THE PERTHSHIRE FOUND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 32

THE PERTHSHIRE FOUND.

DISCOVERED BY THE TALUHE. HER ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY HARBOUR. A TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. INTERESTING DETAILS. SYDNEY, Sunday. The Perthshire, in tow of the U.S.S. Company’s Talune, was sighted off Newcastle to-night. . . a i The steamers are coming on to byuney, where they are expected to ari»ve early to-morrow morning. A tug tbat wont out to tho stonmors from Newcastle reports t'iat nil tno crew and passengers of tho Perthshire Talune picked up the disabled steamer on Tuesday last off Norfolk Island. ~ , , T There was great excitement at rsewcastle when the Perthshire was first cliffs were literally lined with spectators with glasses. The captain of the Perthshire informed the captain of the tug that he required no further assistance; that tho Talune was sufficient. The vessels are coining along at a dead slow pace, so as not to make Sydney before daylight. Tho Perthshire is being tugged by her own chain cable. It was ascertained that the shaft wa3 broken, but that it did not break in the tube. . The engineer endeavoured to repair it by means of coupling, but it was not strong enough to stand the strain. Sydney, Saturday. The ship Vera,jean, which arrived at Newcastle to-day, reports that she spoke to the Perthshire on June 7th in latitude 29deg 38min south, longitude 165 deg lmin east. The Perthshire reported that all were well on board. A strong north to north-west gale was blowing at the time of the Verajean’s speaking to the disabled liner. The gale was accompanied by heavy, rough seas. After leaving the Perthshire the Verajean spoke to a French steamer named La Perouse, bound from Sydney to the islands. The Verajean reported tne Perthshire’s position to the captain of the La Perouse, and it is believed that steamer will now have the Perthshire in tow. [The French steamer La Perouse is a regular trader between Sydney and Noumea (New Caledonia), and is a powerful vessel of 630 tons register. She left Sydney for Noumea via Newcastle on the 10th inst., ,in charge of Captain Terrasson.] SYDNEY, Sunday. The barque Verajean spoke the steamer La Perouse five days later. When sighted, the Perthshire was heading eastward, and was making good weather. She apparently had a seaanchor out.

Among the passengers on the Perthshire are Mrs Burnett, her five children, and governess. The tug Hero left here the day before the La Perouse, with the intention of searching the locality where the Verajean sighted the missing steamer. [The Verajean was bound from Nagasaki (Japan) to Newcastle when she fell in with the Perthshire. She is a large, steel-built ship, of 1824 tons re--gister, and is commanded by Captain Crowley. She is to load cool at Newcastle for Portland. Oregon.] ' SYDNEY, Monday.

• The Perthshire was towed into Port Jackson between 7 and 8 o’clock this morning, and is now anchored in Neutral Bay. The steamer bears evidences of her long drift and of the knocking about she received in the recent rough weather, but otherwise all is well. It is understood that the frozen meat aboard has not suffered. The run of the Talune up harbour this morning was in the nature of a triumphal procession. As she neared the Union Company’s wharf in Darling Harbour the steamers blew their whistles, and the crowds which had assembled on the wharves gave vent to enthusiastic cheers.

A representative of the New Zealand Press Association interviewed Captain Spinks as soon as the vessel was alongside. The captain reported that, in accordance with his plans for the finding of the Perthshire, rockets were fired every hour after his vessel was well away from Cook Strait. a It was 3.20 o’clock on the morning of the 13th inst. (Tuesday last), in latitude 29.3 and south longitude 163.38 east, that the Perthshire was met with. The position indicated is about 700 miles from Sydney. Captain Wallace, of the Perthshire, appealed to Captain Spinks for assistance. He accordingly stood by the disabled vessel until'daylight. The weather was fine, with a moderate breeze. Captain Spinks arranged to tow the vessel into port, and accordingly got the Perthshire’s hawser aboard and started for Sydney at 8.30 o’clock the same morning. * He proceeded at halfspeed, and made fair progress till 8 o’clock on the morning of the loth

