TROUBLES OF A SCHOONER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 89, 11 October 1913, Page 6

TROUBLES OF A SCHOONER

LULL IN WIND AND HEAVY SWELL. Further particulars have been .^settrtained about the schooner Falcon's trip from Blackball, near Hnvelock, -with hcargo of building timber for Easson, Ltd., Kilbirnie. Tho Falcon left BUck Point about 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and worked in the Sounds up to 10 p.m. Finding the weather a bit stormy, Captain Croucher then decided to anchov at the Guard Bank. Next morning, at 6.30, the anchor was hove in, and tho Falcon passed The Brothers about 9 a.n>. Two hours later she passed the Unirn Company's collier Kowhai, when everything was going on well. During Thursday afternoon, owing to contrary wind.', the schooner was unable to make much progress. Terawhiti was practically in sight all that afternoon, but the captain did not put tho schooner's head to the entrance till 1.30 a.m. on Friday. For about an hour and a quarter after that time the wind was favourable, and the Falcon was well in/side* the Heads when there was a lull in the wind, leaving behind a heavy swell. At 2.55 a.m. blue lights were burnt and a tug signalled for. The vessel was then, a little further in than the Beacon, and about three-quarters of a mile further in than the wrecked steamer Devon. Seeing that the vessel was helpless, owing to the lull in the wind, the captain kopt her well to the eastern shore, evidently with the intention of avoiding Barrett's Reef, as the light on Somes Island was very indistinct. Big seas were sweeping over the decks at this time, and the cabin door was stove in, the cabin flooded, the steering gear smashed in pieces, and the rudder unshipped. The upper and lower topsails and outer jib were blown to atoms, but the mainsail remained intact. At dawn, about ' 4 a.m., the rocks on the eastern shore wero plainly visi*ble, and apparently bo near that those on board might jump on to thoui. An ebb tide was flowing, and the' Falcon got^over to Worser Bay, -where the tug Karaka, after much trouble and the breaking of two ropes, took her in tow, and she cast anchor in Kau Bay about 5.15 a.m. Yesterday afternoon the tugs Admiral aud Pilot came alongside the Falcon, and after considerable difficulty she was berthed alongside the Evans Bay Wharf, Miramar, at 5 p.m. ' The seamanship of Captain Croucher la warmly spoken of by those best qualified to judge of the troubles encountered and "overcome on the voyage of the Falcon, which was very heavily laden. . MARAROA'S ROUGH TRIP Advice received yesterday from Christchurch show that the southerly gale commenced early on Thursday morning and continues as fierce as in the North. During Thursday night heavy rain and sleet fell, whilst tho wind raised a considerable sea in Lyttelton Harbour. Outside Godley Head the conditions were the worst experienced this winter. The wind gauge at Adderley Head showed that the average velocity of the wind for the twenty-four hours ended 9 a.m. had been 54 miles per hour, whilst between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. yesterday the instrument registered 45 miles. Under these conditions it was only to be expected that a big sea was running along the coast. The Warrimoo and Mararoa both arrived at Lyttelton very late, the former at 3 p.m. and the latter at 6.30. In consequence of this delay it was impossible for any mails or passengers to proceed overland

to Dunediu yesterday. The Mararoa's return trip was less unpleasant from tho fact .that last night the weather was somewhat calmer arid that she was running before the gale. She made good time, but was roughly treated by the heavy seas which swept across her decks. The Nikau left Nelson at 2.30 p.m. yesterday and experienced a rough passage, through which, however, she came intact. Usually so regular, she arrived here shortly after eleven this morning — iour hours late. SAFE IN PORT MORAYSHUIE'S TRYING EXPERIENCE. MEETS PULL FORCE OF GALE. The rumours which went the rounds of the city yesterday as to tho fate of the Federal and Shire liner Morayshire proved to be quite without foundation. The vessel (in charge of Captain Howard) steamed up the harbour towards 7 o'clock this morning. In continuation of 'her' voyage from Liverpool, the Morayshire took her departure from Auckland shortly after 1 o'clock last Tuesday afternoon, and was favoured with fine weather until passing East Cape. Thus far the vessel had made very fair progress, but it was when she had been headed for the run down the coast that the first evidences of the coming storm -were met. Moderate to strong winds and seas prevailed, and gradually increased, until, when the Morayshire was well on towards Palliser, the wind developed into a gale. At about 8 o'clock on Thursday evening the steamer was only 40 miles from port, but, 'with the conditions dead,, against her, progress was greatly retarded. Being a fairly light ship, she rolled badly, and time- and again heavy beam seaß broke on board. As the steamer made what little headway that was possible, the conditions appeared to become worse. It was between Thursday evening and yesterday afternoon that the steamer's plight was at its worst, being buffeted by heavy seas and terrific squalls. Yesterday afternoon the gale commenced to "take off," and enabled a better speed to be maintained. At the same time the tremendous seas still dashed on board, and continued to keep the vessel rolling. A very close watch was kept for the land lights, and eventually the Cape Campbell light was observed at 0.15 a.m. to-day. A course was then taken for port, and Pencarrow was sighted at two hours later. It was 1 , however, not deemed advisable to make port before daybreak, and consequently she hovered around outside, putting up with the conditions, until about 6.30 a.m., when she passed through the Heads. She was tied up at the ' Taranaki-street wharf shortly after 7 o'clock this morning, after a very rough trip — one of the worst during her fifteen years' service at sea. > •