THE PERTHSHIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11454, 20 June 1899, Page 5

THE PERTHSHIRE.

ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY.

A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION

Particulars of the Accident,

Details oi tiie Perthshire's Voyage.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

SYDNEY, June 19,

The Talune, with * the Perthshire -in tow, came into port shortly before 7 o'clock

this morning,

The Perthshire, now anchored in Neutral Bay, bears evidence of her long drift, knocking about, and rough weather, but otherwise all is well.

It is . understood that the> frozen meat aboard is all right.

• The Talune's run up the harbour this morning was in the nature of a triumphal procession. As she-neared the Union Company's wharf the steamers blew their whistles, and crowds on ! the wharves cheered.

CAPTAIN SPINKS'S NARRATIVE

■' A Press Association representative interviewed Captain Spinks. He reported that rockets were fired every hour after leaving Wellington. The Talune sighted the Perthshire at 3.20 on the morning of the 13th, iii, latitude 29deg 3min S., longitude 163d0g 38min E., about 700 miles from Sydney. The Perthshire asked for assistance, and the Talune stood by till daylight. The weather was fine, with a moderate breeze. Captain Spinks arranged a tow, got the/ Perthshire's hawser aboard, and started'at 8.30 same morning. Proceeded at halt speed, and made fair progress till 8 o'clock on the morning jfot tbo ISth, when the tow rope parted, the wind meantime having increased to a moderate gale, wilh sharp rain squalls, accompanied by heavy head sea. Preparations were then,made for the tow by chain cables, the Perthshire's being i connected with' the Talune's. Owing to the heavy sea' a line had to be passed aboard the Perthshire by means of a rocket. A fresh start was made at 4 o'clock on the afternoon ■of the 15th. Strong head winds and heavy sea continued till' the morning of the 17th, testing the cables to the utmost. The weather then moderated. The wind hauled to the southeast, and sail was set on the Perthshire, and port safely reached.

Captain • Spinks has been warmly congratulated on all sides on his long and successful towing feat.

WHERE THE PERTHSHIRE WAS • FOUND.

A -LONG DRIFT.

The Perthshire broke her shaft at' 6 o'clock on the evening of the 28th April.

The fracture was within four feet from the end. The engineers succeeded in repairing the shaft on June 11- after 10 days' labour,'by means of a patent coupling.

But for the passengers aboard, Captain Wallace would probably have attempted to make port unaided. ' Though the experience of those on board was exciting, they suffered little inconvenience. Their only fear was that the vessel would drift ashore after she had got oub of the track of the New Zealand steamers.

, When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had been repaired, and the vessel was heading' north under steam at four and a-half knots per hour. She -was within 43 miles of Norfolk Island. From the date of leaving Sydney (April 26) throughout the long drift the weather was stormy.' She ' drifted helplessly some 1400 miles, crossing and recrossing the track of steamers, and expecting to be picked up. No'attempt was made to mend the shaft till she had drifted out of the track of New Zealand steamers.

CONGRATULATING CAPTAIN SPINKS.

'Captain Spinks, of the Talune, kept to the track marked out by him at Wellington, of shaping away for Norfolk Island when clear of Cook Strait,' proceeding thence to Lord Howe Island, and then on to Sydney, the result showing the accuracy of Ms judgment.

A cable from the owners of the Pei'thshire was awaiting Captain Spinks on his arrival here, congratulating him. He was also warmly congratulated by the local shipping men upon his luck ; and long successful towing feat in the face of adverse

weather

The Talune's passengers also presented addresses.

THE PERTHSHIRE'S DRIFT

The repairs to the Perthshire were completed within 43 miles of Norfolk Island. She had steamed 180 miles northward when she was picked up. The drift was a zig-zag slowly south-east. She twice described a circle, coming back to the same .point. Attempts were made to sail her, but there was not sufficient canvas to give steerage way. A strong electric light was I kept burning at the mast .head, and coloured lights were also frequently burned.

NARRATIVE OE THE PERTHSHIRE'S ENGINEER.

■ SYDNEY, June 19, (Received June 19, at 5 p.m.)

The first engineer of the Perthshire gives an interesting account of the attempts to repair the propeller shaft. The day after the breakage the propeller was secured with chains. Owing to the difficulty of repairing the broken shaft it was decided that it was preferable" to wait for passing steamers. Meanwhile the engineer removed the stern tube, and found that the breakage was at the after liner. After he got the ends together he had much trouble and the shaft slipped several times. He i states that when the vessel was picked up everything was working smoothly. The engineers were of opinion that they would have had no difficulty in reaching port, and were greatly disappointed at being picked up after going to so much trouble in fixing up the breakage.

While the repairs were proceeding the engineers had scarcely two hours' sleep a day, and barely took time to eat their meals. They, considered that if the repairs had been taken in hand at the first instead of waiting for steamers they would have been finished on May 9.