ANXIOUS HOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 10

ANXIOUS HOURS

SHIP ALMOST BLOWN ASHORE STORM IN FOVEAUX STRAIT PA ■ INVERCARGILL. Mar. 22. How the ship Wellpark was almost blown ashore at Stewart Island during a storm in Foveaux Strait last week was told by the master of the vessel. Captain W. Furneaux, at Bluff. The Wellpark, which had been waiting outside Bluff for a berth, arrived at the port on Saturday afternoon. Captain Furneaux, describing the incident. said: “It was perhaps one of the longest hours I have ever put in, praying for daylight. Two Anchors Dragged “We anchored off Dog Island on Wednesday. During the night we dragged two anchors, so next morning at daylight we shifted to the Murray River anchorage off Stewart Island. This anchorage, which is recommended, is nine fathoms and is about half a mile from the northern end of the beach. We lay snugly there until after midnight, when the weather freshened, and at 2 a.m. it was blowing a gale. Shortly before 4 a.m., during a violent squall, the anchor started to drag, and we were unable to see land because of the lashing rain, and poor visibility. There are no lights at this anchorage. “ Fortunately, about 4.30 I got a glimpse Of Akers Point lighthouse, which showed we were dragging, despite the anchor, and setting down towards the rocks and islands. At the rate we were drifting I thought the cable had parted, and was afraid to go full speed in case of running on to the land. Because of the force of the wind it was impossible to turn the ship wound, and we consequently had to go full astern, keeping that way until daylight, about 5.30. “ When daylight came at last we saw Motonui Island about a mile and a-half off to leeward, and were able to go full ahead. I still wondered if the anchor was there, or if the cable bed parted. Fortunately, we got all the power possible irom our engines, ana were able to come down heading into the wind and very slowly drew away from the island and Zero Rock. “ Had daylight, been another quarter of an hour coming there might have been a different story to tell. The position was definitely precarious until daylight, when we were able to find our position. During the squalls the wind reached 80 miles per hour.” During the Wellpark’s drifting she unfortunately broke the Stewart Island telegraph cable. “This cable is not marked on any of the charts, and even if it had been we could not have avoided doing it,” said Captain Furneaux. Appropriate Hymn in Church Captain Furneaux attended church in Invercargill on Sunuay night, one of the hymns chosen was “ Will

Your Anchor Hold?” He thought this was a coincidence until he realised after the service that the preacher, Mr Oliver Stott, of Dunedin, had heard of the precarious position of the Wellpark and of the trial Captain Furneaux had just experienced.