ACCIDENT TO S.S. AGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10859, 31 December 1906, Page 4

ACCIDENT TO S.S. AGE.

A PLUCKY BOATS CREW.

The steam collier Age, belonging to tlie Howard Smith Company, Limited, which, as reported m our cablegrams, became disabled soon after passing Jervis Bay on Tuesday, December 18, was safely towed into Port Jackson by the Adelaide Steamslup Company's caigo steamer Kadina. The Age, m ballast trim, was bound from Wallaroo and' Adelaide, m command of Captain P. Snewin, and during tlie trip round was m close company with the Kadina, which was also m ballast, on her way from Port Pirie and Adelaide, bound for Newcastle.

Sliortly after 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, when a heavy sea was running as a result of the severe southerly gales, the tail-shaft of the Age suddenly snapped m the stern tube, but fortunately the propeller was not lost. At this time the Age was nine miles to the north-east of" JervLs Bay, and Captain • Snewin at once set 'all available sail to keep the vessel off the land, and hoisted the coclcflug signals, indicating "Engine broken down, lam disabled." The Kadina, which was three miles ahead of the Agej noticed the signals, and the captain, with all speed, turned his vessel round— a risky proceeding -.in a violent gale — and steamed to the assistance of the disabled

vessel,

The workfof taking a tow-Hue from the broken-down vessel to the Kadina was attended with very great difficulty and with considerable risk. A boat's crew' of three, m chaige of Chief Officer Boyle, volunteered to take a hawser to the Kadina, and, notwithstanding the fact that their boat was constantly swamped by the mountainous sens, and that on several occasions they -were m imminent peril, axsxa. &«v<L's. <usw; <s&ksk&. Vsfe&j ■wssritoret "^-ftt \o me ■"^alona,. anii Y^ien 'progress /n tfie storm was watched vritd «>nsid«ia.blo._a\\xiet-v , ivom lV\e decks ol line WHB hqjiisted on bourd, and made last, and as soon as the boat's crew had re turned to iheir shijf^tLe Kudinu once moro commenced towing. The H-enunndei o! blie journey wa6 without mishap.