“Not Arf!”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 25, 21 December 1907, Page 32

“Not Arf!”

The voyage of the Suevic’s new bows from Belfast to Southampton, there to be united to the remainder of the vessel, is one of the most interesting feats of marine salvage ever recorded. It was not even half a ship that was towed out of Belfast harbour last week, but only a third, and this is the first time in the history of shipping that a steamer’s bows have been towed nearly 600 miles. Landsmen would have imagined that the natural way would have been to tow the new portion of the Suevic stem first, but as a matter of fact to secure steadiness it was undoubtedly the correct thing to haul her bulk-

head first. Not a little, however, was staked on the strength of this bulkhead, which marks the point where the new section is to be joined on the principal portion of the Suevic. Messrs. Harland and Wolff were confident that the precautions they had taken in this respect were adequate, and they proved to be right. .

But it was an arduous and anxious voyage. On two occasions the bows were caught in terrific gales, during which the. Strange craft and her two tugs were helpless, and drifted about entirely at the mercy of the waves. Two men stood behind the great bulkhead during this six or seven days’ voyage, watching with lighted candles for the slightest trace of the admission of water. Meantime, the waves thundered violently against the bulkhead, and reverberated fearfully through the hollow structure. The pumps were ready for instant use, and so, by th? way, were the boats. It was an odd and uncomfortable situation for everyone on board. In addition, there was the confusion incidental to voyaging on what was, to all intents and purposes, a floating tower, with neither bows, nor poop, nor midships. The rolling of this extraordinary ship was at times extremely heavy. Altogether, it was a voyage well calculated to test the nerves and endurance of those on board, for sleep was for a long period out of the question.

The bows left Belfast on Sunday evening of last week, and in the early hours of Monday ran into a terrible gale. They pitched about so badly, and the tugs were so helpless against the heavy seas and wind, that the lifeboats were made ready for a start. When daylight broke it was discovered that they had drifted back 40 miles. The gale subsided during the day, and Holyhead was abeam by dusk. Tuesday was fine until about 4 pan., when another gale broke, with torrents ot rain, and the voyagers had another trying night. Land's End was rounded on Wednesday night, and the Suevic’s bows encountered a strong Atlantic swell, which rolled the unprotected craft about like a toy. Stag Rock, near the Lizard, where the Suevic had foundered, was passed on Thursday morning. Not a trace of the old bow could be seen. Gale and fog kept the voyagers busy all Friday, but in the evening Southampton Water hove in sight and all ended happily. The reunited Suevic is to leave Liverpool for Australian ports on January 16th.