THE MONOWAI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 247, 26 October 1901, Page 2

THE MONOWAI.

HOW THE DELAY HAPPENED. A HELPLESS STEAMER. t,By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, last night. Shortly before 6 o'clock this morning the Mokoia arrived off the Heads with the Monowai in tow. On the Harbor Board's tug reaching the latter, the following message from the engineer, Mr Baton, was handed aboard :—" At 1.30 а. on Thursday, the 17th, we struck something with tho propellor, and after that we felt a peculiar vibrating. At б. the engine got away at hard speed, and on examination it was found that about half the boss was gone, and two blades with it, the shaft running round without the boss."

Captain Spinks told a very simple narrative. He said : " AVe left the Bluff at 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon, with instructions to spend itt least, three days looking for the Monowai, and steered along about seventy or eighty miles to the north of our usual course. AA e sighted her at 8.25 p.tu. on Tuesday, about 16 miles to tho north. AY hen wo got near wo received a message from Captain Chatfield, saying he had been drifting since Thursday morning at 10.15. AVe took her in tow. " AVhen wo started from the coast wo had a thick fog, which lasted until half an hour after noon on Tuesday. There was a light breeze, with a smooth sen, and fine clear weather. AVhen we picked her up she sent us her line to tow with. She had her lines all ready.

" Tho tow was with 120 fathoms of wire bent on to a 00-fathom chain cable. It is a good scope, but not unusual, and what 1 consider a good, safe tow-line. After catching hold of her we had fine, clear weather until Wednesday forenoon. 11l the afternoon of Wednesday wo experienced a heavy S.AV. swell, which gave us a little anxiety as to how the wire hawser would stand, but it stood all right. “ Wo passed the Solanders at 10.30 ou Thursday morning, and theneo had a following wind, with smooth sea. A\ o passed tho Bluff at 5.15, signalled, and received orders to proceed to Port t halmors. Wo had the samo wind and sen during tho night, with passing showers. AVe passed the Nuggets at 11.57, arri""ig off the heads at 6.10 this morning, nnding there two tugs in readiness if their services were wanted."

Captain Spinks, continuing, said “ when wo picked up the Monowai she was 200 miles west of ruysegur. It was an uneventful tow. There was a little excitement amongst the passengers when ti e two ships met,' and they started singing. I am not a musical mail myself ami cannot tell what they were singing, but it was a hymn of some sort. “ The’first thing we saw when looking for the Monowai was a rocket. AVe replied with another rocket, and then steered straight for her.” AVhilst Captain Spinks was talking a bundle of telegrams was put into his hand, among them one from tho Premier congratulating hint on once more saving a disabled vessel.

The Monowai was taken to Georgo street pier, preparatory to docking. A Alokoia passenger (Air Sneddon, of Mornington), states in a letter he had written for his wife :—“ AVe arc on the way back to New Zealand with the Monowai in tow. The s.s. Rituu just came out of Preservation Inlet, and is alongside of us. The sea is choppy, but we are getting on well, l’he Monowai had a lot of sail on when site was drifting about, and it is now doing good service. 11 On Tuesday night, shortly after seven, when out from the Bluff 330 miles, in lat. 44-48 long. 163’61 E., our look-out man reported a vessel on tho right, towards New Zealand. Shortly after a rocket went up from the direction indicated, but was hardly discernible. Tho skipper immediately sent up a rocket in reply, which was answered.

“We then turned ou varied-colored lights, and so did the vessel in distress. AVo steered rapidly towards her. It proved to he the Monowai, She was in hailing distance. The night was bright moonlight. Had it not been for the delay occasioned by a fog wo would probably have missed each other. AVe wore off outtrack about 30 miles at tho time of picking her up. AVe got alongside at a quarter to 10 p.tn. “ The rejoicing on board tho Monowai was tremendous, everyone singing 1 Praise God from AY’hoiu All Blessings Flow.’ AVe learned that the vessel had two blades of her propeller broken, and the buss partly broken. She was perfectly helpless. Tho Monowai was 87 miles out of her course.”

A Brisbane passenger by tbe Mokoia says : “ The Monowai lias been nearly six days lying in the trough of the sea. After getting the vessel in tow, it was an anxious time for both steamers. A heavy swell set in, and both rolled heavily. Tho Mokoia passengers took the delay in the best of spirits, and were overjoyed when they found the Monowai. There was a slight shortage of fresh water and Hour, which was immediately sent aboard.” A Monowai passenger states that everybody vied with everybody else to amuse and entertain his fellows. The officers and crew did everything possible for the comfort of tho passengers. No sickness nor mishaps occurred, while one of the Jubilee Singers says be never spent a happier time in his life. When they heard of the accident, they resigned themselves to enjoyment with heartiness and good nature that could not be excelled. Captain Spinks has been complimented on all sides, the remark being frequently hoard, “ When lost at sea, send for j Spinks.”

DEPARTURE OF MOKOIA.

A GREAT SEND-OFF. j (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, last night. There was an interesting scene late this afternoon at Port Chalmers when the Mokoia, having taken on board nearly all of the Monowai’s passengers, left for Melbourne. Capt Chatfield, officers, and crew o the Monowai wore on the wharf, and heartily cheered Captain Spinks and the officers of the Mokoia. Tho Monowai’s late passengers then cheered Captain Chatfield and officers of the Monowai, and as the Mokoia steamed away tho passengers, assisted by the Opera Company and Jubilee Singers, sang lustily, “ For they are jolly good fellows."