A PERILOUS VOYAGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 July 1924, Page 7

A PERILOUS VOYAGE.

EARTHQUAKE SHUCKS FELT AT SEA. The crew of the full-rigged sailing ship Monkbarns had a thrilling tale to tell .when they arrived at Melbourne a few day s ago from Iquique, Chile. Severe earthquake shocks occurred ou May 30. At the time there was a strong wind and rough sea, but four hours later the sea had increased to such an extent that the ship was plunging heavily. During the shocks the ship was violently shaken. Thrilling accounts of the experience during the ship’s passage from England before she arrived at Iquique were given by the chief and third officers. When they were vOO miles off Cape Town the eargo of 3000 tons of rocksalt shifted badly, causing the ship to heel over on its beam ends. There were rough seas and fierce gales at the time, and with her decks awash and the water frequently up to the lifeboats the vessel plunged heavily through the seas for three days. One side was completely submerged. It was while the ship was in this precarious position that the crew fought against time to right the cargo. During the struggle the ship ran into a gale, and an apprentice who wa s in the rigging fell into the sea and was lost. After leaving Cape Town the Monkbarns encountered more storriis. When she "was two days out half the crew were disabled during a gale that blew" the fore lower topsail and the mizen lower topsail to pieces. Practically all the damage was done by one heavy sea, - which smashed one lifeboat to pieces and dislodged the other. The chief officer was disabled for a fortnight owing to the injuries' he sustained in this gale.