ADRIFT IN A GALE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 16

ADRIFT IN A GALE

HELPLESS GERMAN BAKQU^.

One of the most _ remarkable stories of navigation heart} since the heyday of Sailing-ships was' told recently when tho German three-masted barque Hambur* arrived off Sydney Heads with all 'bands safe, says, the "Sua." An ordeal of tasking helplessly for days w thV'Tasraan gea, wjf,h trhc rudder, broken, was and>a by an extraordinary feat of riggim*' " \ jury rudder out, of "a four foot log, Tn-d Steering tho ship for over 1000 miles Ly means of ropes. -3° Hanibur S left Melbourne with 3300 tons of wheat for delivery in tho United Kingdom or tho Continent Instead of sailing west the barque headed east for the 15,000-miles trek around Cape Horn, winds now being favourable only foe that route. When miles off the vest coast of the South island ot New Zealand, tlje sou-wester increased to gale force, and' shortly veered to a. head wind. The master, Captain Volkwartsen, bar] to order her about and run for it. But, the gale increased, and simdenly, with an ominous snap, the steel rudder was rendered helpless For three days the ship was washed by mountainous seas, while captain and officers set to work-to repair the damage. Two days were absorbed in the work. A log, with ring's in either end" was fas-tened-'to the rudder by steel roues shin" underneath the ship. Two more 2in ropes wpre fastened to the rings, and these were drawn through the hawsepipes and wound around cleats. Then sails were furled and a run made for help. The master did not think his rudder could be' repaired either in New Zealand or Tasmania, so he set out for Sydney— a journey of übnnt 1000 miles—the host port available. It was a, marvellous piece of work to supervise the stderin?. Whenover the course; had to be changed a 1 dozen of the crew hart to b» put on to the yopas, one sir|e being slackened whiletho bthpr was made taut. The Hamburg is n vessel of I.OBS gross tons, owned by H, H. Schmidt, and buiil, in 1001. She is used aa a troiniug ship I for several .German caruflsnies.