THRILLING RESCUE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12021, 26 December 1924, Page 11

THRILLING RESCUE

A HECPLESB SCHOONER SAILS AND RUDDER CARRIED AWAY IN CYCLONE. * A four-masted American schooner that had been badly by a cyclone was picked up in the Gulf of Mexico and towed 650 miles to Colon by the Reardon Smith Line steamer Quebec City, which arrived at Auckland recently from Texas. The Quebeo City sailed from Port Arthur, Texas, for Auckland on Octolr 15th, and experienced tempestuous weather until noon on October 20th. when the four-masted American schooner Florence B. Philhps was sighted five miles on the port bow flying signals of distress. The schooner was bound from Betizc, British Honduras, to Mobile, Mississippi, with a full cargo of copra and coconuts. On the previous day she had been struck by a cyclone, which had smashed- her rudder, blown her sails away, and washed the lifeboats overboard. _ When the Quebec City arrived on the scene the wind was blowing a fresh, gale from the south-west, and there was a high confused sea. The Quebec City was then hove to close to windward of- the schooner, and with difficulty a lifeboat was lowered, manned by the chief officer, Mr Roberts, and four seamen. The boat reached the schooner's stem safely, and hung there fast to a line. The captain of the schooner informed Mr Roberts of the damage done to the sailing vessel, and requested that the Quebec City should stand by him, SCHOONER LEAKING BAXtLY. The lifeboat then returned to the steamer, which was then hove to to leeward. At 3.80 p.m. the same day the 'schooner hailed the steamer and reported •that *she was leaking badly, and wished to be towed to port. This waa more easily said. ihan r done, as .*ho gale con- ; titttted unabated, and the heavy sea made boat'-'work extremely difficult and dangerous. A number of unsuccessful attempts were made to get > a line aboard the schooner by. the aid of the Band by lines attached to floating lifebuoys. As darkness was approaching salvage work was suspended until daybreak next day. The efforts were, resumed at six Vdock the following morning, and at 7io a.m. a line was passed from the steamer to the schooner by tho aid of a floating buoy. This line was then attached to a towing hawser, the end of which was got on board tho schooner by 8.30 a.m. An hour later the Quebec City was under way with _ the schooner in tow. The wind had increased to a strong westerly gak>, which blew in furious squalls, and the seas were running high. The tempestuous conditions put too heavy a strain on the tow line, which carried, away at noon. LINE AGAIN MADE EAST. Various unsuccessful attempts were made that afternoon to get the tow fast to the schooner again; but owing to the weather conditions the work was abandoned until the following day. Shortly after 6 a.m. the salvage work was resumed, and half an hour later the tow line was again fast to the schooner. The tow was resumed at als a.m., but an hour and a half later the steamer stopped and shackled a long length of cable to the tow line. An hour later the cable was fast, and the steamer got under way again. Next day the weather began to moderate, and the conditions gradually im. graved, with the result that the Quebec ity reached Colon on October and handed over the disabled schooner to a tug. Besides losing rudder, sails and boats, the schooner had hist both her anchors with cables attached. When she was struck by the cyclone the anchors with* nearly all the cable, were lowered to try to bring the vessel's head to the wind. Later the crew of the schooner were unable to heave the anchors up again, : and in consequence the Cables •werq'Slipped and lost. Ihe [reecDo of the schooner arid'her crew-Was carried out under very adverse conditions, and the nrrnmpiirhTnnnt of thfc difficult work reflects great credit on <?aptein G. Bee**, the master of the Quebec City, and his officers and crew.