VOYAGE IN THE STORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 117, 19 May 1924, Page 7

VOYAGE IN THE STORM.

WHANGAREI TO AUCKLAND. CLAYMORES PERFORMANCE. The first vessel to arrive at Auckland with tidings of Saturday's storm at sea was the Northern Company's 260-ton steamer Claymore, which made the 72----mile voyage from Whangarei to Auckland in the fierce easterly gale. It was a memorable voyage. Leaving Whangarei on Friday night the Claymore was prepared for a rough trip. Twelve passengers were on board, and the vessel was well loaded. Immediately on reaching the open sea the Claymore met the full force of the gale. Mountainous seas were running, lashed into fury by tempestuous winds, that enveloped the little ship in a mass of blinding spray. A small steamer, the Hikurangi, followed her to the heads, but as nothing more was seen of this ship the master doubtless deemed it prudent to abanden the voyage. The stout little Claymore continued on, and ■ bravely weathering the Bead, averaged four knots through-' out the night. Seas broke over the vessel fore and aft, reaching as high as the bridge, and ' flooding the fore deck and the poop . deck, while for'ard the crew's quarter* were uninhabitable, and the sailors had •. perforce to go aft where the firemen were located. Here they were a little better off, but as the deck was constantly awash and the water found its way into the cabins, the" night was one of continued discomfort and restlessness for those, on hoard. A heavy sea that hit the vessel on the port side during the darkness, came down through the' skylight into the ladies' cabin, where two lady passengers and the stewardess were accommodated, adding considerably to the unpleasantness of their position. After twelve hours of darkness daylight came, but no abatement of the storm. Breakfast did not interest the tired and discomfited company, and five more hours to Auckland was a gloomy prospect in the turbulent seas. At length the trip ended, and as the vessel lay by the wharf on Saturday afternoon those on board were emphatic in praising the seamanship of her officers and men, and the sea-going qualities of the craft.