LARGE CRANE RUNS AMOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18585, 18 December 1923, Page 7

LARGE CRANE RUNS AMOK.

STEAMERS TURNED ADRIFT. .-V; V : ' : ~J'y\ INCIDENT AT NEWCASTLE. A large crane employed loading coal ran amok in Carrington basin, Newcastio, one day last week. It took charge of the wharf, turned two steamers adrift, and threatened to 'wreck all the other cranes on the wharf. But it was captured and brought into subjection' again. • No. 12 crane was waiting to load coal into the steamer Persic, when a terrific i southerly blow struck the locality. The safetly catch of the crane broke, causing it to "move down the wharf -at a rapid, j speed. A rope three and a quarter inches thick, fastened to the bollard^ impeded its progress > somewhat, but this was also broken. Two - forward head ropes were then broken as if they had been pieces of string. ,■ ; In the meantime the foreman cranedriver managed to gain the crane box, but the crane continued on its way for some time before 1 he succeeded in gaining control.' ■ , In its progress the crane broke the lines on the steamers Wyreena and Persic, causing them to drift. All hands were assembled on the Persic, and the anchor dropped. The vessels-were made fast again, and the danger was over. 1 ' "The blow was so sudden," said the chief officer of the Persic, " that no one\ realised that it would cause damage till it was on us. * It was a. miraculous escape."