IN TERRIFIC GALES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 27

IN TERRIFIC GALES

BARQUE’S STORMY TRIP FROM NORWAY TWO MEN LOST OVERBOARD After a thrilling voyage, which ; lasted four and a-half months, the barque Ponape anchored off Williamstown, Melbourne, recentljb with a cargo of timber from Norway. In a terrific gale in the North Atlantic, two seamen were lost overboard". The heroic efforts to save the men in the face of hazardous conditions, is an epic of the sea. Leaving Sundsvaal (Norway) on j October 12, the vessel encountered j heavy weather, which gradually became worse. Terrific winds swept the ship while great seas thundered over the bow I and swamped the decks. Under most j dangerous conditions the men, and j even the master, Captain A. Maran- j der, went aloft to make the sails fast, j As the barque battled against the j fury of the storm north of Scotland, j a seaman was washed overboard. * OFF AUSTRALIAN COAST, TOO i Efforts to manoeuvre the vessel to j locate him were futile. Soon an- | other man was swept over the side and again a great fight to save a life 1 failed. In the endeavour to rescue their j companions, several other members of ! the crew nearly lost their lives. For five days the boisterous condi-1 tions continued and during that time the men had very little sleep. At one stage the master worked continuously for 36 hours. Then came a fair wind, but many j days were spent repairing the damage. Almost every man had injuries j which required attention, j Moderate to good weather was exjperienced through the central Atian- ! tic and around the Cape to the Ini dian Ocean.

Then another storm swept the barque off the Australian coast. Again the decks were washed from stem to steam.

There was a thrilling moment when a great sea carried the second mate along the deck. He seized a jjart of the rigging and partly regained his balance, but another great wave dashed him against the railings, knocking him almost unconscious. Nevertheless, the crew seemed little the worse for their great adventure. Despite the long voyage, the provisions lasted well. It was not until two days out of Adelaide that the men were without fresh Potatoes

After discharging her‘ European cargo the Ponape will load wheat at various Australian ports.