ANCHOR CHAIN SNAPS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1931, Page 11

ANCHOR CHAIN SNAPS

ACCIDENT NEW PLYMOUTH. CADET CAPTAIN INJURED.

The recoil ,of . a broken anchor chain wan the cause of R. B. Westbrook, cadet captain of. the steamer . .Westmpreland, sustaining. a . slight fracture, of the thigh when the vessel was berthing at New Plymouth. .Just'ds the vessel was dropping anchor a link in the chain parted . and the end of the chain flew back, • striking Westbrook, who was standing on the fo’c’stle. The chief officer, Mr. K. A- S. Phillips, who was standing just behind Westbrook, had a narrow escape and had not the cadet iciptain taken the blow Mr. Phillips would piobably have been struck by the chain.

Tile fulling anchor, five tons in yveiga*,, with the elidin’ attached, -narrowly missed striking Mr. W- Skipper’s launch, which was being used by the pilot, Captain 0. F. Maclntyre. It fell into the water only a few yarls from the launch, which would certainly have been scuttled had it been struck. The chain parted with tremendous force and completely flattened a piece of iron, while an ipiprint was also left on the deck. .An examination of the broken link reveals no flaw in its construction. It has been conjectured that a twist in the chain may have been responsible. Westbrook, who is 20 years of age, is making his last voyage on the Westmoreland as a cadet. Oii his return to London he was to have sat for his second officer’s ticket. His parents reside near Bexhill, London. It. was thought at first that Westbrook’s thigh was shattered. The ship’s surgeon, Dr. W. Montgomery-Smith, ordered iiis removal to the New Plymouth hospital, where an X-ray examination was .made. ' This revealed only a slight fracture o? the thigh, and it is hoped that Westbrook may be sufficiently recovered to be placed on board before the- Westmoreland leaves on Wednesday for Wellington. Meanwhile he is stated to be comfortable and is progressing favourably. Yesterday morning steps were taken to recover the lost anchor. The Harbour Board diver located the anchor about 30 yards from the end of the Newton King wharf. It was buried over the stock in sand and only a portion of the chain was visible. A wire cable was attached to this chain and the ship’s winch employed to drag the anchor out of the sand.