DAMAGED BY GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

DAMAGED BY GALE.

HORNFELS' ROUGH VOYAGE

MAN LOST OVERBOARD,

COAL FOR AUCKLAND.

The protracted voyage of the German tramp Hornfels caused much comment on tho Auckland waterfront, and therefore it was not surprising to find, when she dropped anchor in the stream yesterday. that she had experienced adverse weather and that considerable damage had been done to her by the tremendous seas experienced. It was also reported by the officers that an English member of the

crew, a fireman, was lost overboard shortly after leaving South Africa.

The Hornfels left Delagoa Bay, South Africa, on December 18 with a cargo of coal for Auckland. She was in command of Captain Braack, and had German officers and crew. Moderate weather prevailed at the outset, but on Christmas Eve a fireman named Stewart, 24 yeans of age, was reported missing. The weather at the time was rough and the night dark, and it is thought he was washed overboard.

On January 8 a heavy north-west blow j came on, the vessel at that time being in lat. 44 south, long. 120 to 130 east. For three days the -weather showed no signs of abating, and tremendous seas crashed on board amidships, doing much damage. The position became serious when the seas pounding on board carried away part of the steam steering gear, and the vessel was left at the mercy of the sea. The steamer laboured alarmingly in the trough of tho waves, and, as the result of the battering, she received before tho hand steering-gear was got into working order, much damage was done to the deck fittings, the com pan ion ways were carried away, and the boat davits bent and twisted. With the assistance of winches and tackle the officers succeeded in working the hand steering-gear, and the steamer eventually weathered the gale. On January 11 the weather cleared, and during the run to Auckland on the following ten days the weather was fine. Tho Hornfels has brought a cargo of 6000 tons of coal for Auckland, part of which i* for the Devonport Steam Ferry Company.