THROUGH FOG AND BREAKERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1211, 21 August 1911, Page 4

THROUGH FOG AND BREAKERS.

WITHOUT A PROPELLER, There arrived in Wellington for the first time yesterday the tramp steamer Ilyndford, in command of Captain Home. This vessel was built about six years ago, and it was while on her maiden voyago that her crew had a most thrilling experience. It was at 2 o'clock on tho morning of September 11, IDOli, after .passing through tho Straits of Magellan, that the Hyndford's really serious troubles commenced, the four blades of her propeller snapping whilo tho vessel laboured in a heavy sea. On the following day, when tho weather had moderated. Captain Home took observation;, which showed that the vessel was 10 miles west of Capo Pillar. After consulting his officers, the Captain decided to dispatch a life-boat to Punta Arenas, i'ivo of the crew wer.a sent in tho boat at 4 o'clock in tho afternoon, and nothing more was heard of these brave fellows. The Captain then gave orders to get sail on the ship, and ovcry available stitch of canvas was put on. The following day it blew a hurricane from the south, which sent this steamer of 4000 odd tons along at tho rate of four knots' an hour. Tho Noyr Islands were sighted to the eastward on.the morning of September 11, and it was an unwelcome sight, becauso the hapless sailors knew that there, was no anchorage ahead and that tho merciless rocks would mako short work of their vessel. Boats were provisioned, and swung in readiness for tho forlorn hope when tho vcss?i should strike.

Captain Horno ordered such sails as were set to bo taken in and rebent backwards, in order to propol tho vessel sternwards, and so carrying her oit the shore. The Hyndford was thus enabled to clear the land and rocks. At mid-day on September 17, Iklefanse Rocks loomed ahead. Tho vessel was drifting towards these when a thick fog came do.wn and shut the rocks from view. Never before or after had matters looked so critical. When night eamo down t'lie fog became more dense, and tho crew stood about the decks in groups peering into the glrom and waiting for the ship lo strike. Tho captain, however, decided to stick b the ship until she actually struck and in this decision he was loyally supported by all. Early the following morning the sound of surf could bo heard on every side, and the crew realised that they wero ill llio midst of the rocks. However, to tho crew's amazement, tho ship did not strike and t/ie roar of breakers finally died away.

When dawn broke, fine nnd clear, tho crow discovered Unit the rocks had been left behind, tho ship having drifted right between them—a marvellous performance and one which the captain states has never bef->ro _ been accomplished. Drifting with the current, tho H.vudford' was 70 miles south of Cape Horn or. September 22, when the German steamer Emile, from Copenhagen, was sighted' A nH-n.bc-i of the crew was sent to the Emile with the request that Clio vessel's plight might be made known at the earliest opportunity. Returning to i'he Falkland Island?, (lie Emile reported the JJ.vmli'ord's condition and a*ked that help should be sent. Immediately steamers were sent out in search of tho U.vndford.

Meanwhile the sails had been again spread and oil October 7 the vessel dropped anchor on Eagle Passage and was afterwards towed by the tug Sampson, t'o Port Stanley. Owing to the fact that, no labour could be secured at this port, the crew were obliged to ship a new propeller.