GOOD SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19988, 3 November 1927, Page 7

GOOD SERVICE

TRAMP LENDS AID Story of American Ship in Distress THE HARPALYCE AT AUCKLAND [ Sxmclß “ Chronkk ” Service. 1 ALCixLAND, Nov. 2. Lying alcngMdv the King’s Wharf to-uay the British steamer Harpalyce looked exactly what she was—an ocean ii amp. Wke had just arrived, from Ocean Lsiand and her cargo of 7000 odd tons u± puospimte was being taken from her uuius auU loaded into a line of trucks oy means of mechanical grabs. Aitnuugh not generally known tho Harpalyce a muntii or so ago lent assistanci to the iuil-rigged American ship Chillicothe, which was towed into byuney in a leaky condition after a perilous voyage from the Pacific tSlope. The Harpalyce at the time was bound from Newcastle to Nauru Island Hany in the morning of July 30 the second officer ou the bridge noticed a rod flare about nine miles away. Again the flare showed, and the officer called the master. For the third time the ruddy flame showed 3. the distance, and the Harpalyce at Irice altered her course. As soon as day brokv the Harpalyce distance the stranger reporter! by Morse lamp that she was Chillicothe, lumber laden from Astoria (Oregon) to Sydney, 112 days out. She was short ui provisions and leaking badly, and was in immediate need of assistance. A ssoon as day broke the Harpalyce loweied a boat to make investigations. Ou boarding the sailing ship the boat’s crew were told of the >ll-luek that had dogged the vessel. After passing Norfolk Island six weeks previously she had encountered a lung scries of terrific storms, which had driven her miles off her course. Big seas had come aboard ami flooded; the decks and cabins and to make matters worse food and tobacco had run short and the crew had been placed on short rations. For the last few days the rations had been reduced to soup made from flour and grease and biscuits taken from the lifeboats. At one time the ship had been within 110 miles of .Sydney Heads buJ stormy weather had again given he. back. As a result of her terrible buffeting tho Chillicothe had sprung a leak an/1 had taken a heavy list and for almost three weeks the crew had been unable to leave the pumps. Provisions were given by the Harpalyce and the steamer sent a wireless message to Sydney asking for a tug to be' sent out to tow the Chillicothe into port. She then resumed her voyage.