SHIP IN DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13452, 31 May 1907, Page 5

SHIP IN DISTRESS.

THE GLENLUI PUTS INTO dunedin. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. MATE WASHED OVERBOARD AND DROWNED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Dckedist, Thursday. The sailing ship Glenlui, bound from Adelaide to Conception Bay, on the West Coast of South Africa, with a cargo of 24,860 bags of wheat, was sighted from Cape Saunders shortly before one p.m. today, making for Otago Heads, under shortened sail. The vessel was then ten miles to the south-cast of the cape, and was making slow progress. When the Glenlui was some six miles off she signalled for a pilot and the tugboat Plucky at once went out to her assistance. The ship was found to be standing in under a lower foretopsail and lower maintopsail and staysails. The Plucky immediately took her in. tow, and a signal was made to the heads for the services of a second tug, which was taken on. shore as an indication that something was seriously wrong. The tugboat Ivoputai steamed rapidly out from Port Chalmers, and went to sea, and assisted in towing the vessel in to the heajds, which were reached at half-past six p.m. It was ascertained that- the vessel had 3ft of water in her hold, and that she 'had fallen in with a violent westerly gale when off the Snares on Monday night. " The bulwarks, stanchions, and deck structures were smashed and washed overboard by the force of the gale, and the cabin fittings were all smashed to pieces by the heavy seas which swept over the distressed vessel.

The water got. down into the hold through the cabin, to the depth of 3ft, which speedily accumulated, damaging the cargo and stores. 1

During the height* of the gale the mate was washed overboard and drowned and the ship's sails were torn to ribbons. The mate's name was Jones, but his Christian name was not ascertainable. He shipped on the vessel at Adelaide. When the gale, abated; Captain Scott, who was in command, set all hands to the pumps, and when the Glenlui reached the j heads the water in the hold had, by hard and continuous pumping, been reduced to 13 inches. The captain and crew lost nearly all their clothes, and all the boats, excepting one, which is much damaged, were washed away. ' The vessel will be brought to port today. She left Adelaide on May 12, and it is probable that as much of the cargo has been damaged by water she will have to discharge at Port Chalmers, and will possibly go into dock for repairs. The .Glenlui is a-steel vessel of 1925 tons register, and she was built at Liverpool in -1884, and is owned by Mr. W. Gracie, of Liverpool. The ship sailed from Valparaiso in January last for Sydney, and left the latter port in March for Adelaide to load cargo.

HEAVY SEAS OFF GISBOHNE. DETENTION OF SHIPPING. [BY telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] | ' Gisborne, Thursday. !■ After two days' continuous storm the weather this morning, although raw and cold, showed decided signs of improvement; the sea in the bay ha.d sufficiently moderated during the night to enable shipping operations to be partly resumed. The Union Company's steamer Waikare reached port at seven o'clock last evening after a passage of nine hours from the East Cape, and was instructed to , remain until daylight. . This morning she was successfully .tendered for passengers and cargo, there being about 90 tons of the latter to land. Outward passengers were ■.taken out, and as the work of transhipping the theatrical scenery was somewhat tedious with the heavy swell running, it was fully ten minutes to ten a.m. before passengers and mails were landed.

The Shaw-Savill steamer Delphic came tip to an anchorage in the bay at eight a.m. after a lengthy passage of nearly 64 hours.; Captain Breen reports having left Auckland at half-past four p.m. on Monday, and on passing the- East Cape at half-past nine on Tuesday morning he ran into the full force of the heavy weather. The steamer was in light- trim, And made bad weather, rolling considerably. Steaming continuously at full-speed the big steamer did not pass Gisborne until three p.m. yesterday, the run of 90 miles from East Cape having occupied no less than 30 hours. In view of the state of the weather in the. bay the vessel took shelter under Mahia Peninsula until five o'clock this morning, when she came on to port. Captain Breen, who is a mariner of long experience, declares it was certainly the heaviest sea he has ever, seen on the New Zealand i coast. An attempt was made to commence loading this morning, but as the vessel was rolling considerably .it was deemed advisable to postpone operations until to-morrow.

| After a couple of days' detention in port the steamer Putiki was able to proceed South this morning.

Hie Union Company's steamer Moura is due from Southern ports late to-night, and the Tuatea is timed to tender her at eleven p.m.

A little further damage was sustained along the water front at high-tide last night. The seas continue to further encroach upon the railway embankment- along tho Waikanae beach, and at Victoria Esplanade.

Advice was received by- the chief postmaster this afternoon that the s.s. Toroa, which left Napier for Gisborne on Monday night, is sheltering under the Mahia.