ARRIVAL OF THE PERTHSHIRE.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10312, 20 June 1899, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF THE PERTHSHIRE.

Captain Spinks Interviewed Warmly Congratulated Preparing* the Damage at Sea The Engineers' Task. A Private Log of the Perthshire . An Interesting Account At the Mercy of Wind and Wave The Queen's Birthday at Sea [per press association.] (by electric telegraph — copyright . (Received June 19, at 11 55 a m.) Sydney, June 19. The Perthshire has anchored in Neutral Bay. She bears evidence of her long drift, otherwise all is well. It is understood that the frozen meat aboard i* all right. The Talune's run up the harbor this morning was in the nature of a triumphal procession. As she neared the Union Coy's wharf steamers blew whistles and crowds on the wharf cheered. The Press representatives interviewed Captain Spinks, who reported that rockets were fired every hour after leaving Wellington. He sighted the Perthshire at 3 20 on the morning of the 13th in latitude 29 3 south, longitude 163-38 east, about 700 miles easb of Sydney. She asked for assistance, and he stood by till daylight, the weather being fine. He arranged to tow, and started at 8 30 a m. He proceeded at half speed, making fair progress, till 8 a mon the 15th, when the rope parted, the wind haviug increased to a moderate gale with a heavy sea. Preparations were then made to tow by chain and the Perthshire's cables were connected with the Talune. Owing to the heavy sea the lead had to be passed to the Perthshire by means of a rocket. A fresh , 6tart was made at 4 p m. on the 15th. The strong head winds and heavy seas continuacl till the morning of the 17th, testing the cables to the utmost. The weather than moderated, and sail was set on the Perthshire and port safely reached. Captain Slinks has been watmilp congratulated on all sides for his successful towing feat. Spinks kept to the track marked out by him at Wellington, the result showing the accuracy of his judgment. A cable from $he owners of the Perthshire was awaiting Spinks, congratulating him. He also was warmly congratulated by the local shipping men upon his luck and long and successful towing feats in the face of adverse weather. The Talune's passengers' also presented him with au address (Received June 19, at 1 25 p m.) When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had been repaired, and she "was heading north under steam "et 4| knots per hour, being 43 miles from Norfolk Island. From the. date of leaving Sydney the weather was stormy. She drifted some 1400 miles crossing and re-crossing the track of vessels and expecting to be picked up. ...... No attempt was made to mend the shaft till she had drifted out of the track of New Zealand steamers. The Perthshire broke her shaft at 6 pm on the 28th April. The fracture was within foqr feet from the end. Tho engineers succeeded in repairing the shaft on' June 11th after 10 days' labor by means of patent couplings. But for the passengers aboard, the captain would probably have attempted to make a port unaided. Though the experience of those aboard

was exciting, they suffered little incon- t venience, the only fear was would she v drift ashore after she drifted out of tho c track' of steamers. (Received June 19, at 5 p m.) f! Tho first engineer of the Perthshire c gives an. interesting account of bhe at- , tempts to repair the propellor. The day , after breaking it was secuteel with chains, but owing to the difficulty of repairing the injury it was decided to wait for a passing steamer. - Meanwhile he removed the stem tube, and found the breakage was at the after liner. After he got the ends together they had much trouble, and it slipped, several times. When the vessel was picked up everything was working smoothly. The engineers were of opinion that they would have had no difficulty in reaching port. They were greatly disappointed at being picked up after so much trouble of fixing up. While the repairs were proceeding the engineers had scarcely two hours' sleep a day, and barely took time to eat their meals. They considered that if the repairs were taken in hand at the first instead of waiting for steamers they would have been finished on May 9fch. (Received June 19, at 5 45 pra.) The fourth officer's private log furnishes «in excellent account of the experiences of the Perthshire. She met with a heavy southerly gale after leaving Sydney, and when it subsided it left a heavy sea, in which the ship labored. When she broke down a boat was lowered containing the Chief Officer and engineer, and an inspection showed that the propellor was lying against ths rudder post. The night was dark and the sea high and nothing could be done with safety; All sail was bent and set to a southerly wind, and at daybreak next morning the boat was again lowered. The propellor with much difficulty was securely lashed, and evevy effort was made to get the vessel in the track of steamers, but there was no. steerage way. A powerful searchlight wa& rigged and the efforts made to reach the track of the vessels were disheartening. No sooner did they gain a trifle than the wind shifted to another quarter. Even the moat patient of those on board were now "becoming irritable, and matters were becoming worse and worse. On May sth, the gale increased, the vessel laboring heavily, rolling in the trough of the sea, and after nine days' blowing about they found they were only nine miles to the north-west of the first position. ■ On May 7th hppe once more dawned, as the gale moderated and enabled them to make 3T miles north and east. In proportion as they got north their spirits revived and they qegan to answer one another more civilly and look less miserable. On the 10th they were jusb six miles southward of the track, and when they reached it every effort was made. to keep it. They rigged a drag over the starboard quarter, but failed to get the vessel round. They were continually tortured with the knowledge thafc the vessel was now drifting across the track, getting further •away. On the 13th there was great excitement on sighting a sail, and they almost began to think that they were remnants of the great world on' Noah's irk oxpedition. Tho little schooner stood by the Perthshire all night. Then after the "Whangaroa left us again in solitude all attempts to get the ship arouud failed. Up to this point the average drift was 17 miles daily north and east. i The 17th saw another gale, which caused the chain lashing of the, propellor on the port side to give way — the wind still northerly — and on neariug the Auckland track hope was renewed, and we nursed the hope that we would be picked up for a certainty. On the 24th, the Queen's Birthday, we did- not forget fco wish her many more \ yeras of happiness and a peaceful entry , into the next world when the time should 1 come. ■ The 25th found us 30 miles from the track and a sail in sight. Our hopes were damped to find her not a steamer. Then after sending a message to the Northern Chief the latter left us alone once more. Next day we crossed the track. Our potatoes had run out and so had our yeast, but bread was made by utilising stout in some mysterious manner, and the bread was black and scarcely palatable, weighing twice as heavy «s ordinary bread. The Perthshire kept sending up rockets at night. On the 27th she was 67 miles north of the track, or 916 miles of a drift since the .accident. '-'..' On the 31st, as the Captain decided they were drifting amongst the Islands and something must be done to repair thfi damage. On June Ist a terrific southerly gale was experienced, and they drifted 73 miles, being now 150 miles southward and westward of Norfolk Island. As the gale moderated the engineers began the hazardeus work on the stern

übe, which, owing to the fineness of the vessel at this part, waa extremely diffi;ult. On June 6th tha weather was fine and t stage was erected round the propellor. Dhe men narrowly escaped being washed )ff the staging, bub they managed to gefc jacking round the shaft, and hove the sropellor into position. Then the Verajian hove in sght. On the Bth we wire looking forward to ;he trial of the propollor. Then the jouplings were sucjessfully placed. On the 11th the engines were started, md we covered 100 miles, when the Calune was sighted Then the great question arose to .vhefcher they shodd accept assistance. Che Captain wsnfc en board the Talune, md instructions nrere shortly after jignalled from the Talune to prepare to iOW. The Talune neaily missed her. An ;iour later and she would have steamed imher course to Sydney.