IN SERIOUS PLI6HT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 182, 1 August 1923, Page 4

IN SERIOUS PLI6HT.

DRIFTING ON ROCKS. WITH STEERING GEAR BfcOXta MARSEILLAISE'S NARROW ESCAPE. (By Telegraph.—Prssi Association.) WELLINGTON, this d»y. The French steamer Lβ, wirelessed to the Awanui station e B Monday that she had sustained l^* by heavy seas when nearing Welling" en route from Mew York via. New GrSaai it was understood that the fore and aft part of the vessel and the teleaiotor steering gear were knocked about, sistance was not required. It now appears that the Marseille was in a more serious plight than cenU be gathered from the brief wireless nm. sage. She had a good run up till tin the last few days, when extremely otu* seas were encountered. Her steeriu gear broke down, and some boljg became unriveted. While the ship *„ helpless, Ariel rocks loomed up only tn miles away, and both the wind and Hμ were driving her towards them. Fot four hours the crew of 31, captain vi all, worked frantically, but not till 4 a-m. on Saturday was the eteerinf f* r repaired. New bolts were then drbn into the plates and the danger of 1 casualty was finally averted. Ariel rocks are situated brtwm Gable End Foreland and Gisborne t|i about seven miles from the mainland.