FAMOUS SAILER

Southland Times, Issue 20446, 26 March 1928, Page 7

FAMOUS SAILER

THE E. R. STERLING VESSEL SOLD FOR BREAKING UP ROAMED THE SEAS FOR MANY YEARS (By Telegraph -Press Assn—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, March 24. There is a distinct touch of pathos in the fact that the E. R. Sterling, which has been sold for breaking up, is to end fortyfive years’ noble life at the shipbreaker’s yard The terrible battering she received during a hurricane meant the end. “She is to be towed round this weekend; then we part,” said Captain Sterling. “I could re-fit her at a cost of £5,000, but freights are depressed.” An expert says that in the present state of the market the E. R. Sterling, for which the captain once rejected an offer of £15,000, would not realize more than £4OOO. Captain Sterling is undecided as to the future. He thinks he may give up sailers in favour of steam. In any case he is going to America’ first, then to Australia. A touch of the sea dog was apparent when he was informed that the ship would have to be ballasted in order to be towed. Captain Sterling said: “It is not necessary to have her ballasted. I will stay aboard throughout the tow and show you.”—A. and N.Z.

A thrilling epic of the sea was revealed on the arrival at the Victoria Docks on the Thames, under tow, of the famous sailer, E. R. Sterling, which is well-known in New Zealand, over nine months after her departure from Adelaide with fifty thousand bags of wheat. Such an adventurous voyage had not befallen her in all the years she had sailed the southern seas. Round ing Cape Horn nothing worse than icebergs was experienced but three hundred miles north-east of the Falkland Islands a terrific tropical hurricane ripped out mizzen and driver masts, killing the chief mate. Steps were taken to repair one and carry on. These were successful despite raging seas, but already the crippled vessel encountered another hurricane and the three masts were ripped out, the lifeboats stove in, bulwarks damaged, and the wireless aerial blown away. Captain Sterling said it was the most thrilling experience in his lifetime.