UNKNOWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7223, 11 April 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNKNOWN

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. The following description of 'tha barque Deva's experiences among the ico on her last voyage Home from Timaru has been supplied to the Timaru Herald;— We were towed out from Timaru on the 17ih July, bound for London, U.K., with a cargo of grain and wool, in excellent trim tor a smart ruu Home, but bad easterly and baffling winds down to 'Jape Horn, being off the Cape on August 30 (44 days out). On September 1, in latitude 55.30 S., longitude 56 10 W., we passed a small iceberg, and at 11 p.m., the ship being on the port' tack, wi(h all plain sail set, the cry wao heard from the lnnk-out man on the focVl head, "Ice on the weather bow!" followed immediately afterwards by " Ice on the lee bow !" and only a sailor oan realise the importance of such a warning. All hands were called and quickly at their stations, but we found ourselves in a regular icefield, extending on either side aa far as the eye could reach, witb loose pack ice and email floating bergs in the only channel through which any egress seemed possible. Some of the blocks completely deadened the ship's way, and what still further added to the peril of our position, the wind fell away light. The scene was a strange one, and heightened by the darkness of the night, the glimmer and blink of the ice looking weird and eerie under the dark-coloured clouds passing overhead, while the flip-flap of the sails against the masts and the noise made by the crushing of the loose blocks of ice against tha side of the ship as it rushed pa?t made her tremble from stem to stern. Mr Davis (the male) was stationed on the forecastle head, while Captain Pierrepont was at the helm conning the ship. At about 1 a.m. a fogbank came rolling down upon us like a huge Bhadowy monster, and in a few moments had completely enshrouded us, rendering it impossible to see anything a few yards off, while every now and then a mass of ice, towering over the bulwarks, would go crashing and thumping along, each concussion sending tha loose ice and small detached lumps showering upon our decks This lasted till 2 a.m., when the carpenter reported water makinp fast in the fore peak. On examination we found one "f the plates had been stove in, leaving a holo'larger than an ordinary port. All hands were soon grinding away at the compartment pumps, and bailing with buckets, &c, endeavouring to keep the water under, but after a abort time we found that it gained rapidly on us, and in two hours had risen to the first deck. We then tried to pass a thrummed sail over the leak, but after making three unßUccesßful attempts had to give it up, losing the sails. As the ship was rapidly settling down by the head, Captain Pierrepont gave the order to jettison cargo from the fore batch, the bow compartment atthte time being full of water. At 5 a.m. commenced heaviug out cargo, and continued doing bo till 9 a.m. on Wednesday, when wo had a moderate breeze from tbo N.E. Passed a large mat over the bows, with guy3 fore and aft, in hopes that the suction would draw it into the hole. We bailed and pumped all the time, trying if possible to reduce the water sufficiently to onable the carpenter to get at the leak from tho inßido, but the seas washing the mat away our labour was useleßß. We then got an oar, with a large pad on the end, and with great pereeverauce managed to force it into the hole, after which we found that we could koep the water under, and even gain slightly on it. The weather at this time waa clear, and no eiga of ice anywheie, it having vanished aB rapidly aa it appeared, leaving, however, a cold eo intense that the ropeß were like bars of iron, and icicles pendant from the standing rigging. So cold was it that after a rope had beon coiled down a few minutes the fakes were found frozen together as rigid as if they had been cast in Btone. Thursday morning found us atill battling along just able to keep the water down by incessant pumping, tho wind blowing fresh, with a high sea, falling glass, and every appearance of a heavy gale. The day passed away slowly, the men working away at tljo pumps with a dogged perseverance, and the carpenter busy making a huge pad to " torn" against the leak from the in«ide. Oq Friday we experienced a strong N.W. wind, the ship being under lower topsails only, and plunging heavily; We managed to pack the leak temporarily, but only just in time, as immediately afterwards our pumps became choked, rendering it necessary to tako them up and clean them. Had thiß happened the day before nothing could have saved us, as the bulkheads must have gone. The experiences of the past few days proved that the ship was exceptionally well built, the water baing confined entirely to one compartment. At G p.m. we replaced pumps and found the water had gainod very little. The sea waa still running very heavily, but "all handa were cheered at the lsst report, and hope began once more to brighten the men's facea, looking now terribly haggard and worn after tho five days' battle with death. Saturday morning fouud us still scudding under lower topsails, with a fresh westerly breeze. We completed ropairc, and effectually atopped the leak. By noon we had cleared out the compartment, and then made sail close-hauled to the N.N.W., and had we been sighted by any paßaing ship they would have beon unable to disoaiu any trtce of the terrible ordeal wo had passed through. Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Pierrepont and his officers for their behaviour during this trying time. When all hope seemed gone, they cheered the men on to further exertions, working themselves right nobly. ___________^__