TWO BARQUES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8941, 16 December 1907, Page 2

TWO BARQUES.

THE DUNDONALD AND THE SWANHILDA.

ILL-STARRED VESSELS

Captain Thorburn, the master of the Dundonald, aud Capcaiu John Macdonald, master of the Swanhilda, were close friends. Both came from Glasgow, and the voyages of the two vessels often threw the two men together. Early in February, in Sydney Harbour, DOth had made final preparations for the long run Home. They were chatting pleasantly together, anticipating their arrival in the Old Country. Captain Thorburn said to his friend: "Well, Mac, I've been chasing you up and down the South American coast for the last year or two, hut it's going to he a race Home between us now. If I don't get back before you I'll bust up on the way." The words were only too true, and the innocent jest was terribly fulfilled. The Dundonald was wrecked on Disappointment Island, and the Swauhilda readied Home.

The Glasgow Evening Times, in recording the conversation and the incident, says that if the voyage of the Dundonald Homeward is to be memorable by her loss, then wjujfc of the Swanhilda, since she set oufJJpbm Scotland more than two years ago, is equally memorable from the extraordinary series of mishaps that befell the vessel, and the hairbreadth escapes she had.

She left Hamburg in February, 1905, with cargo from Coquimbo, Chili. At the very outset she encountered a terrible storm in the Atlantic. Her sails were torn to tatters, the steering gear was shattered, compass and boats were washed overboard, aud the vessel was reduced to the condition of a helpless cripple. After a tempestuous voyage she reached the Clyde, where, after being fitted out, she proceeded on her voyage to South America. She was once more greatly delayed, and after her name bad occupied a prominent place on the overdue list word was received that she had turned up at Buenos Ayres in a badly shattered condition.

Captain Macdouald, who on account of a family bereavement, had been unable to renew the voyage, was then despatched to superintend repairs ancl take her iv command. Setting out once more for Coquimbo, she was again delayed by storms, but tjflpmately readied Newcastle, New SJKi Wales. There, again, en route, en. ship was posted among the overdues, with a goodly premium attached.

On the two years' voyage the Swanhilda was twice badly shattered and had to seek refuge in out-of-the-way ports, and on three occasions her name appeared on the overdue list. But the race Homeward betweeu herself and the Dundonald, in which she bore herself well, aud met with no misfortunes, has, strange to say, been accompanied by the complete loss of her rival.