A ROUGH VOYAGE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 57

A ROUGH VOYAGE

PERILOUS EXPERIENCES." GISBORNE, January 16. ■ The- anxiety in connection with tho ship Grace Harwar was -relieved this morning, when it became, known that the vessel was in tow of the steamer Fanny. The,, master Gf .the Fanny whilst waiting for the pilot saw the vessel anti hauled off in her direction, bringing her to the anchorage three hours later. The appearance of the ship indicated that she had had a rough passage. . Her mist: zen topmast was gone and her main topgallant mast had also snapped 'off. On Christmas Day, when the vessel was off Hawke’s Bay, the strong wind increased to a howling gale, which By li p.m. had reached a terrible hpight, ae; companied by ' a hejavy cross ; sea.,; The vessel shipped a terrific roller at about this time, which Completely filled the decks. " Three or four boats, as well ah - their - skids, the bridge, the: standard compass, and nearly everything mo vocable on deck went before it. The starboard poop ladder, the safe and a quantity of gear were: also washed overboard. The; Grace. Ha-war came an ballast, and while being swept by the terrific seas this shifted and threw the boat on her beam ends'. Some idea of her position may be gained from the fact that the lee rail was three feet under water. Notwithstanding all that could be done, theq vessel still remained in her awful position. At six o’clock the following morning (the captain’s cabin being then half filled with water and his charts being swept -away) all hands were turned: -out to go below and! commence the work of trimming the ballast. An ordinary seaman named Cornelius Eickhardt attempted to make his way along the decks and was washed overboard. He was never seen again. The man was shipped at Capetown and was only a young fellow. Captain Briseoq had a miraculous escape of being drowned. During the gale he was washed overboard, but was thrown back on board:. The crew were engaged night- and day for seven days bringing the vessel to an even keel. During the last ten days the -Grace Hanwar has been off P'cverty Bay. The only boat sighted wa-s the Hawea on. the Bth, -and although every effort was made to attract attention, the, signals were not seen. The Grace Harwar watf near enough to the Hawea to make her, out as a. Union steamer. The- vessel will be repaired here, and loads wool for London.