TEUTONIC'S NARROW ESCAPE.!

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 17

TEUTONIC'S NARROW ESCAPE.!

A THRILLING STORY

A thrilling story was told when the White Star liner Teutonic docked at Liverpool from Canada. When about 170 miles east of Belle Isle she sighted an iceberg right ahead. The officer ou the forecastle head gave the alarm to the captain. Tlie engines were Immediately reversed, the helm ported, and the danger averted. The Iceberg, which was as high as the funnels, passed a few yards from the liner.

The Teutonic left Montreal nt six o'clock on the morning of the ISth October with between 300 and 400 second cabin and thirdclass passengers and valuable general cargo. She called at Quebec at seveu o'clock the same evening, and left for Liverpool shortly after. Some fog was encountered off the banks of Newfoundland, and the speed was reduced.

Shortly before two o'clock ou Wednesday morning a thick fog was encountered, and the speed of the steamer was redeced until she was only just making head-way. A keen look-out was kept, the atmospheric conditions being such that the ship seemed to be enveloped in a thick white blanket. A wifeless warning was received from a passing, steamer of the presence of ice. and the air was bitterly cold. Aliout ;i.,'!o on Wednesday afternoon, as the steamer crept slowly nlong, tbe officer nt the forecastle head made a frantic rush across the deck and reported that a huge Iceberg was right ahead in the Teutonics track.

Captain Jones Immediately ordered the engines full speed astern nnd bad tbe helm put hard aport. The Teutonic quickly responded. As she swung round to tbe au enormous iceberg loomed up out of the fog and passed within a few yards of tlie vessel on the port side. It was not until the iceberg was within a few yards of tho liner that the look-out man discerned it through the fog. The berg, which was as high as the Teutonic's funnels, cleared tbe liner's stern by four or five yards, and it was feared that the propellers might be fouled.

The passengers were below in warm saloons nt the time, nnd were unaware of the danger. The presence of mind shown by the captain anil officers alone saved the Teutonic from collision. The captain was on deck for some thirty-six hours while tbe fog prevailed, and the passengers, when they heard of their narrow escape, were loud in their praise of the skipper and officers.