IN THE TEETH OF A GALE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3396, 11 December 1911, Page 5

IN THE TEETH OF A GALE.

THE BARQUENTINE VOLADOR AT SEA. TWENTY-SIX DAYS FROM SYDNEY “We loft Sydney on November 13th, and had fine weather until November 27th, when we came abreast of East Cape,” said Captain Smythe, of the barquentine Volador, to a> “Times” reporter on Saturday, shortly after the arrival of the vessel from Sydney. “But.” he continued, “we quite made amends for it later on, and struck some of the worst weather I have experienced for many years.” The captain went on to state that after rounding East Cape a heavy northwesterly breeze was encountered, and by the time this had finished flirting with the vessel she stood about one hundred and forty miles off the coast. The seas were huge at time*, and towered over the vessel as she labored along. One that came crashing in over the bows gave the mate and one of the hands an experience they are calculated not soon to forget. Captain Smythe was at the wheel at the time, and the cabin, which stood in the way, prevented him from witnessing the incident, but he was later informed that both men had succeeded in. retaining their holds on deck fixtures and thereby had saved themselves from being washed overboard. The wonder was, considering the size of the seas, that this had not happened. The mate was injured about the head by this happening, and the other man escaped with torn clothing and a few bruises.

After this the Volador was driven back and forth for some considerable time at the mercy of the fierce winds, and of this Captain Smythe said : “More than once I eonld have got in here had I been able to reach certain points, which were no considerable distance away, but to put on more canvas would perhaps have meant drowning, and we want to live for a while longer.” In such cases it happened that a contrary wind struck the Volador iust as she was beating up to shelter, ami away she would go again as far as ever from her destination. At length she reached shelter and made her way down the coast to Gisborne, arriving in the bay at an early hour on Saturday morning. Her cargo consists of hardwood telegraph poles and railway sleepers., and after discharging she will load timbei for Sydney on account of the Waihora. Timber Milling Co.