HELPING A DISABLED STEAMER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 36

HELPING A DISABLED STEAMER.

Sydney, January 21. A passenger by the Miowera describes the picking up by that vessel of the disabled steamer Strath Nevis. The Strath Nevis had been long' missing-, having left Victoria (British Columbia) on October 13th, with ICS Chinese passengers and 39 of the crew, bound for Japan. When 1700 miles out she lost her propeller during a heavy gale, and drifted away for (>0 days on the Great Japan current. The provisions ran out, and those on board were living on flour and tinned salmon, which comprised the cargo. At the rate the vessel was drifting, she would have been on the American coast in ten days. The Miowera g-ot a tow-line out, but it parted the same night. She then stood by the disabled vessel, but a tremendous sea prevented a second line being brought into use for 42 hours. Eventually a volunteer crew from the Miowera launched a boat and got hold of the line. The wind afterwards increased to hurricane force, and the hawser being unable Jto stand the strain snapped off. The aea was so terrific that it seemed as if the Miowera's engine rooms would be flooded. The wind carried the vessel so near the lee shore prior to the cables parting that the Miowera headed seaward, and the sfcraiu on her was so heavy that the stem was brought under water at times. When the cables parted the Miowera lost sight of the Strath Nevis, and after cruising about for many hours, next day she abandoned the search and proceeded on her voyage. Those on board only heard of the safety of the Strath Nevis on arrival here.