(Thursday), when the tow-rope parted. Tho wind had in the meantime increased to a moderate gale, with sharp rain-squalls, accompanied by a heavy head sea.. Preparations were then made to carry on the tow by means of chain cables, that of the Perthshire being connected with the Talune’s. Owing to the heavy sea, the line bad to be passed aboard the Perthshire by means of a, rocket. A fresh start was made at 4 o’clock on tho afternoon of the 15th. The strong head wind and heavy sea continued till the morning of the 17th, testing the cables to the utmost. The • weather then moderated, and the wind hauled to the south-east. Taking advantage of this favourable change, sail was set on the Perthshire, and port, was safely reached this morning in due course. Captain Spinks kept to the track marked out by him at Wellington, the result showing the accuracy of his judgment. On his arrival in Sydney Captain Spinks found a cablegram awaiting him from the owners of the Perthshire congratulating him upon his feat, lie has also been warmly congratulated by the local shipping men upon his luck in finding the vessel, and upon his long and successful towing feat in the face of adverse weather. Ike passengers by the Talune joined in the chorus of compliments by presenting the skipper with an address. When the Perthshire was picked up the broken shaft had been repaired, and the vessel was heading north, under steam, at the rate of 4£ knots per hour. She was then within forty-three miles of Norfolk Island. From the date of leaving Sydney (26th April) throughout the long drift, the weather was stormy. Altogether, the steamer drifted helplessly some fourteen hundred miles during her disablement, crossing and lecrossing the track cf steamers, and daily expeoting to be picked up. No attempt was made to mend the shaft till the vessel had drifted out cf the track of steamers to and from New Zealand. It transpires that the Perthshire broke her shaft at 6 o’clock on the evening of the 28th April. The fracture was within four feet from the end. The engineers succeeded in repairing the shaft on the llth June, after ten days’ labour, by means of a patenter upling. But for having passengers aboard. Captain Wallace would probably have attempted to make port unaided. Though the experiences of those on board were exciting, they suffered little inconvenience. Their only fear was that they would drift ashore after having drifted out of the track of steamers. The repairs to the Perthshire were completed when she was within 43 miles of Norfolk Island. She had steamed 180 miles to the northward when picked up. The drift was in a zig-zag, slowly to the north-east. She twice described a circle, coming back' to the same point. Attempts were made to sail, but there was not sufficient canvas to give steerage way. A strong electric light was kept burning at the masthead, and coloured lights were frequently burned. The first engineer of the Perthshire (Mr John Blair) gives an interesting account of the attempts made to repair the propeller. The day after the breakage occurred the propeller was secured with chains, and owing to the difficulty experienced in repairing shafts so broken, it was decided that it would be better to wait for passing steamers. Meanwhile the engineers removed the stem tube, and found exactly where the breakage was. After they got the ends together they had much trouble, and tho join slipped several times. The engineer also stated that wben the vessel was picked up everything was working smoothly. The engineers were of opinion that they would have had no difficulty in reaching port with the temporary repairs effected. They were therefore greatly disappointed on being picked up, especially after they had token so much trouble to fix up die shift. While the repairs were proceeding the engineers had scarcely two hours’ sleep a day, and barely took time to eat their meals. The engineer considered that- if the repairs had been taken in hand at first, instead of waiting for steamers, they would have been finished by May full.

THE FOURTH OFFICER’S NARRATIVE. SYDNEY, Monday. The fourth officer (Mr W. H. Smith) kept a private log. It furnishes an excellent account of the experiences of the Perthshire. From Mr Smith’s log it appears the vessel met with a heavy southerly gale after leaving Sydney. When it subsided it left a heavy sea, in which the ship laboured. When the vessel broke down a boat was lowered, containing the chief officer and the engineer. An inspection showed that the propeller ivas lying against the rudder-post. The night was dark, and the sea was high and confused, and nothing could be done with safety; so all sail was bent and set to a southerly wind.

