MILES OF MISFORTUNE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 March 1931, Page 8

MILES OF MISFORTUNE

SHIP’S MANY ACCIDENTS. FATALITIES AND DESERTIONS. The steamer Nor hi toil has just been laid up in Truro River alter a voyage of 50,000 miles, during which, among many misadventures, Three men died: Fifteen deserted;

Fires broks out in the hunkers; and She was stranded on the rocks for 17 days (states 'a message forwarded from Falmouth on January 8). The Norbit-on’s extraordinary (series of misadventures' occurred mostly during voyages between North American and South American ports, including two visits to Buenos Aires. “We have liad bad luck all the time, and I don’t wish for another such voyage.” Captain J. C. Jameson said.

“We left Rotterdam with a crew of 30, mostly aliens.” lie said. “When we reached the Sea. of Azov we mere 17 days in the ice, covering a distance of 112 miles, and twisted our rudder, and a great deal of damage was done to the bows. Temporary repairs were effected at Gibraltar, and we proceeded to Santos, in Brazil.

TWO BUNKER, FIRES. “Fire broke out in the hunkers, which we fought ourselves and got under control, but there was another outbreak at Buenos Aires. This time we bad to shift about 403 toils of coal to put the fire out. “Our next misfortune was on the passage from the River Plate, when the carpenter died and was buried at sea.

“After leaving Montreal, on the return join bey, we ran on the rocks in the St. Lawrence and were stranded for 17 days, with the seas breaking over the ship.

“On our way to the Gulf of Mexico we ran aground in the Mobile Channel owing to the jamming of the steeringgear. We were there for five days, and had to take off the deck load to get the ship afloat.

“The next misfortune to befall us was at St. Lucia, in the West Indies, where after bunkering the steamer took a. heavy list. This was put right bv shore labour.

“Owing to the local strikes at the 'River Plate ports, on our next visit, wo had a disastrous time. At Buenos Aires we loaded again for Canada, and just after passing SI. Lusia the 'steam steering; gear gave out. and we went 18(19 miles steering #v hand, reaching port without assistance. 1 “After discharging we went to the Gulf of Mexico again for another wood cargo. Then at Rosario, in the Argentine. the cook died suddenly, and there was another serious delay owing to labour troubles and the revolution.

AN HOUR’S SLEEP IN FIVE DAYS

“Coming back to Havre and Dunkirk wo had a bail weather passage of 35 days, and at the latter port the snore mghtu atchman was found dead in the galley on Christmas night. We experienced bad weather after leaving Dunkirk for Falmouth and were compelled to put back to shelter behind the Isle of Wight. ■ While weighing anchor the windlass broke and the anchor had to be lifted with the winches. ’ ’

The captain added that during the voyage from Dunkirk to Falmouth, which took five days, he had only one hour’s sleep. The Norbiton (4497 tons) is owned by the Watts Shipping Co., Ltd.