ANTARCTIC DRAMA

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 16

ANTARCTIC DRAMA

Whale Knocks Propeller Off Chaser SHIP CREWLESS IN GALE A drama of the Antarctic in which a disabled whaler, without a soul on board, drove before a hurricane for five days and missed icebergs by feet, fina - ly to be picked up by her mother ship, the Kosnios, which visited Wellington with her chasers a few years ago, was revealed when the 250-ton Norwegian catcher Kos 9 was towed into Table Bay by a sister ship. There were three great dents in her bulwarks and her sides, her rails weie twisted and her propeller and tailshaft were missing. Her plates were scarred by rust and her decks and upperworks were begrimed with oil. Seven Norwegians who formed the skeleton crew were bleary-eyed and weary after anxious days during the 1500 miles tow from the “Freezing Fifties” to Table Bay. The Kos 9 was towed into Table Bay by the catcher Kos 4, the voyage from the whaling grounds taking nine days. Charged by Whale. “We have had a terrible time,” Gustav Sorensen, the temporary captain of the disabled catcher, said. “It started when we were charged by a whale that we had harpooned. We were catching for our mother ship, the factory vessel Kosmos. On February 2 we were whaling alone in a rising gale 20 miles from the factory ship. We harpooned a great blue whale. Mad with pain, the whale charged the ship and struck it a terrific blow under the stern. The 12-inch propeller shaft snapped under the shock and the propeller dropped off. The tailshaft followed. “We were completely disabled, but we played the whale until it died. Meanwhile we had sent out distress messages. The wind was rising and snow squalls were driving past intermittently. We drifted out of control for five or six hours until we were found by the catcher Kos 18, belonging to the factory ship Kosmos JI. She towed us back to our own mother ship and we tied up alongside with our whale as a fender between the catcher and the factory ship. Catcher Abandoned. “The gale increased rapidly in force until it became a hurricane. Driving snow and sleet cut down visibility. A tremendous swell arose. The little catcher would be thrown up 12 or 15 feet against the factory ship’s side and then drop back like a stone into the trough of the seas. “We were 700 miles from the ice barrier and far outside the pack ice, so we could not run for shelter. We stuck it out as long as we could. Time and again we crushed the ■whale against the mother ship’s side with such force that our steel plates were pushed inches in. “At last we could stay aboard no longer. The captain decided to abamdon ship and cut her loose, for she wag threatening serious damage to the factory vessel. We clambered to safety and the Kog 9 was cut free. “We saw her drive away before the gale. Now Sand again a great wave would break over her and only her masts and funnel and the top of her upper works would be seen above the broken water. “We decided to follow her on the slight chance that she would survive. The sea was strewn with gigantic icebergs which made navigation extremely dangerous, especially at night. The 17,000-ton factory ship and her brood of catchers picked their way carefully among th< icebergs, following the derelict. “Now and again we would catch sight of her. It was amazing to see the way she seemed to steer herself clear of the bergs. On the fifth day, February 9, the gale moderated, and it was decided to make an attempt to get hold of the catcher again. TaJien in Tow. “The fourth officer of the Kosmos and myself got into a skiff and rowed over to her. We had a terrible time, for the sea was still very rough. Eventually we were able to get aboard, and we cut free the lines that were trailing over the side. Later we succeeded in picking up a line from the catcher Kos 4, which took the lost catcher in tow. “We were astonished to find that the Kos 9 was not leaking. She was little more damaged than when we had cut her free. Her survival says much for her British builders, for few ships would have come' through such an experience.” The Kos 4 towed her sister to the factory ship, and seven of the disabled catcher's crew were put back on board. On the following day, February 10, the Kos 4 started towing the Kos 9 back to Cape Town. Mr. Sorensen. who had been mate of the damaged vessel, who appointed temporary master. The return voyage, a distance of about 1500 miles, took nine days, and the men on board the Kos 9 had a strenuous time, as their vessel was difficult to control.