THE DRIFT OF THE WAIKATO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3538, 23 January 1900, Page 3

THE DRIFT OF THE WAIKATO.

A REMARKABLE VOYAGE. [By Mr Acton, Second Officer]. (' Cm:! i /iii/‘i!.J The ship had now come so far east, that wo were almost as near to Australia as to the. Capo ot Good Hope, and as the prevailing winds and currents were favourable for the former country, wo decided to try and get oh in that direction. A largo fourmasted ship bad hove in sight while wo wore in communication with the “ Alice,” but she passed too far away to notice anything unusual going on. About 3 p.m. on the 10th a ship close hauled under topsails came very near to us, but did not respond to the distress signals we flew, and as the weather became rather mucky she was soon lost sight of again. A strong breeze, increasing at times to a moderate gale, continued throughout the night, and with all sail set we expected to make a fine run with it, but, unfortunately, during the morning the lower topsail split, and a few hours after tho upper one followed it, the mainsail also having to bo hauled up for repairs, but notwithstanding the temporary less of these sails wo made good 93 miles. The spare sails we obtained from the “ Alice” now came iu very handy, so we soon had two topsails on her again, with tho addition of a jib and staysail, and, tho fop-gallant sail being repaired, we bout”that also on tho 14th inst. The wind continuing fair, on that day wo found the ship had (Tome about 32b miloa in the right dhoction since sighting the “Alice.” On the afternoon of the loth wo sighted and signalled tho barque “Thetis," of Dundee, bound to New Zealand. She said it was iimtossible for her to tow us, but would report at tho earliest opportunity, and then, as it was blowing fresh, after a couple hours’ signalling, she stood away to the east’ard again. At noon on tho 15th wo had made 01» miles mure to the N.E., when tho wind 101 l light and hauled to the sontli’ard, obliging us to head about west. When seated at dinner we were startled by a- report from the fourth oflicor that there was a steamer in sight. Instantly knives and forks were abandoned, and a rush made for telescopes and binoculars, and there, sure enough, on our port beam, and almost hull down, was a steamer bound to tho easfc’ard. As quickiy as possible an eusii/n was reversed at each masthead, and then the loud report of detonators, followed by the whirr of rockets, soon made tho good news known throughout the ship. Lager groups of men watched anxiously for a iteration to be made in her course, their patience being rewarded iu a few minutes by seeing her masts gradually closing into one hue, and leaving no doubt that slid was heading directly down upon us. Hopes and tears as to what she would I do, with conjectures as to what she was, ran like wildfire about the ship for some time, but she soon came near enough for us to make out her name as the “ Aaloun,” and someone, hotter informed than tho rest, added that she belonged to Adams, of •Aberdeen, and traded variously. All hands congregated together as she came close astern, and the pent-up feelings of tbo men vent forth iu cheer after cheer of welcome as she drew nearer and nearer. That cheer touched some hearts, for tho answering shout they gave rang out with gladness "at being the rescuers, and instantly a signal was run up for us to lower a boat. Very soon it was in tho water and away to her, returning, after a short delay, with the good nows that she would try and tow us to Fremantle, in Western Australia, the port she was) lien bound to, but as tho difficulty would probably be tbo want of coal, if she found herself at all short, we would attempt to give her some under the leo of Amsterdam Island,’ about <125 miles further ahead on her course. All bands turned to eagerly to give her tho tow line, and by 4.30 p.m. she had it safely : r beard and the boat was hoisted. Soon the water rippled under our bows, and everyone Ina-mod with pleasure as the foam slid quickly astern. Our tow lino consisted of a wire 100 fathoms long shackled to tho cable, and -Jo fathoms of that paid out, but as she bad no bridle ready to bang it over her stern, the nip on the quarter was so sharp it stranded the win/on the following day, and obliged her to heave iu past the bad place, while we paid out. cable to GO fathoms. Unfortunately on the morning of tho 18th inst,, while gathering way after stopping and shortening up the tow rope, the wire parted, but after considerable difficulty, owing to tho heavy S.W. swell, we got a lino aboard of her again, and by noon were once more going ahead with