SHIPS AND THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 15

SHIPS AND THE SEA

Many of the finest clippers in the New Zealand trade carried the flag of Patrick Henderson, and one of the best-known of these was the Invcrcargill, which made many fine passages under Captain Tom Bowling, and was probably one of the sturdiest ships of her class afloat, as she safely weathered one of the fiercest storms ever encountered in the Atlantic. Most of herj voyages to New Zealand were made under the command of Captain Muir, but it was under the guidance of Captain Bowling that she made the fastest runs and weathered the heaviest seas encountered during her career.

The vessel made her maiden voyage to New Zealand under Captain Tilly in 1874, and the following year was commanded by Captain Peacock. He in turn made way for Captain Muir, who ran the ship for almost 20 years without a serious mishap.

A fierce gale was met on one of Captain Bowling's early voyages to the colony in the Invercargill. After leaving the East India Dock on August 12, 1896, the Invercargill put into Gravesend ana took on board 15 tons of gunpowder the following morning, after which she proceeded down the Channel in tow of a tug, which left her at Dover. The Equator was crossed on September 13, and fresh southerly winds were experienced to the meridian of the Cape, which was crossed on October 6. No ice whatever was seen.

During a heavy south-westerly gale the vessel shipped a big sea over the starboard quarter, the water smashing the poop rail, breaking down five iron stanchions, and flooding down below. For a long time a southerly gale with a tremendous beam sea was encountered, the ship's decks being continually flooded with water, those on board suffering much inconvenience as a result. The most serious damage was confined to the .washing away of the starboard top-galiant bulwarks and' rail. Cape Lecuwin was passed on

October 27, and the south end of Tasmania on November 4. She reached Wellington Heads on November 13, 1896, after a passage of 93 days, and was towed to her berth the following day. ■ •.. . A SHIFTING CARGO. On September 30, 1904, she was caught in a tremendous gale off Cape Horn when en route from Sydney. According to Mr. Basil Lubbock, her cargo shifted to port, her bulwarks were carried away, and /or some time she lay on her beam ends. The crew set to "to move the cargo to windward, and eventualiy she was righted, but she was not yet out of the wood, for on December 8, ir: the Atlantic, she found herself battling against a fierce north-west gale. Water was shipped fore and aft, and the vessel began to labour' heavily. At nighttime sea and wind increased, and a huge wave broke over the port quarter, and swept over the decks. The skylight gave, and water poured into the saloon and cabins. A hatch on the poop gave, and compasses, stands, and binnacles, the patent log, and everything movable in fact, went overboard with a rush. The carpenter's quarters were washed ou*. by a big sea at about 4 a.m., and the carpenter, I believing the ship was sinking by the head, made his way uft as best he could. But the captain arid officers were below clearing up the wreckage in the cabin. The carpenter then told the man at the wheel that he thought the ship was sinking, and the helmsman, believing he was running the ship under, allowed her to come to. [ The efl'ect was disastrous, as ihe car^o shifted for the second time, and the vessel went on her beam ends, the sails blowing into tatters. Pier lee forearm.dipped 6 feet into the broken water to leeward, and the sea pounded on to the deck.

For a day and a night the unfortunate craft lay on her side with the main deck awash, and it was only when some cargo was jettisoned that she was able to continue on her course. She finally crept into Quecnstown 113 days out from Sydney.

THE STURDY INVERCARGILL

CAUGHT IN ATLANTIC GALE