SEARCH FOR THE WARATAH

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 1400, 13 September 1909, Page 2

SEARCH FOR THE WARATAH

THE SALVAGE STEAMER. By Electrio Telegraph. — Copyright. NEW YORK, Sept. 11. The Sabine hab sailed for Capetown to search for the VVaratah. A SEARCH LIGHT CREW. (Received Sept. 13, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. I' 2. Router's Capetown correspondent says the belief is still prevalent in naval circles that the Waratah is afloat. Admiral Egerton personally superintended the fitting out of the Sabine. The embarkation of a blue jacket search light crew has caused great satisfaction and is regarded as ensuring exhaustive night searches. LEAVING "I TRACK. Many weeks have now passed since tlie s.s. Waratah disappeared from "mortal ken" (writes Herbert C. Kent, master mariner, to the Sydney Telegraph of Friday last), and we have one and all longed for news and hoped on. As an old friend of Captain Ilbery, I may say with confidence that he was not only one of the best, but also one of the bravest of seamen.* Not only thie, but he was a man who was always prepared for accident or disaster, perhaps to a greater extent than any other captain afloat. In conversation with him on board the Geelong some three years ago, I mentioned tlie fact of the utter helplessness of a steam vessel in case of a break down, and I remember well his reply, which I now give sadly and reluctantly :—' 'Pooh, man, isn't it easy to drop buoys with flags, woodwork with inscriptions, all along the track. Can't you flare up at night and make a big smoke by day. Wouldn't any vessel looking . for you find something you left behind, and couldn't you write in it the way you were drifting." , , . . I was so impressed with this view of things that since that time I have mentioned it to a great many commanders, who have nil noted it. But many have not; therefore 1 ask you to give publicity to, the fact that one of the first acts of a captain who found himself aj the mercy, of wind and weather would be to leave a *track behind him. A* a big ship wonld drift before a gale of wind seven knots, while a fcioy or hoAcon would only drift one,* she would thus leave, a track oehind her for searching vessels to follow. As this little matter does not seem to be known by either the "experts" who have scattered theories broadcast, or by the public, who have very little technical knowledge, I give it here, to show for oik? thing that the Admiralty Imew (as they generally do) what they were doing when they withdrew their ships from the search. STEAMER RUN DOWN. (Received Sept. IS, 8.86 ajn.) y London, Sept. 12. An unknown steamer ran down the Notredamedarvor bound for Hobart. Her hold was flooded and 80 tons of cement had to be jettisoned. The Notredamedarvor was towed to Falmoutb. LOSS OF THE SLAVONIA, The Board of Trade Inquiry finds that the low of the 81avoma was due to the default and error of judgment of the master. .