BARQUE IN DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11150, 24 August 1899, Page 5

BARQUE IN DISTRESS.

THE WENONA IN A GALE.

TERRIFIC WEATHER,

DECKS SWEPT AND DAMAGED.

BOATS CARRIED AWAY.

The barque sighted in the gulf on Tuesday evening made port yesterday morning, and proved to be the Auckland-owned Wenona, bound from Newcastle to Wellington with a cargo of coal for the Union Steamship Company.

The Wenona met with the late easterly gale, and those on board had an experience with the winds and waves which they are likely to remember for many yean to come.

Like all other shipmasters who were out in the gale, Captain Davies, the master of the Wenona, is of opinion that the sea was the worst yet experienced by him during the 35 years he has been going to sea. It was not so much the heaviness of it, he said, in conversation with a Herald reporter yesterday, as its feartully "wicked" character, boiling and seething and breaking on board the vessel, as if it were determined to smash and break something before it was done. "It was just as if you were on Ivaipara Bar with a very bad break on, the whole time," was the nearest to which Captain Davies could liken it.

During the gale the donkey-engine on deck, which is used for loading and discharging cargo, broke adrift, drawing out one of the planks of the deck, to which it was fastened, and thus giving the opportunity for great quantities of water getting into the hold. This was the most serious danger encountered during the gale, as the decks being full of water, it was a work of extreme difficulty to get the hole covered with canvas, and nail it to the deck in order to stop the water from getting below, There was also the fear that the engine, during its knocking about the deck, would burst in the hatches, and if that had happened, the water would have soon gained the mastery, causing the vessel to founder in a very short time. However, by dint of hard work and perseverance, the hole was covered, and the engine got under control, being made fast to the side of the vessel with chains and ropes. If the Wenona had not been an exceptionally strong vessel, it is the opinion of those on board that she would never have come through the terrible weather met with day aftei day, for over a week ; and at times it looked as if the vessel and all 011 board were doomed to a fate which would be one of the mysteries of the sea. Beyond the damages detailed in Captain Davies' story, as given below, the barque is in capital order, and does not make a drop of water, the hull being perfectly tight. "We sailed from Newcastle on July 24," said Captain Davies, " and met with 'strong southerly and easterly winds on the mil across the Tasinan Sea. On the 13th inst. we made the land off West Wanganui, bearing distant about 28 miles, the wind gradually increasing until it was blowing a modelate gale from the eastward. "By midnight it was blowing a terrific gale, with a tremendous sea. At half-past five a.m. a mountainous sea broke ovei the vessel, washing away the hatch covers, and before anything could be done to get them on again large quantities of water got into the hold. The barque was labouring and straining heavily, notwithstanding that oil baps were got ovei the side. The main and mizzen staysails and the stay were carried away; also the fore and maintopmast backstays.

" On the morning of the 15th another tremendous sea broke on board, sweeping overboard the fresh water tanks, lifting the forward deckhouse, smashing one of the boats into small pieces, and badly damaging the lifeboat.

"Another sea carried away the donkey steam engine from its fastenings on the deck, and drawing one of the planks from the deck, and letting tons of water into the hold. The deck combings of the main hatch were started, and the decks swept ot everything movable.

"The weather moderated on the 19th, but it was still blowing a gale from the east-south-east ; and the wepther improving, an observation was obtained, the vessel's position being found to be latitude 35.3 south, longitude 171.30 east, about 60 miles from False Hckianga. "Being in a disabled state, and the conditions of wind and weather being such that, the vessel would not be able to make Cook Strait, I decided to make for Auckland, as the nearest and most available port to repair the vessel, and accordingly I laid a course for Cape Maria Van Diomen. which was passed at noon on Sunday, where I signalled. asking to be reported with the vessel's decks swept, my signals being replied to bv the lighlkeeper; and yet I find, upon my arrival in Auckland, that no word was sent down as to mv being on the coast. Cape Brett was passed on the afternoon of the 21st, and Rangitoto Channel made at one o'clock yesterday morning, the harbour being made some hours later."

The barque will be surveyed to-day. and will probably discharge her cargo of coal into the hulks, after which she will be docked for further survey.