AWANUI IN THE GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13480, 3 July 1907, Page 7

AWANUI IN THE GALE.

HEAVY SEAS ON BOARD

DECK FITTINGS DAMAGED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESJPONDKNT.]

Gisborne, Tuesday. The schooner Awanni, Captain D. Probert, had a very rough time on the passage from Mercury Bay to Gisborne. She left the Northern port on Sunday, June 23, and on the following Tuesday it came on to blowvery hard from the eastward, and the vessel ran into Whangaparoa roadstead, under Cape Runaway, at one o'clock next morning. The storm became worse, and the. vessel would not hold to the anchors. She commenced dragging, and there was nothing for it but to get under way and make clear |of the land. A start was made at five. a.m., there then being a very heavy gale; ! from the east-north-east, with an exceptionally heavy sea. The barometer had : I started to fall, and got down as low ass, 28.60. At 4.30 p.m. the gale suddenly shifted to the westward, and the vessel ran before the wind, doing 32 miles in four hours under the staysail. _ j At eight p.m.. the gale increasing,] heavy seas were shipped, the cabin being deluged. One big sea lifted the davits clear up, swinging out the large surf boat and dashing it into the great billows that; beset the craft. All of the lockers were wrenched off and carried away; the gratings were swept overboard, and altogether a most unpleasant and exciting time was experienced. The ""schooner stood out the gale splendidly. There was not the slightest fear [that she would not wear it through, and: Captain Probert speaks very highly of thq seagoing qualities of his ship. When the storm was at its worst the vessel was hove-to under a. balanced reefed' mainsail, and she lay hove-to all day on, Thursday, until Friday morning, when the weather started to calm down. Between the Tuesday and Friday the vessel had drifted about 150 miles to seaward. Fine weather set in on Friday and Saturday, and the land was sighted on Sunday afternoon; thence until arrival at Gisborne there was fine weather, with light baffling, airs from all parts. The scow Southern Isle, which arrived: this afternoon, also reports a rough experience on the trip from Mangatete. Heavy seas broke on board, shifting the galley laud smashing one of the boats..