THE DISPATCH OF S.S. ATHENIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 8

THE DISPATCH OF S.S. ATHENIC.

MEMORABLE SCENE. SHIP NEARLY DOWN TO PLIMSOLL FINAL SEND-OFF. CHEERS OF CROWD & SHIPPING. What is regarded as a very important event in the breaking of the strike was tho sailing of the White Star liner Athenie for London yesterday afternoon. Prior to the strike, the 'Athenie had lifted London freight at other ports, but when 'the watersiders- threw down their challenge'' she still had her Wellington freightage to hoist in. This consisted chiefly of dairy produce, with a considerable quantity-of wool and flax. The Athenie came to Wellington on October 25—two days after- the "stopwork" meeting, which precipitated the trouble, and she. was then scheduled to leave for London o,a October 30. Shelias thus sailed nineteen days fote.

Mob rule was having its vogue when the vessol 'came here, and it was November 6 before the authorities felt that they had sufficient police'protection for the wharves to warrant the first step in strike-breakings-the loading of the shipments which awajted the Athenie here. . On that day! the steamer was brought m to the Glasgow Wharf, and some forty members of the new Arbitration Union of Watersiders, which had been formed some days .before, were set to work. About 100 trucks of cheese, which had been held Up for .a week or more, were to hand for dispatch. Ever since then work has gone oh with a will, and a very large quantity of produce has been trucked, winched,- and stowed. Loading ended yesterday, and amidst scenes of .enthusiasm, the bridge telegraph rang, and the steamer, trimmed admirably, ' and loaded heavily, drew out from the pier. ' It had been originally intended that the ■■ Athenie should sail at 3 p.m.,, tat at eleven o'clock yesterday it was decided to take ma further quantity of flax. Heavy rain delayed operations, so that it was' an hour .after her fixed time when she finally cast-off. A few minutes' further delay was caused at the last moment bv a decision to ship three packages and sixteen, bags ot. mails "for Rio dc Jajieiro. First Cheers-Par the WorKers. Extensive preparations hfld,beeli made by those responsible for the loading ot the vessel to give her-a.hearty sendon. Hundreds of members of the special mounted police, under their commander (Colonel Newall) paraded at the wharf, and many prominent public men were also present, including the Mayor (Ml- J P Luke), