A VESSEL ABANDONED. TWO BOATS LOADED PICKED UP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 37

A VESSEL ABANDONED. TWO BOATS LOADED PICKED UP.

HOW SHE CAME TO BE ABANDONED. THE CEEW ARRIVE IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, January 14. Wilson'^ Promontory report* that the steamer Abergeldie picked up two boats containing 23 persons, four miles off the promontory. The Abergeldie proceeded to Sydney. The boats belong to an abandoned ship anchored off au island to the ■west of the promontory. Her name is unknown. Up to a late hour to-night there -was no information as to the name of the vessel abandoned in the vicinity of Wilson's Promontory. She is a full-rigged ship. The position is reported as dangerous. The tug Champion lms left Melbourne to render assistance. January 15.

The abandoned vessel is the Portpatrick, bound from Algoa Bay to Newcastle. The crew of the tug Champion have taken possession. The Champion, after standing by all xiight, succeeded in putting three men aboard the- Portpatrick, shipping the anchprs. She started this afternoon to tow the vessel to Melbourne. So far as is known, the Portpatrick is undamaged.

The actual facts of the abandonment will not be known till the arrival of the Abergeldie with the crew, but the captain of the steamer "Woolowra . which arrived to-day, supplies a probable explanation. After leaving Melbourne the Woolowra encountered a fierce, sudden storm. The Portpatrick. which was then in the vicinity of WiKou's Promontory, was evidently caught napping and driven into a dangerous position, and when this was seen she would be abandoned. All the sails were set, but most of them were torn to ribbons. The Portpatrick was going to Newcastle to load coal for South America. She was in charge of Captain Galloway. January 16. The Abergeldie arrived with the crew of the Portpatrick. Captain Galloway gives the following account of the abandonment of his vessel on the night of the 13th in the vicinity of Wilson's Promontory : —At 10 o'clock a sudden gale sprang up, the ship broaching to ; reduced sail, and took every step to get her under control. She refused to pay off. The wind and a strong westerly current combined threatened to cany her on to Cleft Island. AH sail was taken in and the anchors let go. The wind was blowing in fierce squalls, and the Portpatrick began to drag. The land being close under her stern, the crew came to him and said that the ship was in a dangerous position, and j they wished to leave her. Both the wind and sea were then increasing, and ' he received no reply to his signals of i distress, sent up from midnight till 3 o'clock, at which hour the crew again came aft aud said they were determined to abandon the sliip. The captain tried to persuade them not to do bo, but without receiving instructions, and in defiance of his request to stand by as long as the ship held together, they launched the boats, which they had previously got in readiness in case of emergency, and put off. The captain was left alone on board, the officers having gone with the men. After staying some time, and realising he could do nothing single-handed, lie hailed one of the boats and left the ship. The boats btcod in the direction of Wilson's Promontory, and wero picked up at 8 in the morning by the Abergeldie. After picking them up the Abergeldie .stood back to the Portpatrick, but found her in such a position that they could vender no askance in getting her off. The Portpatrick i-, a steel vessel of 1740 tons, and valued at £13,000 to £14,000. "When the Champion arrived the Portpatrick was riding safely at anchor close in between the points of two islands, and the only apparent damage was to the sails. Soon after the Champion's crew took po^e^ion the tug Eagle came up smd wanted to put men aboard to a«:<-r ; but they wero warned off, and not allowed aboard. Messrs J. and A. Brown sent a second tug to assist the Champion, which was towing the vessel. The officers' aud crew's versions of the abandonment of the Port pa trick materially differ from the story told by the captain. The chief officer emphatically denies that they left in contravention of the captain's orders,. So far as he knew the men did not ask the capt lin to abandon the ship. Everyone was in agreeinout about leaving. No order- I were given against leminp;. Ho con- j f-idered the abandonment justifiable. It appeared certain she vould drift into' the breakers. Tl'ne w.is» a big reef 60ft from the stern. The sea was vi-rv i heavy, and the anchors dragging. ]i i she struck the rocks in such a «ea net • ji man would have bi on saved. Every- j body was satisfied that it was the proper . tiling to leave. It was a miracle how the ship held her ground. The second offiror of the Portpatrick I f-ays the captain never made a request to stand by. He got an order from ! $fes skipper for tb& uieu to get tuto j

the boats, and they acted on that order. The captain was already in a boat when he got in. He considered the abandonment was justified. By sheer luck she did not drift on to the rocks.

The crew in a body angrily recent the captain's statements that they asked him to abandon the ship and took to the boats against orders. Nothing was said to the captain from fir«t to la^-t, '-aid the spokesman, about leaving. 'Not one of us was scared. We would have '•tuck to her like Britishers till >-}ie went down. As for clearing out, we did no such thing. We took to the boat'- by order of the second officer." They also deny that the captain was the lasi to leave, and allege that he was in the starboard boat before the other was fully manned. MELBOT'RNE, January 17. The captain of the Champion had no difficulty in towing the Portpatrick. Beyond the torn sails, she is not damaged. He says he was not surprised that the -=hip had been abandoned, as her position was most dangerous, being hemmed in by rocks. It was marvellous how the anchors held. He estimates the value of the Portpatrick at £20,000. The Portpatrick ha« been officially arrested on salvage claims for £12,000 on behalf of the owners of the tug, Champion.

January 18. The tug Champion has arrived with the Portpatrick in tow.

The damage to the Portpatrick is estimated at under £000, including the loss of her sails and anchors. Captain Galloway has entered into the customary bonds in connection with the salvage claim. The crrw arrive from Sydney to-day.