THE ARAWA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4541, 3 December 1889, Page 1

THE ARAWA.

A STORMY AND EVENTFUL VOYAGE. Tha Western Morning Star of September 30 atatea, in an account of the Arawa's last passage from Wellington to Plymouth says:— Threa days after Bhe left Wellington, In making her southing, ahe ran into a week's terrible weather. One of those frightfully severe hurricanes from the southward of the South- Paolfio Ocean set in, and brought up a tremendous beam sea, the wind veering between Bouth and south-west. The Ararra rolled very heavily, and shipped large quantities of water, which rendered the dackß;dangerona to passengers, who wore kept below for several days, but every tffort was made to render them as comfortable as possible under the effects of the storm. During the height of the gale a very unusual accident occurred. Captain Stuart had somewhat altered his coarse, to ondeavor to steam out of the worst of the weather, until It had somewhat abated, when in one of the vessel's rolls a tremendous aea washed in over the starboard quarter, a large portion of the water passed down the steamer's funnel, and- put the lower fkea out. The effects of the sea also bo much Increased the bilge water that before it could be got rid of it forced up some of the footplates of the stokehole. The vessel shivered from stem to stern under tha > effects of the blow. The after-well deck ! was half filled with water, which rushed along the alleys with great force. The officers' cabins were invaded and-' severely drenched, and the purser's office arrangements were also very roughly disturbed. Several hours elapsed before the effeots of that poop sea could be got rid of. The worst of the gale lasted sis days, and bad weather prevailed all the way to the rounding of Cape Horn, Two of tho steamers's Btarboard lifeboats were washed away by the gale, and one of her port lifeboats was smashed by a sea eo badly as to be rendered useless. In getting round the Horo, the Straits of Magellan had to be avoided and tbe Strait of Le Maire used. Daring the gale, through the rolling of the vessel, one of the firemen fell into a coal bunker and broke one of his thighs, while a lamp trimmer had three of hia ribs broken from a fall as he was re-lighting lamps which had been extinguished. Mr Holland, the second officer, had a narrow escape at Bio. He was employed with others in landing some grain' there. A group of bagß hauled np from the hold by a tackle was allowed to swing rashly, and knocked him and one of the native Btovedorea off the deck of tho Arawa into the hold of the lighter alongside. Mr Holland fortunately escaped with a broken arm and the shock. The stevedore was taken on shore badly Injured.