FOLLOWED BY SHARKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 4

FOLLOWED BY SHARKS.

STOKY OF WHANG APE'S DsßT* ~ Additional particulars of the <Jrift off the steamer Whangape after her tail- . shaft snapped on September 18, when she was 232 miles from 'Cape Washington, Kadavu Island, Fiji were received' on the arrival of the vessel at Auckland last evening. Early in the drift, so the story goes, the propeller dropped out to its furthest limits, touching the rudder-post.- Sβ . as to connect the tail-shaft again,- it was necessary to secure this in position. A staging was lowered to within three feet of the water, and on this Mr Staniej«, chief officer, and the boatswain and carpenter took up their positions to carry out the work. The waves rose above the staging, adding to the discomfort of the men. A wire purchase was run round the boss of the propeller, which was got into position with difficulty. The carpenter had to caulk the stern tube to keep the water from entering the shaft. This was risky enough, but the discovery that they were being I followed by large sharks 10 to 15 feet I long brought another element of 4 an * : ger into the work, and the feelings of i the men can be easily Imagined, when, they had. finished their task. Throughout the Whangape's drift, sharks followed her. and several were caught, one being 16ft. long. : As previously related, the ; engineers managed to effect a temporary ■ coupling of the tail-shaft with the main shaft, and when the vessel was picked jup by the Tofua, she was under easy steam. The Tofua took the Whangape to Suva, where the disabled vessel was tilted up aft to enabie the engineers to fit a new tail-shaft. On the way up to Auckland the Whangape averaged a speed of 8} knots per hour, which is ; very creditable under the circumstances. i After discharging her cargo, the Whanr gape will be docked to have repairs ta her stern tube effected.