BATTLE WITH GALE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 15

BATTLE WITH GALE

STEAMERS IN DISTRESS. ENGINEER’S NARROW ESCAPE. After a stern battle with a hurricane in Bass Strait on Easter Sunday the steamer Marrawah (600 tons) arrived at Stanley, Tasmania, from Melbourne on the night of March . 29. After having been on the bridge continuously for 34 hours, the maetei’ of the vessel, Captain W. J. Jarvie, was showing signs of severe strain. “We met with exceptionally heavy weather after we left King Island,” he said. “The engines broke down, and the vessel began to drift before the gale. Our engineers repaired the damage as far as possible. The work was done in very good time, but we had only half our power, and were forced to drift to leeward. Finally we hove to for the night, and on Monday morning we set course for Stanley.” The chief engineer, Mr. J. W. Walker, said that about 11 o’clock on Easter feunday morning, when the storm was at its worst, the cover of the high-pressure cyclinder head of the No. 1 engine, weighing about 4cwt, blew off. The engineers had to begin work at once to disconnect the cylinder, so that the other two cylinders might be operated. This work occupied about three hours, during which the ship drifted helplessly for about 12 miles.

Assistance was,sought by wireless, but shortly after the sending of the messages repairs were effected, and the ship was able to proceed to Hummock Island for shelter at the rate of two knots —about one-fifth of its normal speed. The ship would be able to return to the mainland without any further attention to the engine. The new cylinder-head would be fitted in Melbourne. Mr. Walker had a remarkable escape from death. He was oiling the cylinderhead, and he had just returned to his place in the engine-room when the cover blew off. It struck a beam overhead and then fell into the engine-room a few inches from Mr. Walker. . Mr. Walker remained at his post for more than 30 hours. He received severe burns, to both hands from the damaged cylinder. The engineers worked under great difficulties on a hot engine, and occasionally they were drenched by water which poured through the engine-room skylight.