BATTLE WITH ELEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 13

BATTLE WITH ELEMENTS

LOSS OF THE NAMBUCCA BROKEN IN HALF BY SEAS CAPTAIN'S GRAPHIC STORY Pounded by heavy seas for two nights and a day, the 415-ton wooden coastal steamer Nambucca, which became stranded on a sandspit near the entrance to the Nambucca River, New South A\ ales, on the evening of May 7, broke in halves two days later and became a total loss. Captain Albert Krok told a graphic story of the wreck when he arrived in Sydney. It. was tho stpry of a little vessel's hopeless struggle against overwhelming odds, with tho steering gear carried away, a bowling gale blowing and no sea-room in which to manoeuvre. . "We attempted to put into the mouth of the Nambucca River in the teeth of a south-easterly gale," said Captain Krok, "with a towline out to the pilot tug. As wo crossed the outer bar the race struck us like a hammer. Under the. shock of that terrific impact the steering-gear broke, and the ship swung almost broadside to the towline. Rock in Vessel's Path "It was a moment for quick decision. Right in the ship's path there was a sunken rock. Had she struck that she would have torn her bottom out, and the chances of the crew reaching shore with that sea ruuning and in that gale were practically nil: I gave tho order to cast off the tow-line, and |we set to work feverishly to make j some sort of repairs to the steeringI gear. Meanwhile, 1 had a most difficult | job to keep the ship off the break-wall | by manoeuvring the engines." In the meantime, the tug fired four rocket lines at the drifting coaster, but all missed. Finally, the Nambucca's crow succeeded in effecting temporary repairs to the steering-gear, and Captain Krok attempted to stand out lo sea. The wind and the race frustrated him, and the gear broke again, and again the men rigged repairs. A final effort was made to steam into the comparative shelter of the river's mouth. It failed, and wind and sea swept tho little ship on to a sandspit about 100 yds. from the shore. "It was now a question of keeping afloat," proceeded Captain Krok. "Heavy seas swept the decks, and officers and men spent an anxious and comfortless night. In the morning we realised it was hopeless, and we got ashore as best we could by boat." Hazardous Trip to Shore With great difficulty a boat was lowered into the rough sea. With their personal possessions, several of the vessel's complement took to the boat, and, towing a life-line, set out on their hazardous trip to the shore. Battered and tossed about by heavy seas, the small boat was nearly capsized on several occasions. Waves broke across its stern, causing it to ship water, and drenching the men. The boat was swept out of its course by the swift current. It made definite progress, however, and at last reached the shore.

The end of the rope which had been j towed from the Nambucca was secured ashore. I3v means of the rope, tho boat was then pulled backwards and forwards between the stranded vessel and : the beach, making three more trips j and carrying the rest of the crew and ' their possessions to safety.