SEA'S FURY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16816, 7 June 1926, Page 8

SEA'S FURY.

WONGANELLA’S FIGHT. I STORY OF PLUCK. A graphic story of the NYonganella’s adventures in tlie gale off Sandy Gape was told by ttic master, Captain A. D. Williamson. With her propeller lying uselessly against tier rudder-stock, tier sides spotted with corrosion, and her paint streaky, the Wonganclla entered Moreton Bay in tow of the lug St. Giles. The vessel, said Captain Williamson, left Newcastle -on May li at 10.22 p.m., and immediately encountered rough weather. Three days after putting to sea a strong south-easterly was experienced, and tlie stiip had to fight through a squally, high sea. On May 14 (Friday) conditions became worse, and at 12.5 a.in., when the vessel was approximately JGO miles south-east of Sandy Gape, tlie propeller-shaft broke. “Wireless messages, stating our t position and condition, were despatch-" ed,” said I lie captain, “and on May 15 (Saturday), when the sens were mountains high and the ship was rolling heavily, a radio message stated that, the tug St. Giles was leaving Newcastle at G p.m. i Plucky Women. j • “Tlie women passengers were violently ill. lint they behaved splendidly, and created no panic. “un May IG. the ferocity of Hie gale' was undiminislicd, and the waves, so far as could lie judged, were easily •lOft high. The Wonganclla was rolling and liirrliing heavily, but there , was no suggestion of her foundering. ; “So dangerous was our position j that at 5.25 p.m. the wirelss ollicer j was ordered lo send out at S.O.S. sig- : nal. Three ships answered, and the (jueda was nearest, and at JO.IO p.m. | her lights were visible hut it was evid-] i'iil. ihat a towlinc could not lie got across our bows until dawn. “At 4 a.m. t estimated that wc were within 22 miles of Sandy Cape. hut. as a mailer of fact, I discovered later! Ihiil. we were wilhin that distance of of Break sea Spil. and likely lo pile up' mi a bank .within a few hours. 11l was a precarious position, which Hie anguished ollieers fully appreciated, but they remained at their posts imllinehingly. occasionally they wenl| below and assured the passengers that j all was well, suppressing llioir anxiety while they smiled. An Amazing Ohange. “Then an amazing change look place. At 5 a.m., when we were, peri- j lousty close to tlie spit, Hie wind suddenly blew from Hie westward, and j sent us out lo sea. All hour filler we; r.'lL so secure Unit the, Queila was ad- j vised not to send a line, hut to stand | by. j “Noon came with Hie sea inoderal- j ing, but (tie wind was beginning lo ; freshen. At 4 p.m. it was blowing a j strong gale from Ilie south-south- j west. Heavy rain fell in squalls, and i Hie choppy seas were becoming more fierce. On May .1 ,S similar conditions prevailed, and at 0 a.in. a radio message told us to expect the lug SI. Giles Hint day. At .’LI 5 p.m. we j sighled Ilie lug: al i.ll) p.m.. she was j alongside; at 4.25 p.m.. a. heaving line j was sent aboard; al 4.”5 p.m. a towing I line, was passed; and al i. 55 p.m. ihei lug commenced lowing.” All hough considerably biili’i led

there was nothing to indicate that the tug hail been through anything unusual. Her crew treated their experience in a happy manner. Passenger’s Story. Mrs E. \V., Wormald, of Redferri, Sydney, was deputed to speak on behalf of the feminine passengers.

■'We were never really afraid,” she said, “though it was a frightful experience for us. We lost alt idea of time, and of course did not know where we were. The day afLer the wind changed we heard how close we had been to being •wrecked. This frightened us until the officers told us the tug was coming. Our principal and permanent sensation, however, was one of sickness."