SAFE IN PORT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 6

SAFE IN PORT.

FLORA REACHES AUCKLAND. BROKEN PIN IN CRANKSHAFT. (fbxßß absochhoh- cxusaßUcJ AUCKLAND, June 26. The Flora returned "to port at four o'clock this morning, under her own steam, haying taken twelve hours on the trip from Great Mercury Island. The breakdown was due to a broken pin in the crank shaft. Repairs which were made for a few minutes at a, time enabled her to get to the shelter of Great Mercury Island, where more lasting repairs were effected by drilling a hole. The Flora got away just in time to avoid the danger of going ashore, as the wind suddenly chopped round, blowing very hard, and placed her ou a lee shore. She saw neither the Te Awhina or Kamona, which are still searching for her. Perilously Near Coast. Captain Gray says that soon after midnight the Flora's plight became serious. Although she was riding the seas well, she was perilously near the coast, and all too surely was in danger of being wrecked. Before daylight was reached her position was about one mile _ east of Cape Colville, but_ to weather it was impossible. At daylight she had battled towards Cuvier light again, and he decided to run before the storm for Great Mercury Island. The engines were working occasionally, and with the gale behind her, better progress was made to the aholtered position of East Bay. The vessel's plight became bo Berious at midnight, as previously mentioned, that all hands, except the engineering staff, were* ordered to stand by the boats, which were provisioned and prepared for launching. Some of the crew actually put on lifebelts. It was pitch black, a hurricane wind was blowing, and heavy rain was falling. It is doubtful if the ship's boats could have survived had they been launched. Tribute to Engine-room Staff.

During the ship's drift and trip back to port the firemen kept their usual watch and the engineers were on duty all the time, as on the *engines alone the safety of the vessel depended. ' The trouble waß due to the pin in the shaft being loose. It slipped out gradually, catching on the piston and interfering with the whole engine. While the storm raged, the engineers kept knocking the portions of the pin back as they appeared, and this' was responsible for the spasmodic working of the engine. "We had a devil of a time down below," Baid one of the engine-room staff, "but we took things > calmly. Steam was kept up all the ■ time, and the engineers have been going strong ever since the trouble began." A tribute to tho men below was paid by Captain Gray, who eaid that they performed their hazardous duties in a wonderful manner. Battle with Elements. It was thought when the Flora reached the shelter of Great Mercury Island that she was safe, at least from the elements, and that temporary repairs would be effected, with some degree of security. This hope was rather short-lived, for after three hours the wind made a disquieting change, and commenced - to blow with force even greater than in the northerly previously endured. By three o'clock the vessel's security was threatened, but fortunately all was ready down below for the venture back to port. When the anchor came up the ship had to fight her way out of the bay, and was again in, the thick of the storm.. Prior to this the Bichardson Company's steamer, Awahou, which was sheltering in the bay, and the Mako, which arrived later, had cleared out, though a scow remained, with every prospect of being driven on the beach. Out in. the gale again it was realised that with the change in the wind the sea had been beaten to even greater fury, But there was now a measure of security iu the even, slow-running of the engines. There was another trying run up to Cape Colville, made all the more 80 by a halt to effect repairs to one of tho cylinders. The Cape was rounded, and about one o'clock the Flora was reported from Tiri Lighthouse. She eventually dropped anchor in the harbour at, 3.55 this morning. Prepared for toe Worst. The sole* passenger in the Flora said that before there was any sign of engine trouble his cabin in the poop was flooded, and he lay in his bunk fully clothed. At 11 o'clock in the morning the ship's officers informed him of the Flora's dangerous plight, and he kept ready to go on dock if it was f necessary to abandon the ship. "You can't imagine what the gale was like," he said. "If we had once touched shore it would have been the end. As it was it was a very close call. "At one stage eff Cape Colville we were so close in that the worst was j feared. " Never before have I experienced such a howling gale or such heavy seas, wind, and rain. We owe I our safety to Captain Gray; it was his I excellent seamanship that saved us." j I■ ■ I