DISABLED STEAMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 21

DISABLED STEAMERS.

TWO VESSELS IN PERIL. AT MERCY OF CALEG. BROKEN PROBELLORS. (From Cite Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 21. It was a coincidence tliat two steamers should have become disabled within easy steaming distance of the Australian coast within two days through the same cause —a broken propeller shaft, ihe vessels were the Eastern Moon, a United States freighter well known in the Australian trade, which was on a voyage from Sydney to New York, via Panama, and the Wonganella, under charter to the British Phosphate Commission, which was travelling from Melbourne to Naura. via Newcastle Aboard the Wonganella were eight employees, of the commission and their wives, the complement of passengers and crew being 76. The mishap to the Eastern Moon occurred when the vessel was 400 miles east of Sydney. The captain reported the breaking of the tail shaft on Wednesday last, and asked that a tug should be _ sent from Sydney to take him in tow. The master added that his ship’s plight was noi dangerous, and he refused offers oi assistance _ pending the arrival of the expected tug. The agents of the Eastern Moon immediately chartered the tug Lindfield, but owing to the strike of colliery eiiginemen, no coal was available for her in Sydney, and she had to proceed to Newcastle to bunker. Meanwhile heavy weather sprang up. This delayed the Lindfield on her way to the coaling port, and also severely tested the Eastern Moon, which had been drifting south. Stout little vessel though the Lindfield is, she made but little progress against the heavy seas. When originally chartered the Lindfield was expected to reach the Eastern Moon by Friday night, but she had not been sighted up to the middle of this week. By that time the master of the Eastern Moon became more anxious for the safety of his vessel. He had been in communication with the Federal Steam Navigation Company’s Devon since Monday, and on Tuesday morning, the Devon being then alongside him, die accepted the offer ot a tow from that steamer. _ A line was passed aboard, but the size of the two steamers placed an enormous tension oh the rope, and it parted. A second line was passed from one steamer to another late on Tuesday afternoon, and this line stood the strain. At 7 p.m. the Eastern Moon sent a wireless reporting that she was in tow of the. Devon, and that the vessels were making towards Sydney. By that time the Eastern Moon drifted 250 miles, and her position was 70 miles north of Howe Island, towards which she was drifting. The plight of the Wongonella was even more dangerous. The mishap occurred when the vessel was four days out of Newcastle and was almost due east of Sandy Cape, on the Queensland coast, north of Brisbane, near which the Dorngo foundered on Good Friday. The master of the Wonganella sent out an 5.0.5., and arrangements were immediately made to despatch the tug St. Giles from Sydney. Being assured that a tug was being sent to his assistance, the captain refused assistance from several steamers, but the gale that delayed the Lindfield from reaching the Eastern Moon also prevented the St. Giles from making appreciable progress to the Wonganella. The master then found that he was in great danger of being carriea by a rapid current on to Sandy Cape. The drift became an alarming one. When the mishap occurred he was 90 miles from the' coast. By 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon the distance was only 45 miles. It was then that he sent out an urgent call for aid, and three steamers —the British India Company's Queda, the Orient liner Orsova, and the Japanese-owned Calulu —altered their respect' e courses and raced to the Wonganella. The Queda was the first to reach the distressed vessel, and stood by and passing a line aboard enabled the alarming drift to be stopped. Sandy Cape was then only 22 miles away. All this time a gale was raging, and throughout Sunday night the three steamers stood by the Wonganella, the Queda stopping the Wonganella’s progress, the other two being hove-to. When morning came it was found that if the Queda stood by assistance, and the Orsova and Calulu resumed their interrupted voyages. The Queda continued its moble work all day Mmdav until early Jfuesday night, when .the St. Giles came inlb sight and reached t.’ side of the disabled vessel. A line was passed aboard, the Queda continued her voyage to Townsville, and the St. Giles and Wonganella headed towards Sydney.