HOW THE WAIKATO WAS TOWED.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10484, 24 October 1899, Page 2

HOW THE WAIKATO WAS TOWED.

In an interview at Sydney, Captain Barnett, of the steamer Aakran, describes how he picked up the Waikato. He sighted the steamer on September 15th in latitude 39.30 S. longitude 64.40 E., and after consideration, agreed to do his best to tow the steamer into Fremantl**, provided the Wail kato suppKed his ship with coal when opportunity offered. The narrative then proceeds thus: —"On this decision being made known the crew of the Waikato mustered on the poop and cheered and cheered again. After supplying him. with what provisions we could spare, a 7in steel hawser, attached to thirty fathoms cable, was made fast to i both vessels. At 6 p.m. the Asloun began to tow. All went well for three days, but on September 18th, while a strong beam wind was blowing, with a high sea running, the tow rope broke, and three hours were spent in getting fast again. At 10 a.m. on September 20th we reached the small island of Amsterdam, under the lee of which it. was proposed to tranship coal. Fortunately the day was fine, and the Asloun took up her position close under the steep cliffs, holding the Waikato in tow all the time. Coaling was commenced at once, all hands of both ships working with a will throughout the day with boats. It was a bright moonlight night, and, working continuously from the time of starting operations, "by noon of the 21st 100 tons oi coal had been transhipped from the bunkers of the Waikato to the bunkers of the Asloun. This is probably a record performance in itself, a similar feat never having been performed so far as is known. At one time all of the five boats employed broke adrift and got out into the open sea, but they were brought back again without mishap, thoroughly tired out with their arduous labours; but it was recognised that no other opportunity would occur for coaling on the voyage, and the men bent themselves to their task with a will. At half-past 1 p.m. on September 21st, towing was resumed by the Asloun. A, cable was placed round the foremast, leading along the deck, and passing out of the port-quarter pipe. Another cable was fixed round the mainmast, passing out of the starboard-quarter pipe. All went well for several days. On September 28th, a heavy gale from the south-east was encountered, which soon brought up a tremendous sea, in which both vessels floundered and wallowed about practically helpless. At 8 p.m., during a terrific squall, accompanied by blinding showers of rain, the tow rope parted. Fortunately, the precautions taken against such an emergency proved to have been sufficient, and the gear was kept from fouling the propeller of the Asloun. Just about this time, with the excessive rolling of the ship, the Asloun's funnel broke loose somewhere at the base, and it had to be secured with chain lashings to prevent its going over the side. Having thus to look after our own safety, by keeping the Asloun's head to sea, we soon lost sjght of the Waikato in the thick rain. We saw her burning frequent flares for a time, but the thickness of the- haze soon prevented us from seeing these, and she drifted altogether out of view. The gale moderated towards morning, and as soon as daylight Appeared, the horizon was eagerly scanned for a sight of the Waikato. The steamer, however, had vanished completely. At ten o'clock, the sea having gradually fallen, the Asloun was put about to look for iher companion- After steaming about forty milee in a N.N.W. direction we came up with her at 5 p.m. on the 29th. We had her once more in tow. This time the tow-rope was reduced to thirty fathoms length, with thirty fathoms of steel rope, thirty fathoms of mooring chain, and sixty fathoms of cable chain. Rough, unsettled weather now «et in, and further unpleasant experiences were gone through. On October sth, at 10 a.m., during a strong southwesterly wind, the Asloun shipped a very heavy sea over her poop, which washed away everything movable, broke the cabin skylight., and completely flooded the cabin to a depth of 2ft, making * dreadful mess of everything, and ruining the cargo and a quantity of stores. During the sth the wind settled into a steady westerly breeze, which finally brought the storm-beaten vessels safely into port about 8 a.m. on October 7eh, to the great rejoicing of all concerned. Unfortunately, when we stopped to take tine pilot on board, the great scope of the cable rested on the bottom and got caught on something, probably rocks, and parted. Both ■ships consequently anchored under the lee of Rottneet Island for the night. On the morning of October. Bth the Government tugboat Penguin came off, and it was thought advisable and safer for the Waikato to be towed up to Gage Roads by her. The Asloun stopped by her until it was seen that all was safe, and then proceeded to an anchorage in the Roads at 11 a.m., whither we were followed an hour iater by the Waikato.