ARAFURA REACHES PORT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 11

ARAFURA REACHES PORT

THRILLING EXPERIENCES PASSENGERS’ STORIES Australian Press Association. Brisbane, March 4. The disabled steamer Arafura, in tow of the tug Forceful, reached Brisbane yesterday. Thrilling stories of the Arafura's experiences in a cyclone were told by passengers, who paid, a tribute to the wonderful work of the ship’s officers and crew. Miss Ellison said that the waves looked just like the Alps, and she was Unable to see the horizon for the giant walls of water. Although ths passengers were calm, none expected to see land again. , “We did not take our clothes off for thirty-six hours,” she said. ■ ~ According to Mr. F. Taylor, the Arafura first developed trouble in the China Sea, where the vessel struck a submerged object ahd lost a propeller blade. Another blade was lost near Townsville. The cyclone brought down the wireless, aerial, and although the wind reached a velocity of 70 miles an hour, the Chinese sailors climbed the mast and repaired the damage under indescribable difficulties. During Thursday night the Coringa’s steering gear failed, and she cut the towline. Huge breakers raked the. tug Forceful, ■ which took the disabled vessel in tow on’. Friday mofning. : Commander Gordon,, of the Arafura,! emphasised that it .should be compulsory, for every ship to be provided with a direction finder, so that vessels in a similar plight would be able -to find their exaot position. The Arafura will be/ towed to Sydney for permanent repairs. The cargo steamer Baralba, which also struck the full force of the cyclone. reached Brisbane on Saturday.