THE ROTOKINO IN THE GALE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9022, 7 February 1895, Page 5

THE ROTOKINO IN THE GALE.

CABLE NEWS.

THE VESSEL PARTLY DIS-

ABLED.

SOME OF THE CEEW INJURED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

Sydney, February 6. The Rotokino, which left Newcastle for Auckland with 2000 tons of coal on the 29th ult., unexpectedly put in here to-day. It appears that all went well until Friday last, when the steamer fell in with the full force of the recent gale. She laboured very heavily in the trough of the seas during Friday night, and her decks were awash. All the hatch covers and ventilators from the after hold were washed away. Water rushed into the

foro and after holds, and washed out a large quantity of the coal. Two of her boats were smashed to pieces, and a third badly damaged. The skylights over the saloon and the smoking-room doors were stove in, and her railings extensively damaged. To add to the confusion her deck load of timber broke loose, and besides smashing up the deck fittings, seriously injured several members of the crew. The carpenter had his leg broken and three others were so badly injured that they had to b3 taken to their bunks. A tremendous sea was running all the time and carried out large quantities of coal. The vessel had a strong list to port, and so serious was her position that the lifeboats were provisioned and got ready for the worst. The pumps, too, were set going and this somewhat relieved the ship. On Sunday morning her head was turned for Sydney, where she arrived safely to-day, though in a battered condition and still with a considerable list.

The Kotokino was about 400 miles from the New South Wales coast when overtaken by the storm.

Captain Spinks, who had a narrow escape of being washed overboard, declares it was one of the worst storms he has over experienced.

The captain of the Botokino states that the vessel had a very narrow escape, and that it was only skill in seamanship that saved her. She leaves again as soon as the repairs are effected and the cargo is retrimmed.