NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER WELLINGTON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1763, 25 June 1877, Page 5

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER WELLINGTON.

[BT TBIEGBAPH.] Auckland, June 21. Captain Lloyd, of the steamer Wellington, reports that the vessel very narrowly escaped being wrecked on the Manakau bar when she attempted to enter last Sunday. At one o'clock the signal " take the bar" was made from the look-out station, and Captain Lloyd immediately set the topsail, and steamed for the south entrance. On approaching the bar, it was found that the sea was very heavy, and the tide had begun to ebb. When the steamer was ri^ht over the first break, a tremendous green wave struck her on the port quarter, completely filling the deck to the rail, and m addition to sending the vessel on her beam ends, causing her to broach m a very dangerous manner. The soa carried away one boat and its davits a»d smashed two others. It stove m the stern posts, filled the saloon, smashed the main and poop rails on the starboard side, and the iron railings on the top-gallan f torecastle, carried away one of the iron catheads, filled the deckhouse, and inflicted other damage. Captain Lloyd was on the bridge at the time, and on seeing the sea coming laid hold of the stern of one of the boats on the starboard side. This boat was one of those smashed and the captain had a most miraculous escape. The forward portion of the boat was carried away, and the remainder swung around, the only part which remained firm being that which Captain Lloyd had hold of. The force of the sea knocked him down, and he was only prevented from sliding off into the sea through the gaps where the boat had been by coming with his mouth against one of the belaying bits. A German named Andrew, who is one of the hands on board, saw the captain's danger, and with praiseworthy promptitude scrambled to his assistance. He managed to get within reach of him, and taking hold of one of his arms, he drew him up into safety. Meanwhile the vessel was m- a very unpleasant predicament. She was right m the trough of the sea, and it was obvious that if another sea struck her she must founder. Captain |Lloyd did not lose his presence of mind for a moment, but determined to try and get her head to the sea, and run out again. This was accomplished with considerable difficulty, as the water had brought the steam down m the boilers to about lllbs. Captain Lloyd expresses his conviction that not one steamer m twenty would have done it m time to meet the next sea head on, and her fine lines alone saved har. She was got round safely when only about twice her length from the bank and steamed .to sea m the face of a heavy westerly gale which had now commenced to blow. The steamer behaved magnificently and rode out the gale like a duck for three days. The signalman hoisted the ball for the Wellington to enter too late, so that she , encountered the ebb tide when on the bar.