FLORA’S MISHAP

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1925, Page 2

FLORA’S MISHAP

“A DEVIL OF A TIME.”

(Per riress Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 26. The, Flora returned to port., at four o’clock this morning under her own steam, taking twelve hours from Great Mercury. The breakdown was due to a broken pin in the crankshaft, rejfairs to which held for a: iew s minutes nt a time and enabled the ship to leach shelter at Mercury Island, where more lasting repairs were effected by drilling a hole, 'rhe Flora got away just in time to avoid the danger of go. ing ashore, as the wind suddenly chopped round, blowing very hanband placing her on a lee shore. Nothing was seen of either the Te Awahiria or the Ramona, which are ingDuring .the Flora's drift and trip back to port, the firemen kept the usual'. watches, but. the engineers' were on duty. all. the time, as on the engines alone the safety of the vessel depended. The trouble was due to a pin in the .shaft being loose. It slipped out gradually, catching on the piston and interfering, with the whole engine. While the storm raged, ;tlie engineer kept knocking the projecting portions of the pin as they appealed. This was responsible for the spasmodic, working cf the engine. “We had the devil of a time down below,” said one of the engine-room staff, “but we took things calmly. Steam was kept up. all the time and the engineers have been going strong ever since the trouble becam”

Ga ptain Gray says that soon after midnight, the Flora’s plight becatne serious, although she was riding the seas well. She was perilously near the coast, and all top sure’y was in dangfT. of being wrecked. Before daylight she reached a position east of Cape Colville, but an attempt to weather it was impossible. At daylight slle had battled towards Cuvier again, and it was decided to run before the storm for Great Mercury. Tire engines were working occasionally, and with tfie gale blowing behind her, better progress was made to the sheltered position of West Bay. When the vessel’s, position became so serious at midnight, as previously mentioned,., all hands except the engineering staff were ordered to stand by the boats, which were provisioned and prepared for. launching. Some of the crew actually put on lifebelts. , The n ght was pitch black, with a hurricane wind blowing, and heavy rain falling. It is doubtful if the ship’s boats could have survived had. they been launched. It was thought when the Flora reached shelter at Mercury Island that she was safe, at least from the elements, and that.temporary repairs would be effected with some sense .of security. This .hope was rather shortlived, for after three hours the dind made a disquieting change and commenced to blow with' a force even greater than- the northerly previously endured. By three o’clock the vessel’s security was threatened, but fortunately all was ready down below for. tho venture, back to port. ' When the anchor came up, the vessel had to figrit her. way out of the bay, and was again in the thick of the storm. Prior to this the’Richardson steamer Awaliou. which was sheltering in the bay, and the Mako which arrived later, had cleared ont, though a scow remained, with every prospect of be ng driven on the beach. Out in the gale, again it was realised that with the -.hajige in wind, the sea had been beaten into even greater fury, but there was now a measure of security in the slow running’of the engines. Theie was another trying time up to the Cape, made all the more so by a halt to effect repairs to one of the cylinders. The Cape was rounded, and about one o’clock, the Flora was reported from Tiri Lighthouse. She eventually drop, ped anchor in tho harbour at 3.55 this morning. ..