DISABLED VESSEL SAVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19928, 23 April 1928, Page 12

DISABLED VESSEL SAVED.

BATTERED BY HEAVY SEAS. RESCUE BY WANGANUI TUG. DANGEROUS WORK IN GALE. NIGHT CHARGED WITH ANXIETY. [IIY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WANGANUI, Sunday. Battered by tremendous seas and being slowly driven inshore the coastal steamer Gale was saved from destruction at daybreak yesterday by the great judgment and seamanship displayed by Captain P Mc.Tnt.yre, harbourmaster at Wanganui, who took tho board's tug Kahanui to the rescue after tho Union Company's tug Terawhiti had had to stand out to sea. Tho line by which she was towing the Gale parted during the previous afternoon. The Gale, on entering tho port on Wednesday afternoon, was caught by the strong seas running and her stern was forced against one of tho moles, two blades of the propeller being broken and a third badly bent, leaving only one untouched. The firm's principals in Wellington made arrangements for the Union Company's tug Terawhiti to tow her back to Wellington and the tug arrived on Friday morning the tow being commenced at 10.30 a.m.

However, when the vessels were only a few miles out, about three hours later, the towline parted and the Gale, driven by heavy seas arid a strong wind, drifted down the coast. The anchor was let down and eventually she was moored aliout two miles off shore, about six or seven miles south of Wanganui. About nine o'clock the weather became thicker and the port officials could see that the steamer was placed in grave danger, especially as the Terawhiti had stood out to sea. Tug Leaves Wanganui. At ten o'clock the seas were coming over the breakwater heavier than ever and a gale commenced to blow from the north-west. It was then decided to send the board's tug Kahanui to sea, in case the Gale dragged her moorings, and just before midnight the tug left port.. It was not until she was clearing the bar that the true force of the gale was realised. Huge seas repeatedly broke over the bows and starboard quarter, making the lower deck impassable. At times the lights of the Gale could be discerned to the southward, but as nothing could be done in such a sea at night the Kahanui cruised about on a triangular course. It was an anxious night. Her decks were awash all the time and waves as high as the Wridge swept her every minute. Rain squalls added to the general discomfort and shut out all sight of land lights and the steamer at anchor. About dawn the rain ceased, but the sea was running higher than ever and the Gale was immediately seen to be very badly situated. Empty of cargo she was riding high, leaving a big surface exposed to the wind. The single blade of her propeller was thrashing the water wildly in an attempt to keep her bows headed into the wind and to take the strain of? the cable, but in spite of this she had j drifted inshore during the night. A Difficult Operation.

When the Kahanui steamed alongside the disabled vessel was little more than half-a-mile from the line of breakers on the beach. Preparations were being made to float a line from the tug to the Gale, when a tremendous sea heeled the former over at a dangerous angle and 600 ft. of strong line, just about to be uncoiled, was swept overboard and rapidly carried shorewards. Another line with floats attached was sent overboard and the Kahanui steamed slowly across the Gale's bows, but with no success.

The strong current carried the line too far away and so the process had to ho repeated. Again sea and wind triumphed but the third time the Kahanui, wonderfully handled by Captain Mclntyre, manoeuvred into a hotter position although tho Gale's surging bows were perilously close —and the rope was carried across the anchor cable. It was speedily hauled on board and then came another struggle. The difficulty of operations was increased tenfold by the broken surf f.nd tho restricted space in which tho tug could be safely manoeuvred. Period of Anxiety.

At times a terrific strain was placed on the frail line until it seemed it must break, but at length a stout wire cable was made fast to tho Gale and all was ready for the tow. At 8.30 a.m. the Kahanui forged ahead, keeping an even strain on the towrope while the Gale's mooring cable was taken in. Then the anchor rose above the water and tho iowrope tightened There wero strained faces on both ships in that minute of anxiety, the question each one asked inwardly was '.'Will it hold?" If tho towline had broken nothing could have saved the Gale from being dashed on to tho beach. r lhe storm had increased and it would have been only a matter of minutes before she grounded. But the rope held and the Kahanui slowly drew the other steamer out into tho teeth of the raging gale to deep water and safety. Course Set for Wellington.

Then came the longest part of the work. Wanganui was only a few miles away, but it was doubtful whether the tug could get in alone, and with a tow it would have been suicide to have attempted it, so a course was set for Wellington. The storm began to abate and the wind dropped slowly to a breeze. As the hours went full speed was called for and the boats made about seven knots. Good conditions held until nearly midnight, when a stiff south-easterly wind sprang up and when the vessels met the falling tide rip and the conflicting currents off Cape Terawhiti there were again Bome anxious moments. However, the rope held, and at 2.20 a.m. both steamers dropped anchor in .Wellington The rope was cast off and the Kahanui berthed at five o'clock. The Gale limped to Miramar shortly afterwards to go on the slip for repairs. The Gale had been at sea for 46 hours, and the Kahanui for 29. Sent to the rescue at a moment's notice, the tug had on hoard only a few tins of beef. There was no sleep for anyone until the tow had commenced, and even after that only a few were able to snatch a couple of hours' rest. The decks of the tug were awash from the time she loft Wancanui until she dropped anchor in Port Nicholson, and as the galley was inaccessible the crew spent a cold and cheerless night. The Kahanui roturifed to Wanganui to-night.