LIMPED TO PORT

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 8

LIMPED TO PORT

AN ARDUOUS VOYAGE. HELPLESS IN DANQEROUB SEAB. ADRIFT FOR THREE DAYS. (By Telegrapb.—press Association.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. After drifting helplessly at the mercy of wind and seas off a dangerous Paciflo atoll while the crew struggled for three days to oarry out repairs in the tunnel shaft, and being nursed on a long ocean voyage the City of Shanghai arrived at Auckland this morning from New York. The mishap occurred on July 10. While steaming in a moderate sea the propeller shaft suddenly began to vibrate violently and the engines were immediately shut off. The engineers toiled night and day until repairs were effeoted. Under great difficulties the propeller was put in a condition to complete the voyage, and the faot that the vessel was successful in limping into port, although three weeks behind schedule, was evidence of the workmanlike Job. During the repairs the vessel drifted orabwise, rolling and shipping occasional seas, and was only 52 miles off some treacherous tropical Islands. The rudder was almost useless without any motive power and there were no staysails on board which could be rigged. “If the shaft had gone again it would have smashed through the ships side,” said a member of the crew. Last Sunday the City of Shanghai was overtaken by the City of Glasgow, which vessel shepherded her for the remainder of the voyage to Auckland. Her average speed was from 2i to 4i knots. Repairs to the damaged vessel will be done In Wellington.