A SHIP'S LUCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 238, 5 October 1908, Page 5

A SHIP'S LUCK.

DRtVEK ACROSS THE PACEFIC CCRIGOS EXPERIENCB OF THE . BASQUE HOUGOMONT. When the f our-nmeted barque Hoogomont arrived off Sydney Heads on Monday, and subsequently entered port, some surprise was created along the water-front, as, she was not on the list of expected vessels. In fact, she was known to have been chartered to load nitrate at Tocopilla, on the west coast of South America, and the latest mails from the West Coast advised that she had proceeded from Coqoimbo, West Coast, to Tocopilla, to secure her cargo. The Hougomont, it transpired, had been practically driven across the Pacific When Captain M'Millan was seen by a reporter, he at first ascribed hie arrival at Sydney to "adverse winds," bat on further enquiries being made it was gleaned that the vessel set out from Coquimbo for Tocopilla, about 500 nrilea distant to the north. She sailed on a Saturday, and was off Tocopilla on the following Friday afternoon. She got to within 17 miles of the port, in fact, and as the breeze carried her on, signals for a pilot were hoisted and responded to by the signal station. Then the barque stood off, awaiting the pilot's arrival, and as the afternoon -wore on signalled again. Another acknowledgment came from the shore, but darkness soon fell, and the wind died.away. The barque slowly drifted away from the port. Light, and baffling winds' set in, and despite every effort made to get back she was carried further away. Occasional heavy Weather was met, but never a favourable breeze, and in a few days she was driven 400 miles off. For three whole weeks Captain M'Millan endeavoured to navigate the vessel back to Tocopilla, but in vain. Finding provisions were getting short, and the prospects of reaching Tocopilla in such light tropical weather very poor, the barque's head was turned for Sydney, about 6000 miles distant, and away she bowled to the tune of a good breeze across the Pacific. A trip of 62 day* brought her off Sydney Heads, and she was soon at anchor in port. She thus sailed nearly 7000 miles without reaching her destination, only 500 miles away, and has more than probably lost' her charter through nothing but sheer bad luck. The captain has intimated -the ship's unexpected arrival here by cable, and is awaiting instructions.