ON A SHIP WITHOUT A CREW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 12119, 22 December 1913, Page 2

ON A SHIP WITHOUT A CREW.

(By "A Passenger," in the "New Zealand Heral.i.")

"Is the Maheno going to-day?" "Don't know yet," was the reply; then thsre was added a. remark which, curiously enough, had the effect of sending the Auckland steamer on her way—a. ship without a crew (in tile ordinary sense)/ "The only chance of getting her away is for some of you people who are eager to be off to volunteer to go into the stokehold and work her over."

"Right!" responded the inquirer; "I'll get names now. This conversation took place in. the Union Company's office at Sydney,- but it was not until the Maheno was a, day at sea, steaming along in response to. the stoking of the passenger volunteers, that it was reported to me. Twenty-one men (passengers of all classes), so my informant 6tated, signed on ere .word was passed that the steamer would take her departure. But for the spirit displayed by the enterprising ones the hundreds of people waiting to proceed to New Zealand would have been further inconvenienced, and put to additional loss. Many had arrived from ov.ersea a week or more before, and were wearied with the delay. To some the cost of the wait was another source of anxiety. It is easy, therefore, to understand the relief generally experienced when it was known that the Maheno would Teally sail. But there were very few in Sydney who thought she would.

The vessel was anchored out in the harbour, off Cremorne, and all Thursday , last passengers' were proceeding to her—after Toasting for a good time on the compav's wharf, waiting for the launch. Meals were served on board, but it was noticed at once that there were hardly any stewards, and those in evidence were obviously new to the duties. However, no one grumbled. The one thing was to get away, and the sole hope vested in those passengers who had signed on to attend to the .furnaces, although it was not known at the time. Possibly the 'service thus rendered is not even now properly appreciated by some, though but for it they would still be in Sydney. Lighters came off until nine in the evening with a perfect jumble of luggage and stores, which passengers assisted to handle Cabtns were hunted over by those who were to occupy them, and suit-cases and kit-bags bundled in. The confusion in receiving, sorting, and distributing the luggage did not last longer than usual. At 1 o'clock on Friday morning the Maheno left her anchorage and shaped for New Zealand—the volunteer firemen hard at work in the stokehold. The unusual work proved very trying, but they stuck manfully at it. Three watches had been below ere the noon hour struck, and the result as shown by the sun was ninety miles; a little more by the log. This was an average of abo°ut 8| knots per hour, being 14 or 15 usually. "Not so bad!" said Captain McLean, encouragingly. Passengers were perhaps somewhat disappointed, but all agreed that it counted a good deal to be on the way.

I "Better just crawling along than kick- | ing our heels about the streets of Sydney, and haunting, the shipping office to get the same old answer every time," said one ! man, and there appeared to be general endorsement of his views. But in the • afternoon the speed died away to next to nothing. Occasionally the steamer seemed to be just rolling idly on the waves. "The log's almost stopped running!" exclaimed one of a group of passengers, who maintained a constant and anxious recorder. ■ . "Are you'sure it isn't jolly well going backwards?" asked someone from the smoke-room. Word came from the stokehold that though the afinateur firemen were finding the job "tough," they were doing their best. One or two had had to fall out. One was too sick to start. Some people appeared to find the outlook gloomy, but :the majority were satisfied that the ship j was moving towards Auckland, even though slowly. They,, however, sat up !

and tool; notice when a story.went round to the effect that the captain had said that if better progress were not made the ship would return to Sydney. Probably he never said anything of the kind. At noon on Saturday the run for the twenty-four hours was only 171 miles, which looked like a seven days' trip; that is, supposing the amateur stokers were able to stick at it right through, which was anything but a, certainty. They had contemplated firing for only four days. During the afternoon more names were taken down of those willing to do some service in the stokehold, and it was evident that yet more might be requird, for the watches were being weakened owing to retirement caused by sea-sickness or exhaustion. . There were two very fair watches, while they were below the vessel made much better speed, occasionally touching 13 knots. The suggestion was put forth that money should be subscribed to purchase trophies for the most successful watch during the voyage, but it appeared to be difficult to arrange. There appeared to be no A.B.'s on board-, but a number of officers from other ships of the company were taken on and rated a 6 A.B.'s. At least one master filled this role and an officer of another company on holiday with his wife and baby was also acting as seaman. Two other A.B.'s were found among the passengers, making up the regulation number. On Saturday night the passengers called a meeting to consider the situation and strengthen the captain's hands. The peculiar conditions created by the passengers becoming a highly important part of the crew (in order to secure their own transport to New Zealand) were set out, arid attention given to the further obligations thereby imposed. - were, carried calling for additional volunteers who would be- willing to enter upon relief duty occasionally at the furnaces, and asking for subscriptions to provide specfal creature comforts for the stokers. This latter was particularly in the interests of some third-class passengers who, living forward, and working in the stokehold, were disadvantageously placed as compared with others.

There was a good deal of chaff on board in regard to the status of the A.B/s, and

it was appreciated as much by them as by anyone else. "What are you men doing here?" demanded Purser Gillon (temporarily acting as barman, after working at his own job). "You know it's against the regulations for A.B.'s to be at the bar with officers or passengers."The waster mariners and the officers labelled for the time A.B. would chuckle and throw back the joke, and having refreshed rush off to duty, whilst pa&sengers forming the audience enjoyed the novel circumstances. ' It was on Sunday at midday that Captain McLean allowed himself to smile for general uplifting—the record for twenty - iour hours was 265 miles. Auckland was as good as in sight! The passengers of the Maheno had demonstrated that though they might he inconvenienced, they could not be absolutely tied by the leg to one place when they wanted to get to another. They had triumphed over seemingly unsurmountable industrial difficulties, and established an example of great value. "We'll do better yet!" said the amateur fireman. And they did. Next record posted (Monday) was 271 miles, and the captain' 6 smile wis of the sort that, won't come off. "Keep this up," he said, "anjl we shall see the Cape, to-morrow morning, and be ill Auckland for breakfast on Wednesday." All day Monday and Monday night a high sea ran, and the amateur firemen had anything but a pleasant time of it. Nevertheless, all the speed required wa6 obtained. The captain declared that we should reach Auckland on Wednesday morning, and when at 12 noon on Tuesday the board showed only 223 more miles to do, it was agreed that the game was won. A concert hi- the evening was well-attended and,appreciated. ~.., How the vessel without a crew came to the wharf at the time fixed everybody how knows. They also know that a precedent has been established which will always be valuable. ■ •