STEAMER ADRIFT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 172, 21 April 1928, Page 10

STEAMER ADRIFT

TOW-LINE GIVES WAY Dominion Special Service. ■ Wanganui, April 20. A good deal of excitement was'created at Castlecliff this morning before 11 o’clock, when the tow line parted between the tug Terawhiti and the Gale. The Gale on Wednesday stripped her propeller and the Terawhiti was sent up to tow her to Wellington. To-day a start was made at 10.30 and tfie vessels cleared the Heads, and were only a few miles down the coast when the mishap occurred. There was a strong westerly wind at the time and a heavy . sea. It is surmised that the Terawhiti became temporarily disabled, possibly a portion of the line fouling her propeller, for she drifted a considerable distance from the Gale, and was almost out of sight of the pilot station. In the meantime the Gale was swung head on to the seas and through the telescope could be seen wallowing about. At the same time the vessel drifted a considerable distance down the coast and was gradually working in to a lee shore, although not in any immediate danger. The harbour officials took steps to get steam up in the tug Kahanui, to go out in case of emergency. At 12.30 the smoke of the Terawhiti could be seen on the horizon, and half an hour later she had closed up with the Gale. Evidently there was some difficulty in getting a line aboard. The latest news to-night is that the Gale is seven miles to the south of Wanganui and is anchored. The.lerawhiti is standing by, and a wireless message reports everything all right.