FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 229, 1 October 1902, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

THE SAMUEL PLIMSOLL.

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

Gisborne, Octoler 1; The disabled vessel proves to be the barque Samuel Plimsoli,: bound "from Glasgow with a general cargo for this port and Auckland. She was picked up by the Omapere at 7.30 last evening off Portland Island, and towed to Gisborne. ,

Captain Gaff ray and. the officers of the vessel report having had a very severe experience during the past fortnight.

She left Glasgow ,on June 18, and passed Nuggets Point light after a passage of 91 days. It then came on to blow heavily from the south-west, and the barometer was extremely low. The vessel was hove to in a storm for three days, rolling heavily, and with seas breaking over.

At breakfast time on Friday week a heavy squall came on, and the vessel rolling heavily the main and mizzen masts fell over the port side with a tremendous crash, but fortunately no one was hurt.. It was with great difficulty the wreckage was cut away, and the ship all that day was at the mercy of the seas. Considerable water found its way below, and iv is believed the cargo in the main hold is damaged. The vessel was then driven north and all hands have had a most anxious time since, with little sleep, and are quite played out. They were ,frequently. at the pumps, there being now eleven and a-half inches of water in the main hold.

The foremast was very shaky and had to be stayed up with fresh gear. The deck was continually full, of water. Two boats were smashed by the falling masts.

The ship.was driven north as far as Gable End foreland, off which she has been for the last two days. It is fortunate the Omapere secured her, as the wind which is blowing heavily from the shore-to-day would have driven her out to sea.

A singular coincidence, is tliat the Plimsoli was engaged to load wool at Gisborne after the discharge of her Home cargo.