KETCH IN A GALE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 253, 18 July 1908, Page 5

KETCH IN A GALE.

TOWEP INTO LYTTELTON.

STRUCK BY A TERRIFIC SQUALL.

HEAVY SEAS BREAK ON BOARD.

(DT TEUSGEArn—PttESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, July 17. Shortly before one o'clock this morning, the signalman at tho station on Addersley Head noticed blue lights.burning, aiid signal rockets firing, along the -peninsula a few miles southward of the heads. A strong gale was blowing, and the driving clouds almost obscured the moon. . Somo vessel was in distress, but whether large or small it was impossible to say. Tho- signalman ,communicated by telephone with the \ actirig-harbourmastor, who at once ordered' the tug Canterbury to proceed to the assists anco of the vessel/ which i was too far .off to be identified. The tug, with Captain Brown, > the pilot, on board, left at 1.30 -am., but it was five hours later before sho returned to port with the ketch Lily in tow. - The wind was howling, from 1 the southwest, and those on board the tug had a very .unpleasant time, but the two men on board 'tho ketch,. Captain' J. M. Etheridgo and bis one, Ricliarcj Nodder, had had the most trying experiences. A'"Truth" reported visited \ tho Lily this morning, and the little.vessel, which is only 25 ; tons burthen, showed .' unmistakable signs of a rough handling. ? Her sodden decks and torn and tattqred sails spoke eloquently of tho heavy seas' and fiorco squalls of tho dirty night outside.. . .' i ■ N 'Captajn' Etheridge, a' young but weatherbeaten skipper, cold and ivet and tired, supplied "the reporter with some details. 'Ike Lily,' with ~ a quantity . .of cargo oil board, left Little Akaloa .at .5 o'clock yesterday • morning for Lyttolton, but the : wind was ' very light; and shortly afterwards dropped to. a ealin. • . '/rhe Lily, was dIE Decanter Rock, between Little Akiuoa and Decanter Bay, >vhen, about • 2,30 p.pi., she was struck by. a-terrific squall from the'■south-west. The sea quickly got up, and although tho vessel was little moro than half a. mile from the shore; it'was impossible to see the land, owing to the blinding .hajj and rain. The ketch was under reefed, mainsail and mizzen sail, and the jib, but , this small spread of canvas was ripped by the violent gusts. ; - : Tho. squall "lasted about two hours, and Captain. Efcheridge lowered his . sails and dropped his anchor with seventy-five fathoms • of cable' out. Although the rain and hail ceased the wind and sea increased hourly, and about 8 p.m. the vessel commenced to drag' her anchor, she being then about two miles off .the shore. The'wind was blowing hard from the south-west, and there was a great . sea running. The Lily , shipped. very heaty water, ■ plunging her bows under con- ■ tlnually. '': ', I ' '"'V..- '!.■ Captain Etheridgo was knocked down four or five times ,by the seas which broke oil board, and which. washed tho wedges and battens off tho hatches. The skipper aiid his mate did all that' was possible for the' safety of the vessel,'- which, ; however, continued to drag her anchor. As the ketch , got further off shore the wind' and sen became worse. ■ Shortly after midnight sho was about eifjlit miles olf tho land, and Captain-Etheridgo then decided to signal Lyttelton Heads'.for assistance. ■ Ho burned four bluo lights and fired'three rockets, which were seen by the signalman on Addersley Head, : who answered each one'• with .a white light. . ■After a long and anxious wait the lights of ■ the tugboat wore sightod as she cleared the heads about. 2 'a.m. An hour later the ■tug'was alongside,"'and-a tow .'line:'connected up. It was impossible to lioave up the anchor, and Captain Etheridge, after "buoying" tho cable, let the wholo 90 fathoms of chain and : his anchor slip. v : , The tug started ahead with the ketch in tow, but the tow-lino fouled, and carried away .the' jib-boom, guy,' and the hobstay, and tqre a piece of timber off the stem of the ketch. The dinghy of tho Lily had been towing astern, but" was water-logged, and when the tug started to go ahead the painter connecting-the . boat with; the ketch parted and the dinghy was lost. Tlio Lily towed well behind tho,tug, Which.kept in the smoother water under tho leo of the land until Port Levy .rocks were abeam, and there . 'the-tow-line,''which had 'become chafed, parted. ■ After a short delay, tho tug got another line aboard,- and Lyttelton was reached ' without further mishap at 6.30 this morning.