AFTER THE SCULLING RACE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 481, 14 April 1909, Page 7

AFTER THE SCULLING RACE.

EXCITING TIME ON A STEAMER, (BY TELEIiItAIMI—SI'ECIAI. COItICKSPONDENT.) Christchurchy April 13. A representative of the ".I'i-ces," who attended the umlling race at Akaroa yesterday, describes an incident that occurred'while tlic cxcuision.ii.ts by the Mararoa were returning to th.'.t vessel on a small steamer, the Cygnet, tUt was uwd as a tender. ' " The Cygnet," he pays, "was used during the raw a-s the k-ferco's boat, and, as, toon- as the race was over, she icUifned to the wharf to allow the officials and local people to land. No- sooner had she touched the wharf thnai the crowd rushed her, and in a few minutes she was absolutely Idled with excursionists, who desired to return to the Mararoa. There was absolutely no attempt to. keep the crowd back.

'• The result was that there were between 500 and COO souls aboard, and the. Cvgnet is. only 124 tons. Even when lying at the wharf, she rolled most alarmingly. The captain seemed to be satisfied that there was au elomoiit of danger in the situation, for, as the steamer was- backing away from the wharf, ho addressed the packed mass of passengers thus: .'Now, look here, don't get moving about. If you do, we will all go under. Eehavo like men and women, and not like children.' " There wore a few ' Hear, hears,' audi for a few moments, there was a hush as the mo'-o Borious-minded of the passengers sized up the situation. The Cygnet backed out, rolling sowly, but frightfully, and at each roil there were meek shrieks of alarm. The turn wag carefully done, and the vessel's ncc pointed towards the Mararoa, which Lav anchored over a quarter of a mile from the wharf. Iho alarming roll continued, and a number ot the passengers, now really frightened, took up the positions on the'steamer from wliach they could dive and get clear should anything untoward happen. Providentially, the crowd did not realise their danger, but had there been a panic there wouW have been a catastrophe. "The Cygnet drew heavily alongside the Mararoa, and many a man on her heaved a sigh of relief when she was. made fast Her progress had been watched from the shore «nd i from the deck of the Mararo3 with anxiety. People on shore said that the rolling chocks went under 2ft. at one roll and were 4ft. out of the water whan the roll"reversed.