everything secured. Tho boat and its occupants had a narrow shave a; it was being hoisted, for at every roll she gave it would swing out far from the ship’s side, and then stood every chance of collapsing as the return roll brought it with a thud against her again. The decks were slippery and hard to obtain a footing on, so tho operation lasted much longer than it otherwise would have done. In the afternoon the “Asloan” signalled her intention of coaling at Amsterdam Island, and, as it was thou only 2Ui miles off, we were very busy preparing for it. Coal was bagged and brought on deck, running gear rigged, and the old jury mast, that wa were quite familiar with by now, but which was a source of interest to all the strangers wo met, was dismantled and sent down. At daybreak on Sept. 2 Lh we signalled tire Island on the port bow, and by 1 p.m. wore close under tho eastern side of it, the wind being westerly, with fine clear weather, all hands were immediately called on dock, and almost before the way of tho ship was stopped we had three boats in tho water, the* two lifeboats being each manned by a couple of meu and serving as lighters, and the cutter with a full crew for towing them to the “ Aslouu.” In a very short time the work was well under way. Two gangs of meu on each side worked both cuds of a boat, and as soon as it was finished away it went to the other ship, a third boat that the “ Aslouu" had put iu tho water just coming In to take up the vacant place. As the supply of coal ou deck diminished, it was replenished by gangs working at the batch, undone might almost imagine the ship lying safely in port coaling, to hear the constant rattle of the steam winches, and the various shouts from tho different gangs of men at work. Now and again the sea became choppy as tho two ships drifted away from the shelter of the land, and the heavily laden boats stood a good chance of being swamped if they were not carefully dealt with, but when this was the case a few turns of hee propeller soon brought us into smooth water agaiu, and a blast of her siren, followed by our whistle, would indicate that both were reody to recommence work. On one occasion when we had rather a longer distance than usml to go in, tho four boats wore towed iu aline astern, but hardly bad tho ship gathered headw-ay when a shout was raised aft, aud some distance away they were seen frantically trying to regain the ship they had broken adrift from. In tho space of afew moments our remaining boat was in tho water and away to the rescue, most of the boats adrift having only two mon in them, and some of these unable to pull au oar, a short line elapsed before they were brought together again, but eventually they were safe alongside and the work resumed. No time was granted for meals ; everyone snatched a few mouthfulls whenever they could, and steadily through the night the work went on, not a murmur or complaint being heard fore and aft tho ship, but all hands, from captain to cabin boy, begrimed with coal dust, unceasingly per-son-iug at a job they know would be a good one when finished. Daylight came in and disclosed numbers of wild cattle and shaggy looking goals on tho noar shore, moving uneasily about, and staring al'frigbtedly at tho strange phantasmagoria that was spread before their eyes, while numberless

birds wheeled around, angry at being disturbed by the diciordant noises that man, with his inventions, made in their safe retreat. Now aud again the tbo dorsal fin of a shark would glide easily through the water towards the boats, but soon disappeared again as they approached the vessel’s side. Tho day brought every prospect of tho weather continuing fine, so an hour’s rest was allowed for breakfast, although some preferred to lake it out in sleep and postpone the eating until dinner time. After this a rally was made and kept up until 1.30 p.m, when we reckoned she bad received about 100 tons, six day’s coal foilier, and enough to guard against the possibility of running short of it. During some of this time they bad got our tow line shifted on to a bridle prepared over their stern, and then when all the boats were hoisted again, away sho went, _ all bauds standing by until we were fairly moving. 'Tho bridle answered admirably, and as we slid through the water, tho cry of “ Grog ! O ! ” roused up the tired hands to life once more, and hastily swallowing it, those who were not on duty beat a hasty retreat to their bunks. No one aboard either ship had over heard of such a thing as this being done before at sea, with ship’s boats, and everyone was glad that it had been successfully accomplished. (lb be continued).