HELPLESS IN RAGING SEAS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 10

HELPLESS IN RAGING SEAS

MISHAP TO THE WAITOMO GETTING THE TOW-LINE ABOARD TRYING TIME FOR CREWS . Willi the arrival at .Auckland last n>ght of the freighter, Waitomo in tow of (he Kaitbke, the full story of the mishap to the former vessel was related. The facts show that those on board the disabled steamer, and (hose on board the relief vessel as well, underwent an extremely unenviable experience.

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, August 3.

A graphic story was told by the members of the crew of the Union Steam Ship Company’s collier Waitomo, which limped into port to-night in tow of the Kaitoke. Bound for the Bluff, and laden with about 8000 tons of coal from Newcastle, the Waitomo broke her tail-shaft in a terrific gale in the Tasman Sea, early on Monday, July 23. For two days she drifted helpless before a raging gale, until picked up by the Kaitoke.. Although the long tow of 850 miles was successfully completed, the nine days which elapsed before port was reached were not without danger and extreme discomfort for the crews of both vessels.

How the Mishap Occurred.

Good progress was made by the Waitomo for the first two'days out after leaving Newcastle on Thursday, July 19. She then ran into exceptionally bad weather, and on the Sunday the wind was blowing with cyclonic force. Huge seas reduced the vessel’s speed, and when the gale reached its height that night, the ship pitched and tossed with her lower decks completely awash. With her heavy burden the vessel was very low in the water, and with every sea she shipped great volumes of water. There was little moderation iu the force of the gale next morning. Shortly before 8 o’clock a great roller struck the Waitomo with- shattering force. She seemed to stagger, and for a moment was thrown up on the crest of the seas with her propeller racing • madly. Suddenly it became apparent that something was wrong, and from one end of the ship to the other could be heard the unrestrained screech of the engines, A few seconds later the familiar pounding from below the decks ceased altogether, and the vessel was left helpless in the storm. 1 . 'lt was at first thought the propeller had carried away. Control All Gone.

With all control gone, the vessel plunged furiously, although efforts were made to keep hen head on to the gale. The outlook was far from promising,; and to make matters worse there was no further abatement in the gale as was expected. The nearest port, Westport, was 400 miles away, and as soon as the vessel’s plight was seen to be serious, preparations were made to ascertain whether the propeller was gone. With seas still washing over the decks,, and in blinding rain," a seaman was lowered over the stern in an endeavour to examine the screw. His task was hazardous, but after several duckings he was hauled back to report the propeller was still attached. . It was then decided to call for assistance, and a wireless message was sent to the company’s head office at Wellington notifying the occurrence. For nearly, three long days the Waitomo drifted at the mercy of the. weather. Access to various parts, of the vessel-was rendered extremely dangerous through the constant shipping, of tons of water.. The crew had to watch their.opportunity.to traverse the decks, and several received severe shakings as a result of being thrown heavily on the steel plating. The ship’s boatsmain was thrown heavily while trying to scramble across the deck on one occasion, and he sustained a painful injury to the knee. The cabins on the upper deck did not escape, and in • spite of the fact that the outer doors were kept tightly closed, nearly- all were running with several inches of water on the floor. So persistent was the inrush of water that even keyholes had to be plugged with material to prevent water from squirting over the men in their, bunks. Work in the Galley. The work in the galley was carried on under trying conditions, and the cooks suffered several serious burns through the spilling of boiling fat. Early on the morning following the Waitomo’s call for assistance, the Kaitoke, which had "been loading coal at Westport, left to take her -in tow. The two vessels kept in touch by wireless, and toward nightfall on the third day after the mishap the Kaitoke was sighted from the disabled vessel. She was constantly lost to view in the heavy seas, and finally darkness blotted her out completely. Getting the Tow-line Aboard. Huge flood lights were then erected.on the Waitomo, and these cast a . fitful glare through the rain, by which the Kaitoke was enabled to direct her course. A couple of hours later the two vessels were rolling within a short distance of each other, and in view of the Waitomo condition it was decided to waste no further time in making fast the tow line. Manoeuvring for position in the heavy seas was almost impossible, and for three hours the Kaitoke tried to get close enough to . the Waitomo to throw a line on board by hand. This was finally accomplished, and in the blackness, which was now relieved by flares on both steamers, the work of making the two vessels fast was commenced. After a difficult task, lasting for some hours, during which the Kaitoke had to keep clear of he rearing bulk of the Waitomo, a long cable was'run from the latter vessel, and shackled to a hawser from the Kaitoke. This was then pivoted on to the bridle attached to both quarters of the Kaitoke, the length of the whole tow-line being obu feet. , ' r Little rest was taken by the crew or either -vessel for the following two days. There was still no moderation in the weather, and, being light, the Kaitoke was tossed about unmercifully, lhe-tow-line was attached to provide the maximum of spring in the rough seas, but at times the Kaitoke was swept completely off her course and left at *an angle to the n aitomo. Very slow progress was made, and not more than a mile was covered each hour for two days. Superb seamanship was shown in the handling of both vessels, and the tow-line was still fast when

the long-looked-for improvement, came in the weather. Strong easterly winds continued to make progress siow, but on Wednesday there was a marked change for the good. Fine weather then prevailed and the two vessels were able to povpr 171 miles on Thursday. * They arrived off .angitoto beacon •shortly after four o’clock this afternoon and were met by two tugs which took the lines from the Waitomo. and after roundini North Head the line which had held the two .steamers together during nine eventful days was parted. The Waitomo was then taken to Kings Wharf by the tugs and' after over an hour s manoeuvring was finally tied up. She wiH. at King’-s Wharf, after which she will be docked for repairs. Neither, vessel, suffered any serious damage, although many of the cabins and the men's quarters were still wet from flooding.' —