CRITICAL POSITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19048, 27 June 1924, Page 2

CRITICAL POSITION

WAIHEMO HELPLESS IN GALE RETURNS TO PORT WITH HOLD AWASH. The Waihemo, with a heavy list to port, steamed to Port Chalmers on Wednesday morning with No. 2 hold awash. The vessel left Port Chalmers last Saturday afternoon for Nauru Island via Newcastle. On Sunday, when clearing Foveaux Strait she ran into heavy weather, and a heavy sea came up. Having no cargo the position became critical. The propeller was partly out of the water, and ineffectual attempts were made to alter the course. Hours passed and the condition did not improve. Late on Sunday afternoon further trouble was experienced. There was a blinding flash of lightning, and the flame of it ran along the aerial of the ship’s wireless equipment, almost blinding the seamen on deck. Eventually the Waihemo was headed back for Foveaux Strait. At about midnight qn Tuesday Donald Broderick a seaman, fell down a. hold, and was severely injured. He was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital after the ship’s arrival. His condition is reported to be satisfactory. Immediate steps were taken to repair the ship’s damaged bilge pump in order that the water in the hold mav be pumped out. The extent and nature of the damage will not be ascertained until the hold has been pumped dry.