ENGINES FAIL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19451, 26 October 1928, Page 4

ENGINES FAIL.

STEAMER BUFFETED ON MANUKAU BAR. VERY NARROW ESCAPE: [THE PSESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, October 25. With her engines broken and lier deck scarred by terrific buffeting with, the seas, the Northern Steamship Company's steamer, Arapawa, crawled into Onehunga this evening in tow of the Alexander, after a narrow escape from disaster on the Manukau Bar. The mishap due to a bolt in the piston crank breaking, as a result of the screw racing out of the water. For six hours the vessel held on to her anchors on the edge of treacherous sands, her machinery disabled, and her decks lashed by tremendous breakers. All the efforts of the engineers to effect repairs" were defeated by the flooding of the engine room, and it was not until the small steamer, Alexander lent assistance, that the vessel and its crow were rescued from a perilous situation. With a cargo from Wanganui, the off Manukau Bar just before 9 a.m. A wind was blowing lightly from the west, and a heavy westerly swell was causing the sea to break Heavily on the bar. Captain Pert, who, with the second mate, was on the bridge, agreed that the crossing would not be unduly difficult, and on receiving signalled confirmation from the signal station at the Heads, essayed the crossing. "We went through the first set of breakers without trouble, though the screw raced badly when the stern rose out of the water," said a member of the ship's company, who was on deck. "The engines began to race when we went over the, next lot of breakers, and then, when the screw ploughed into the water again, the crash came. A deafening sound of splintering steel issued from the, en-gine-room. I thought at first that we had struck a sand bank, but the noise continued like the crushing of broken glass, and then I knew that the engines had given on us.* . The second engineer, Mr H. Budge, and Fireman Lambden. who were in the engine room when the occurred, had a narrow escape from death or injury by P'« ces of JByiog metal. It was the bottom bolt of the crank which came away, and the pis ton, which continued working, smashed the cylinder to pieces, and hurtleti jagged pieces of steel in all direction , like the bursting of a shrapnel shell. The two men miraculously came through the ordeal without a scratcn. With her engines stopped, the vessel was at the mercy of the breakers which battered her with such force that tne stern rails were twisted and the crew had to hold on, as they said, ' by tne skin of their teeth." The impetus Which had forced the ship through the breakers carried her just over the bar, where two anchors were put down just in time to save the ship from foundering. The tide was on the ebb, causing the disabled vessel to drift back on to the breakers, which pounded her as she lay broadside on. Great seas buried the decks every few minutes, flooded the engine room and cooks f alley, and loosened the hatches which, owever, were quickly secured. Signals of distress were hoisted, and were seen by the signalman, five miles away, but before help arrived the crew put up a desperate fight to prevent disaster. Under the guidance of the chief engineer, Mr W. La Roche, an effort was made to get the remaining two pistons working, but the water poured continually into the engine room, and the violent pitching of the ship threw the men about like shuttlecocks. Feeling that the anchors would not - hold, Captain Pert and his chief officer, Mr R. Savage, decided to manoeuvre the vessel out of danger by using the favourable wind. A staysail, foresail, and mainsail were rigged up out, of tarpaulins, and the anchors "were taken up, but tlie wind was'not strong enough and the powerful ebb which was running, carried the steamer further back oh to the breakers The anchors were hastily put down again, and the shore signalled for help: After hours of tension, with the thunder of the breakers in their ears, expecting every moment to be their last, .the men were at last relieved to see the approach of an Anchor Line steamer, Alexander. It was only with the greatest difficulty and the exercise of caution that the rescuing steamer could draw near, owing to the breaking seas. A s}in tow-rope was made fast to the Arapawa's bow, but the disabled steamer was tossing so violently that the line snapped, carrying away the forecastle end-bitts. through which it Was passed. A second line held securely and the helpless vessel was rescued from her dangerous position at about 3 p.m., with a list to starboard, caused by the flooding of her engine room. The. Arapawa, lashed to her rescuer, was brought into Onehunga shortly before 7 o'clock. The repairs will 'be put in hand this morning and are expected to occupy nearly a week.