HIMITANGI AND THISTLE IN DIFFICULTIES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12883, 17 June 1913, Page 8

HIMITANGI AND THISTLE IN DIFFICULTIES.

At about 2-30 p.m. tho Bimitanei, ladon with a human freight of aboui threo hundred, -left tho Cnstlecliff wharf with tho olvopt of goinjr out to tho battleship. TV hen swinging round, and at a distance of about fifty yards out shn ran aground. For about threequarters of an hour sho remained fast hut tho erowrMvas on joying itn position' fehn was baoKPfl off at tho end'of that period, and for .awhile was occupied \n jetting.her head on to tho sea. fh>u she-denartod. nmirl tho cheers of th<w aboar.d. Just hoforo rrosrsinfr the b:>it jv-ias'seign that tlio Dreoctaouffht hn«l weighed anchor, and after battling wit!i tho elements for n quarter of .in hour, wiring■ which time tho passengers wer-.i having a- bad run ami tho steamer pitched - a"»irl. tossed considerably, heavy snas brpakinp: . ovav. -her ■ bows. * slm f.^ain returned, and instead of bertbi^p; r.t Castlecliff. proceeded, direct uo thb;TiYerJto--the toun fwhiaff. " Tho .flpjjy-^Ja^QngerH,; ,'ilthousrh unable t-o" .^teoi^Arib&r^ixHttiye,- liad .a ijood j:un; "«ta7 6a tho Himit-angi "■was"oonceracrt.:-.

Tho lighter Thistle had an extremely perilous time. Leaving tho wharf vi 3-30 p.m.j once past the moles 3he drifted southwards, and was seemingly unable to make progress. Indeed, it appeared as if she was being driven on. to the shore, and oniany Were the glassen turned on to her. It was withfgreat anxiety that those ashore watched tho vessel's heroic fignt against the wind .and sea, and to some of these people it seemed that the Thistle had actually got among the breakers. . There was, fortunately, in, temporary lull in the wind, and pitching ' considerably,- a>t with waves breaking over her, the ffghv er mado progress, and-was soon well out. Tho Thistle was about half an hour fighting against tho heavy sea and wind." JBv this time the New Zeakw! wiap well out to sea.-■ and thrv ■Thistle, returned to Castlecliff.unshipping tho hundred or so of. passengers, tho majority of whom were drenched to the skin by the big seas which swept over them tand tho vessel. The passes-, coir, willhavo cause to remember this trip for many o. d.r»y to come.