A LOST PROPELLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 7

A LOST PROPELLER.

THE ACCIDENT TO THE AGE. Pabtiouxaes regarding the accident to the steamer Age. referred to in the cable messages in the Herald recently, came to hand from Sydney, by the Morayshire yesterday. ,! The Age left Port Pirie for Sydney direct on April 15, with a cargo of concentrates. At three p.m. on the 19th, without the slightest warning, the tail shaft snapped at the end of the stern tubing outside the vessel, and the propeller sank to the bottom. With the aid of all available canvas the Age mads slow progress towards Sydney Heads, and was picked up by the Arawatta and taken to Sydney. Captain Bants, the master of the Age, said: —"We were 12 miles to the southeast of Uliadulla or Warden Head when the mishap occurred. The shaft suddenly snapped in a way that 1 cannot account for, and in an instant, we were left helpless. A moderate southerly wind prevailed at the time, and there was a. following sea. We immediately set all available sail, and then collected all the awnings, tarpaulins, cargo covers, and other descriptions of canvas on board and rigged them up in a variety of ways. We luid canvas set to the funnel and over the hatches—in fact, when we had finished we had a great spread of sail. We sailed along with a speed of from four to five knots towards our destination. The Age, however, was in very light trim, and difficult to handle. She rolled severely in the heavy seaway. We signalled a number of vessels while we wero disabled, but until the Arawatta came on the scene our signals were unnoticed. On the night of the 20tlr a steamer crossed our bow« about four miles off. By means of flashes of Our lamps wo signalled, 'Propeller lost; communicate with us,' but the vessel stood on her course without heeding us. The wind falling light the next day we were absolutely helpless, and ait the mercy of the strong southerly and westerly currents, which carried as Backward." This is not the first time that the Age. has been disabled through the loss of her propeller, for in December, 1906, she broke down in precisely the same manner, in almost the same place. On that occasion the Age was towed to Sydney by the Kadina. -'.-■'.