THE MONOWAI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7237, 25 October 1901, Page 3

THE MONOWAI.

*f*- - ■ ARRIVAL AT PORT CHALMERS NARRATIVE OF THE OFFICERS. A FIVE-AND-A-HALF DAYS' DRIFT. [Per Phess Association] DUNEDIN, Oct. 25. Shortly before six o'clock this morning tlie Mokoia arrived off the Heads with the Monowai in tow, On the Harbour Board's tugs reaching the latter the following message from the engineer, Mr Patou, was handed on board : — , At 1.30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, wo struck something with 'the propeller, .tnd after that we felt it peculiar and vibrating. At 6.30 the engine got away »t a hard speed. On examination we found about half the boss gone, and two blades with it. The shaft was running round without a boss. Captain Spinks told a very simple nar-rative:—-We left the Bluff at five o'clock on Monday afternoon, with instructions to spend at least three days looking for the Monowai.' We steered along about seventy or eighty miles to 'the north of our usual course. We sighted the- Monowai at 8.25 p.m. on Tuesday, about sixteen miles north. When we got near we received a message from Captain Chatfield, saying that he had ■ been drifting since Thursday morning. At 10.15 we took the disabled steamer in tow. When we started from the coast we had a thick fog .which lasted until half an hour after noon on Tuesday: There was a light breeze with a smooth sea and fine, clear weather when we picked np the Monowai. She sent us her line to tow with. &he had lines all ready. The tow was with 120 fathoms ot wire" bent on to sixty fathoms of chain cable. It is a good scope, but not unusual ; what I consider a good, safe tow-line. After catching hold of her we had fine, clear weather until Wednesday forenoon. In the afternoon of Wednesday we experienced a heavy south-west swell, which gave us a little" anxiety as to how the wire hawser would stand, but it stood all right. We passed the Solanders at 10.30 on Thursday morning, and thence had a following wind with a smooth sea. We passed the Bluft at 5.15 p.m. and signalled, and received orders to proceed to Port Chalmers. We had the same wind and sea during the night, with passing rain showers. We passed the Nuggets at 11.57 p.m.. arriving off Otago Heads at 6.10 a.m. this morning, finding there two tugs in readiness if their services were wanted. Captain Spinks-, continuing, said : "When we picked up the Monowai «. ; he was two hundred miles west of Puyregur Point. It was an uneventful tow. Thei-e was a little excitement among the passengers when the two ships met, and they I started singirg. I am not a musical man myself, and can't tell what they were singing, but it was a. hymn of some sort. The ih-st thing we saw when looking for the Monowai was? a rocket. We replied with another rocket, and then steered straight for her." Whilst Captain Spinks was talking a, bundle of telegrams was put into his hand, among thnn being one frcm the- Premier, congratulating him on once more saving a disabled vests!. Tlic Monowai was taken to the George Street Pier, preparatory to decking. A Brisbane passenger by the Mokoia says: " The Mouowai bad been nearly six days lying in the trough of the sea. After getting "the vessel in tow it was an anxious time for both steamers. A heavy swell set in. and both vessels rolled 1 heavily. The Mokoi.a's passengers took tlis delay in the best of spirits, and were overjoyed when they found the Monowai. There was a sight Shortage of fresh water and flour, which were immediately sen* on board."' A passenger b\ r the Monowai states that everybody vied with everybody else to amuse and entertain his fellows. The -officers and crew did. -everything possibk for the comfort of the passengers, ana mo sickness or mishap.? occurred. Mr White, of the Jubilee Singers, says Biß never spent a happier time in his life. When they heard of the accident tliey resignfd themselves to enjoyment with heartiness, and the good nature shown could not bt- excelled. .Captain Spinks is complimented on all sides, and the remark is frequently heard, " When lost at sea, send for Spiuks."