WHANGAPE SAFE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 5

WHANGAPE SAFE.

TOWED TO SUYA BY STEAMER TOFUA, TAIL SHAFT REPAIRED, ANOTHER ENGINEERING TRIUMPH. tBZ TELEGUAFHt—SPECIiL COattESrOSDINT.I Dunedln, October 2. Tho Union Company's steamer Whangape, which lias been drifting in the neighbourhood of Suva, Fiji, for tho last fortnight, has been picked up by the Company's steamer Tofua, and has been towed into Suva, where she arrived at neon to-day. When found by tho Tofua, tho Wliaugapo was under her own steam, and was making for Lautoka. This is another instance of tho engineers of tho Red Funnel fleet accomplishing tho most difficult foat of marine engineering, tho engineers of tho Hawea, it will bo remembered, having also succeedcd in repairing a broken shaft. At the time of the accident the Whangape was bound from Wellington to Suva, and the tail shaft broko on tho afternoon of September 18, when tho steamer was in latitude 22 deg. 26 mill, south, and longitude 176 east. The weather was fino, and Captain Chrisj> sent a boat away for Suva on the following Monday (September 21), which boat tho Atua picked up before it reached [Suva. The Atua made search for tho : Whangape, but failed to find her. ' DETAILS OF THE DRIFT. THE ENGINEER'S GREAT FEAT." (BY TELEGRAPH—riIESS ASSOCIATION—COI'TItIGUT. I Suva, October 2. Tho Tofua has brought to port tho steamer Whangape, which she picked up off Lautoka Passage last night.' The Wliangapo had been tiring rockets and had effected temporary repairs. Tho mishap occurred on September 18. A hawser was passed round tho propeller, but a heavy swell retarded work on tho broken tail shaft. The ship was in ballast and rolled continually. She drifted north-west. Sail was set on Septembor 19, when tho ship was 201 miles from Mount Washington; on tho 20th she wits 143 miles away; on the 21st, 88 miles (ivhon tho boat left); on tho 22nd, 55 miles; on tho 23rd, 25 miles. Tho firopeller was got into position, but was usccss. Tho lifeboats were provisioned, a cluster of electric lights was displayed on the mast, and they burned flares and rockets. Tliey lowered tho sails, as thoy were drifting west. On tho 24th thoy lowered 30 fathoms of chain. The drift was north-east, and they were 35 miles off Mount Washington. Tho engines wore still unsuccessful. On the, 2oth a second anchor was put out; the ship was 52 miles from Mount Washington. On the 26th land was seen ahead. Tho .Whangape sighted a steamer, but she paid no attention. The shaft was placed in position when tho Whangape was 18 degrees 22 minutes south and 176 east. On the 28th they wero 57 miles from Navula Passage, and tho engines were working. Thoy cast off the sea anchors. On the 29th they wore steaming 1} knots; tho shaft was slipping. They wore then 30 miles from Navula. On the 30th, tile wind increasing, .they were afraid to attempt Navula Passage. On Octobcr 1 tlio position was" unchanged. At 5 p.m. tliey wero steaming 3} knots, and Navula was two miles away. They observed the Tofua. at 6 o'clock, and a fixed between the two vessels by midnight. All on board aro well. The Whangapo had six months' provisions. There were 22 shcop on board.