At daybreak the next morning n boat was again lowered, and the propeller was with much difficulty securely lashed. Every effort was next made to get the vessel into the track of passing steamers, but the vessel had no steerage. A powerful searchlight was rigged, but the efforts made to reach the track ot vessels were disheartening. No sooner would the steamer gam a rtide than the wind would shift to another quarter. Even the most patient of those on beard were now becoming mutable, and matter’s were getting worse and worse. On May 6th the gale increased, and the vessel laboured heavily, rolling in tli9 trough of the sea. After nine days’ blowing about it was found that tho vessel was only nine miles to the northward of her first position. On May 7th hope once more dawned, as the gale moderated, and enabled the Perthshire to make thirty-seven miles to the north and east. In proportion as she went to the north the spirits of those on board revived, and they began to answer one another more civilly, and to look less miserable. On the 10th May the vessel was just six miles to the southward of the track, and when she got on the track every effort was made to keep there. The captain rigged a drag over (be starboard quarter, but that failed to get the vessel round. Those on board were continually tortured with the knowledge that the vessel was now drifting across the track, and getting further away. On liic 18th there was great excitement on board when a sail was sighted. It turned out to be the Whangaroa, and the little schooner stopped by t be Perthshire all night. Then, after the Whangaroa left ns again in solitude, aU attempts to get the ship round failed. Up to this point the average drift was seventeen miles daily to the north and east. On the 17th May another gale was experienced. It caused the chain lashing cf the propeller on the port side to carry away. The wind was still northerly, and the vessel was now nearing the Auckland tractc, and hope was renewed, and everyone cn board nursed the hope that the Perthshire would be picked up for a certainty. On the Queen’s Birthday the crew and passengers did not forget to wish her Majesty many more years of happiness and a peaceful entry into the next world when the time should come. The next day found the vessel thirty miles from the track, and a sad in sight. All hopes were damped on fmd- • ••v it was not a steamer, 'iluai, after sending messages, the Northern Chief left us alone once more. Next day they had crossed the track, ai d the potatoes had run out; so had ibe yeast, but the bread was made by utilising stout in some mysterious manner ; but the bread was bla* k ai d scarcely palatable, and weighed twice as heavy as the ordinary bread. The Perthshire kept sending off rockets at night, while in the track. On the 27th May she was sixty miles northward of the track, and had drifted 926 miles since the breakdown. On the 31st the captain decided, as the vessel was drifting amongst islands, that something must be done to repair the damage. On June Ist a terrific southerly gale was experienced, and the vessel drifted seventy-three miles that clay. The Perthshire was now 150 miles southward and westward of the Norfolk Islands. As the gale moderated, the engineers commenced their baza: do us work on the stern tube, which, owing to the fineness of the vessel at this part, was extremely difficult. On June sth the weather was fine, and a stage was erected round the propeller. The men narrowly escaped being washed off the staging. They managed, however, to got packing round the shaft, and got the propeller into position. Then the Verajean hove in sight. On the Hth all looked forward to a great trial of 1 lie propeller, for then the coupling had been successfully placed. On the 11 tli tho engines were started, and the vessel had covered 100 miles when the Talune was sighted. The great question arose as to whether they should now accept assistance. Captain Wallace went oi board the Talune, and instructions wore shortly afterwards signalled from the Talune to prepare to tow. The Talune nearly missed the Perthshire, and if tho Talune had been an hour later the Shire liner would have steamed on her course ro Sydney. SYDNEY, Tuesday. The Perthshire is now in clock, and her cargo is being discharged. Captain 'Spinks, of the Talune, has been overwhelmed with complimentary telegrams from all parts of the world on his finding of the Perthshire.

STORIES OF DISABLED STEAMERS

There have been quite a number of previous cases in which large steamers have been rendered helpless by breaking their shafts. Such an instance was that of the Umbria, some three years ago. On her voyage from Liverpool to New York she broke her shaft in a howling gale. For a day she wallowed in the trough of the sea, when a tramp steamer, the Bohemia, fell in with her and took her in tow. But after steaming 75 miles in the teeth of the gale

