DISMASTED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 2

DISMASTED.

BARQUE TOWED INTO SYDNEY,

STRUCK BY A HURRICANE.

THRILLING EXPERIENCE,

A stirring story of a struggle with, tho elements was brought by tlio French barque Pierre Antonine, which was towed into Sydney in a dismasted and damaged condition a few days ago. At 12.55 p.m., South Head reportedsighting two barques, one of which was dismasted, in tow about 22 miles off tho land. These vessels proved to bo the French barque Vjllo do Dijon, bouud for Sydney from Antofogasta, and tlio'French barque Pierre Antonine, for Newcastle, from Monte Video. They wero both in tow of Messrs. J. Fcnwick and Co.'s tug Heroic. That tho Heroic should pick up two vessels of the same nationality, rig, and colour, a-nd one of them a lame duck, was f. straugo coincidence. Tho little craft looked worthy of lier name as she steamed proudly through tlio Heads with her two prizes towering nobly behind her, each at tho cud of a lengthy strotch of jiawstr. As she entered she sot up a -lively cock-a-doodle-dooing which the occasion fully warranted. ■Tho Heroic had left port in search of pick-ups, and was , followed by another local tug. Tho Ville do Dijon was sighted some distance ofF the land, n.nd the Heroic set off after her. Tlio other tug, having work in. port, had returned.! When the .Heroic, ranged up alongside tho Ville de Dijon, tho captain of tho Frenchman mado the important announcement that he had sighted a dismasted French barque not far away from where they them were. A Double Prize. i A hurried glance at the sky-lino showed tho skipper of tho Heroio that there was no_ immediate fear of opposition, and ho quickly decided to try f9r rhodoublo prize. He was in luck's way, and soon picked up tlio dismasted vessel, which proved to be tho French barque Pierro Antonine. Only the lower foremast, lower mainmast, anil mizzen-mast were left standing, and it was perfectly evident that the vessel had had a very eevcre buffeting. Tlio tug camo on to port with tho Villo do Dijon immediately behind her, and tho damaged vessel behind that again. Both barques anchored in Watson's Bay to await medical inspection. ' As tho Pierce Antonine lay at anchor in the bay slio looked but a poor apology for a sailing vessel. _ Two short stumps, each with tho remains of 1 one yard-arm hanging to it, were all that was left of her foro and main-masts. Portion of her bulwarks wore missing, and, although no one was allowed on board, as she had not been passed by tho doctor, it was evident that her decks had also suffered severely. Tho inizMn-mast was still standing, mid did not appear to have been badly damagsd. Captain Nedollec, leaning over the rail of tho vessel, told a story of a fierco Btragglo with wind and tea, and 'a subsequent hazardous voyage of sevoral thousand miles while in a dismasted state. Tho Pierro Antonine left Monte Video in ballast for Newcastlo on January 13 last, and everything went well until tlio evening of February 21. On that date tlio ■barquo was in longitndo Gi cast and latitude it south, and was just a littlo to the eastward of the Kergnolen Islands, which lie well to tho southward • and roughly about half-way between tho 'African and Australian coasts. On Her Beam Ends. Shortly after sunset tho vessel was running under light canvas' before a strong northerly wind. Captain Nedelleo noticed that tho wind was increasing to gale force, and was in tlio act of having sail taken off, when, with a suddenness j which took everyone' by surpri w, tho wind whipped round to tho north-wesl'i' and roared through the rigging with-the 1 forco of a hurricane. Almost immediately the vessel was thrown on to her beam ends. ' ' . The sand ballast which sho I was carrying shifted with the vessel, and kept her on her side. Captain,Nedelleo states that the vessel was so far over that her starboard rail was at least six feet under water. Luckily, the crew wero all safe, tho only living thing to ;bo washed over; board being the ship's dog, which was drowned. While tho vessel lay in this helpless state, heavy seas crashed on to end broke clean over ber. She refused, despite the efforts of tlio captain and crew, to como back to an upright position. It. looked as though, tho vessel would bo hammered to pieces by tho mcrciloss seas, and for a time tho sailors felt sure that they would nover escape from their perilous position. As a last resort, Captain Nodellec ordered hatchets and axes out, and ehouted instructions to tlio men 'to cut away all bulwarks, slays, and gear on tlio port 6ldn of tho vessel. Although the crow were drenched with tho seas which wero continually breaking over the vessel, they set to work with a will. Cutting Away Riggings. ' Axes, hatchets, and sledge hammers were brought out,- and, although they worked under severe difficulties, tho crew succeeded in cutting away tho bulwarks and stays of the main mast. As this was caught by the* wind and carried away it took with it tho foretopmast and both went over the side. For three hours tho crew worked with tho axes, and it was then seen that the vessel was displaying an inclination to right herself. Tho major portion of the crew wero ordered into tho hold to trim the vessel's ballast, and aftor an anxious night's work tho ballast was got partly back into ' positu.it. \\ Next morning tho baiquo' was on ah even keel, ami all hands wero set ,to work cutting away the debris which hung over tho side of tho6hip. The decks wero cleared up, and Captain Nedellec, who was ably assisted by Second Officer Turpin, sot to work to rig temporary'canvas tor tho long journey which still lay before them. After a few days' work he jury-rigged tho vessel to the best of his ability, and proceeded on his voyage. ' Captain Nedellec stated last night that he considered lie had averaged about 100 miles a day since February 21 with his makeshift rigging. Ho experienced favourable winds after the mishag. and had got within 35 miles of Sydney lleads when the Heroic picked him up. The members of the crew thanked tho captain/for his prompt action in cutting away tlio rigging on the night of tlio storm, an<l'thus saving their lives, as well as tho ship. Tho Pierre Antonine is a steel barquo of 220G tons, built at Nantes in 1902, and owned by L. Guillon. Her principal dimensions are: Lcngh, 277.3 ft.; breadth, •10.1 ft.; and depth, 22.7 ft. She will probably bo repaired hero before proceeding on to Newcastle.