboat of 805 tons displacement, and commissioned at Sydney on the Ist April, 1896, with the following officers:—Lieutenant and commander, Charles W. S. Legatt; navigating lieutenant, W. Nunn;, lieutenant, N. McC. Lewis; surgeon, Dr..T. D. Halahan, |B.A.;' assistant paymaster in charge, I-William P. Wells; engineer, Arthur P. S. Spencer; and gunner, F. E. ,H. Johns. . ■ I: The gunboat Lizard, which was previously on the Australian station, has been commissioned to replace the Goldfinch. Contrary to the general custom, the Goldfinch will sail- from here before the relief ship arrives'in Austalian waters, and, according to present arrangements, she is expected Ito get away on the 20th inst.