THE OLD WAIHORA.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 July 1905, Page 4

THE OLD WAIHORA.

CILASKD I’.V THE HALTIG FLEET

Most of us were sensible enough of Ibe AVaihora’s grind points in (lie dav.s when she was a big eireiituslnine in the intercolonial trade, but. much as we admired her, few of us guessed that si e could race the Atlantic greyhound Demsclilaiid, nr tlial she would ever carry anyone capa-ble of perpet ruling -lull a -lor;. ~ . tin- follow ing. from a Hongkong paper 'I he story forms a very fair commentary on mine met hods and is as follows:--"Yes, we saw the invincible .Armada.” replied Second Officer Gully, of the s.s, AVa.ilior.a-, which arrived at Hongkong from Renatig on May 4th in reply to ii 'nestion from a ‘’tta.ily Press" reporter. “We saw about forty vessels ridinu al anchor in the hay, amongst them ihreefinmellers, and four or live twn-fiinneller.s. The majority ot them were not very modern ships, and one, with the royal yards across, 1 am almost sure was a boys’training ship, 'the Petersburg was doing patrol duly outside the. entrance to Urn bay, hut did not signal as we passed. If von could spare the time I would like to show yon some extracts from (ho diary of one of the ship’s company with reward to (he fleet.” The reporter remarked (hat time was no object provided news was forthcoming, and after a few moment’s absence the officer returned, and opened the book at a page which was headed. "Miraculous Escape ol a I’eilpng Steamer.” “While passing Kam-ranh Hay” (wrote the owner ot thi' diary) "we took a. good survey of the same, lint, saw nothing of the Russian Armada. The weather was very hue, and had the appearance ot having been so for some time, so 1 imagine the Armada, with its crow in good health and full of spirits must have sailed away at daylight wilh no enemy in sight, as the. fishermen there were coming out as wo were passing. We were feeling quite safe by their absence, when onr prime commander suddenly exclaimed : "J'lic Russian Fleet.’ How suddenly tranquillity lost its equilibrium ! Marine and field glasses were in great, demand, and passengers rushed fore and a,ft almost bereft, of reason. The officers on the bridge kept their eyes on the famous Relerslmrg, which was doing hawk duly at (he entrance to Van Tong Hay. Then onr task began - , counting and measuring onr possilde opponents. We felt it, was hopeless as Ihe Armada loomed clearer in the forest, of funnels and masts. Fortunately most of (lie three-fnnnelled craft, were busy coaling, and apparently did not notice ns. AA r e felt extremely lucky when we saw the fighting Petersburg turn away, not liking (ho look of onr rakish HlHe craft. AA'e had not yet- condescended to hoist onr national colours, when onr attention was directed to another cruiser, vidtnring round onr seaward quarter.’ AVitli Ross’s latest and best, the officers recognised the greymonnd of (he Atlantic ft he Deutschland). Now onr climax against her twenty-three knots. Neither onr owners nor Lloyd’s could have expected ns to outstrip her for any length of time. However, wc were thankful that we got away. Great credit is due to the engine room staff for their masterful performance During the chase they only came on deck to get a blow, and to see the distance increasing between the greyhound and the good old ship Waihora. As vet we had not shown onr colours, but had art cloven-inch shell struck ns we were ready to stand by to hoist St. George’s, St. Andrew’s and St. Patrick’s flags_ at the peak and the Maltese at the mainmast, and go down in the f-ditn wo love doing onr duty.” An eleven-inch shell (battleship calibre) from a converted merchantman is distinctly good.