the rope broke—the sailors of the liner who hauled in the line declared that it was cut. Anyway, the Bohemia went her way, and reported the plight of the Umbria at New York. Four days later the Cunarder Gallia was sighted, but as she was carrying mails she could not stop to do ’towage work. Sliß had to report the additional fact that tho Umbria was making considerable water through the screw shaft. A small steamer was next sighted, but she was hardly powerful enough to tow such a large vessel, and besides had not coal enough, ana the weather was too bad ta allow her to replenish her bunkers from the liner. She was given up for lost, when, ten days after the accident, she steamed into port, her engineers having managed to patch up the machinery. The Bourgogne, which was wrecked some months ago, had a somewhat similar experience, but was picked up by a powerful tug sent in search of her. For twelve days she was the sport of wind and waves, and when she arrived in port her decks were swept clean, and she had slapped much water through the broken smoke-stacks. We have already referred to the German liner Altmarkt, which was laden with a cargo of bulk wheat, and had 150 passengers on board, when her engines broke down; and there was the experience of the Cuzco, some twenty years ago. Tho breaking of the propeller shaft is so common an occurrence that Mr Justice Barnes, in a recent salvage suit, said, “Nearly every salvage case that we get now is owing to the breakage of the propeller shaft. Every time the vessel rolls the blades come out of the water. Tho resistance of the water removed, the propeller spins round, at an enormous speed, or races, as it is termed. Then, when the vessel rights herself, the blades of the screw strike tho water almost on the flat, and it is almost as if striking against a solid substance. It is then that either a blade breaks, or the shaft, having one end suddenly stopped seining, while the engines are' still spinning away, the other end snaDs like a carrot.”

A REMINISCENCE OF THE CUZCO

A contributor to the Christchurch “Dress” of Friday last gives some interesting particulars of an occurrence somewhat similar to that passed through by the Perthshire’s passengers and crew. Twenty-one years ago the good ship Cuzco, 3845 tons, 3000 horse-power, was one of the crack steamers of the Orient Company’s fleet, then newly running to Australia from London, and there was a natural desire on the part of her commander, Captain Murdoch, to break the record. So far; as the first half of the journey was concerned —the run to the Capa —this was accomplished, the anchor being cast in Table Bay within twentyone clays after leaving Plymouth. She left Capetown on May 14th, and again, some famous running was made until May 28th, when the propeller shaft broke. The vessel was l then 1740 miles off Cape Otway, and it ’.’as necessary to make the land under sail. With a favouring wind, the steamer did fhtyone miles on the first day, the next cay thirty-one miles, and on the third day the run was 150 miles. The Cuzco was built cn clipper lines, and, of course, carried, as all steamers of those days, a considerable spread of canvas. After detailing the privations endured through an enforced reduction in rations, the writer says: —The Cuzco certainly astonished everybody by her power of sailing. One day 172 miles were logged, the steamer at times doing her nine knots an hour. We were exceptionally fortunate in the matter of fair winds. Still we had our periods of anxiety. After breaking down, we passed through no fewer than six gales —one of them, the captain stated, being the heaviest he had ever experienced off the Australian coast. We sighted only one vessel before we reached the Australian coast. Great was tho excitement when the cry “A sail!” was raised, and wonderful the diversity of optical instruments brought up from below wherewith to examine the welcome stranger. She turned out to be an American schooner, the Ralph Hayward, bound from Boston to Sydney. In re-spon-e to our signals she hove-to, our first officer, Mr Powell, went off to her in a boat, and asked the captain to report our condition at Cape Otway, so that tugs might come to our assistance. Then she bore away, leaving us with a mingled feeling of fresh loneliness and of relief at the prospect of letting our friends know our whereabouts, and getting some assistance. Curiously enough, on the very day the Ralph Hayward reached Sydney the Cuzco anchored in an Australian port. Captain Murdoch did a very smart thing, which saved bis owners, or the underwriters, some thousands of pounds. He took his vessel, unaided, into Portland Harbour, Victoria, three weeks overdue. _ There was then no longer any question of salvage; tl,e agents were able 10 make- reasonable arrangements for towage, and a couple of tugs took her safely round to Melbourne. There was great anxiety about the safety of the ship, especially in view of the heavy steams which had been prevailing on ulie Australian coast, and insurance on ibe vessel bad gore up to a very high figure.