THE ACCIDENT TO THE DUCKENFIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9582, 6 August 1894, Page 6

THE ACCIDENT TO THE DUCKENFIELD.

AN ANXIOUS TIME.

Thb steamer Ducken field/ from Napier to Newcastle, . regarding the; safety of ; which some anxiety was shown owing. to her making a rather lengthy. passage, arrived at Newcastle :on July 25. The steamer sailed from Napier on ? 'Jalyl : 7."tv For the firsb two days moderate to fresh winds, chiefly from, the north-west, were had, and the vessel made fairly good progress. Cook's Straits were cleared ion. the Bth. The following day a " black.•■ north-easter" came along, which raised ■ a tempestuous sea, and tossed the ship about in a dangerous way. In the height of the storm a peculiar motion was felt, which puzzled some of the hands, but which was soon learned to have . been caused .]_ by the starboard propeller working loose, and refusing to act. . The vessel was then hove to" in order to effect repairs: but, 1 owing, to I the fury, of the storm, attempts" to secure the disabled propeller proved fruitless, and .for several days she lay,.battered; about by the angry seas. Sails were' set, but no sooner were they loosened : than they were carried away. Eventually the disabled propeller was secured by a chain. . On the 12tb the weather had sufficiently moderated to allow the vessel to stand on her, course, with the aid of the remaining port screw and a little spread of canvas to assist steering. For the next few days the steamer kept pegging away, till compelled bo again heave-to on account of the frightfully heavy westerly gales which were met with. " These, which come in very sudden squalls," said one on board, " would actually lift us off our feet." A succession of westerly, north-westerly, and westerly gales of indescribable fury had' to be contended with, and were accompanied by a mountainous sea. On the 22nd the Duckenfield was about 300 miles off the land, and when endeavouring to face the storm she was struck by a squall from the west, which threatened,destruction to the ship and all on board. During that day the storm raged, and the sea became so angry th.it bub little hope was entertained that the vessel would live oub the storm. For days no "sights" were got, and the vessel was being navigated by "dead reckoning." That night was an anxious one, but as the westerly gale was raging a lull suddenly took place, and in twinkling of an eyo all was changed on board by the pleaeing sensation of the wind shifting to the | south and moderating in force. The vessel again was enabled to stand on her course, and crept slowly along. Strong southerly gales were bad on the 23rd and 24th, when about thirty miles off the port, the glad tidings ran through the vessel that a steamer's light was in sight. The steamer, which turned out to be Messrs. W. Howard Smith and Sons' Rodondo, bore down to the Duckenfield, and at once placed a line on board to tow the vessel bo Newcastle, but the bow-rope parted, and the Duckenfield went adrift. After learning that all was right on board, and that further assistance could be dispensed with, the Rodondo stood on her course. On the 24th the vessel was picked up about 15 miles off by the tug Stormcock, and towed into port safely. Regarding the provisions,one of theorewsbates that the supply was very limited, and that had it nob been that a few bags of wheat aboard were utilised, they must have suffered severely. This wheat was ground in a coffee mill and worked up with biscuits, and the compound, though coarse and re-pulsive-looking, sustained life. Indeed, judging by the healthy appearance of the. crew, one would be inclined to believe that it was both wholesome and nourishing. For 14 days all on board were on two meals a day, but during this ■ time they were "standing by" and were not asked'to attend to any of the ordinary ship's work, > such as cleaning, etc. With the wheat and a few other articles on board the"; crew could have subsisted for a few days longer, but it is pleasing to know that they were not required to suffer further privations after yesterday morning. All on board were naturally overjoyed to be safely in port once more.