AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE
« —. —- INCIDENT OP RECENT WILD WEATHER IN AUSTRALIA. After alternate battles with heavy seas and dashes for shelter extending over 20 days, the auxiliary schooner Dart arrived in Melbourne from llobart on September 28. Seen on arrival, Captain A. Nowmnn remarked that in his many, years' service in Australian waters he had never experienced such boisterous conditions as those met with on the Tosinan coast during the early part of the month, The Dart, which was manned by boys from the training , ship John Murray, left Hobiu't for Melbourno with general freight on Aiipust 28. Practically from tho time the Dcrwent wa.9 cleared the vessel was assailed by heavy seas and her proßress retarded J>y a westerly Rale of extraordinary violence. As tho conditions Rrew worse with every hour, the captain ran for shelter in a cove between tho liay of Fires and Swan Island. Soon after anchoring here, tho Dart was joined by the (schooner I?ooganali, while- within the next fow days nine other sailing craft entered tho iulot. On tho first signs of a moderation in the weather. Captain ■■Newman- nnainsfood out to sea, and diking advantageof :i clmiißo in tho • wind was oowlini: along at a fine speed in the vicinity of Water-house Mund on ' September 14. when ho was liniied by tho Imrquo \Vild Wave. After exclinnsing tho custoinary signals ho was about io proceed, when the bnmiic crossed his path and signalled to him to heave-to. Being informed that the kmiun Kassa was in distress, but that the Wild Wave w unablo to assist her, he turned from his route, end by the iiso of the vessels auxiliary power rapidly came up Kith the disabled barque. The bows of tho Kassa were badly shattered, ami she was in a leaking condition. Captain Brown, of the Eassa, nlated that vlnlo sleeniiE a. eourso close to the shore to avoid tho full force of tho gale the vessel had struck a submerged object, believed to bo the Taunewha rock. Members of the crow refused to work the Kassa without escort, owing to the serious lenkaftc. . Captain Newman boarded tho disabled vessel, and obtained signed agreements from the. men that they would act. under his directions if he gave them an assurance that .no would escort her and stand by to pick them np should sho founder. It was then that tho Dart s sreat struggle coinmuncod. Tho gale had again lashed tho sea into fury, and whon eho took tho Kassa. in tow waves broko over the vessels to such an extent.that^ the bovs on tho Dart iv.ero admonished to keep close to the deck life-lines and tittings. The Kiwsa was low in the water, bmn» laden with timber, and: her damaged bow mado the towing an extremely difficult and hazardous work. l;'or four dav3 the Dart struggled on with her burden, the captain haying to remain on deck for three successive nights in an atmosphere of spume, and take turns with other adult members of the crew in watchins near tho tov;-ropo with an axo in hand in readiness to cut the barque adrift should she founder. Tho boys, many of whom were only 11 years ot age behaved splendidly, but their youth caused the captain ■ much anxiety as such heavy seas swept tho vessel from Btem to stern and. at times broke over tho masts-that it appeared as if some, of them would be washed overboard. Everv precaution against such a possibility was taken, and after towing the Kassa 60 miles under these conditions .he anchored her off Hummocky Island to await a tug from Launceston. and the Dart iesumed her voyage to Melbourne. Captain Newman suffered internal lmiincs as a result of beins thrown heavily to tho deck by a deflection of tho to\v-rope.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 2
Word Count
632AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 2
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