DISMASTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 236, 29 June 1908, Page 5

DISMASTED.

SCOW WHANCAROA TOWED TO PORT. PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. On Saturday afternoon, tho three-masted scow Whangaroa, en route from Wanganui to Sydney with a cargo of timber, was towed into Wellington Harbour by tho Westport Coal Company's collier Regulus.

The scow left Wanganui on Juno 3, with a cargo consisting of about 165,000 ft. of whito pino timber. All went well for tho first five days. On Juno 9 a heavy westerly gale'struck tho vessel, and it was found necessary to considerably shorten sail. Tho gale continued, and about 3 o'clock in tho morning, tho threo masts snapped off. Intense darkness prevailed, and mado any attempt to clear the ship impossible. Some of tho broken spars, masts, etc., had Worked below tho vessel, and seriously endangered her. At daybreak, the debris was removed, and a sea-anchor put out to keep the vessel to tho sea and wind. This improved things considerably, and for.a time tho weather abated. As tho sea began to increaso again, further precautions were taken by Captain Harris to keep the vessel head on to tho sea.

On June 20, after drifting for some days, tho weather again began to improve, and some jury masts were rigged up. As most of tho vessel's sails went with tho masts, some old ones wero procured from the locker, but, as tho square sail used was much too largo for the jury rigging, it had to be tucked in at the upper end. ."When tho rigging was accomplished, tho vessel Was ablo to do two knots an hour under favourable conditions.

The mishap occurred when the vessel was about 470 miles duo west from Wanganui, and fortunately none of the crew had been injured. At 8 p.m. on' Juno 20, the Whangapc, of tho Union Company's fleet, en route from Westport to Sydney, was signalled, and spoko tho vessel. Tho Whaugapo after making inquiries as to provisions, etc., resumed her voyage to Sydney, promising to report tho Whangaroa on arrival there. Heavy westerly winds, accompanied by high seas, were next encountered. The vessel came through them without ■ injury, and sighted Farewell Spit on Friday morning. The hopes of all were raised, when an easterly wind set in, which promised to blow the scow out to sea.

It was about this stage, while 15 miles S.W. of Farewell, that the Regulus hove in sight, and was signalled for, and requested to take the vessel in tow to Wellington. Captain Sillars, of the Regulus, did so, and, after averaging about eight knots an hour with tho Whangaroa in tow, reached the harbour in safety, and berthed the disabled scow alongside tho Westport Coal Company's hulk Alameda.

I Before Captain Sillars took tho Whangaroa in tow, tho question of (towage was raised. After a discussion between the two cantains, it was decided to leave the'matter to be settled b.v thb respective owners of the vessels. Tho Whangaroa's cargo has suffored to the extent, of about 35,000 ft. of tirribor, which was either Inst or jettisoned. Her owners are Messrs. E. D. Pike and Co., of Sydney. Tho Regulus, after taking in provisions on Saturday night, resumed her vovago to New Plymouth shortly before midnight.