Trawler In Gale

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 274, 20 November 1935, Page 13

Trawler In Gale

ORDEAL TOR CREW "If we had been compelled to go much further, none of us would have been ho're to tell the story,” said Skipper William Randles, of the Fleetwood trawler Gelsiua, describing recently how the vessel sprang a leak in the Irish Sea during a storm, “The night after we left Fleetwood,” said Mr. Randles, "wo received a gale warning—and while south of the Isle of Man we met heavy seas. Our lifeboat was stove in, and the cabin skylights were smashed. So much sea was coming aboard that we could do nothing. Seas poured through the smashed skylights. “Suddenly water began to rise in the engine room. A leakage had occurred in the bunkers, and the engines were soon running in water. The pumps were set goiug, but they were nearly chocked by coal dust and ashes washed from tho bunkers. “As our lifeboat was useless, I called up Soaforth, Liverpool, wireless station to let the owners know our plight. For some unexplained reason the battorics had failed, and Soaforth could mot hear me. It was then that the trawler Rachael, owned by the same firm, intercepted and relayed my messages to tho land station. “The only possiblo way out was to make for the nearest land, and I know wo were about 3Q miles from tho Irish coast. Slowly against the galo we steamed toward safety, with our pumps just keeping pace with the inrush of water, and wo reached comparatively calm water off tho Irish Free State, u'liere we lay to until we could clear up the mess before proceeding to Dublin for repairs.” After repairs had been carried out the trawler continued onli or fishing voyage in Irish waters.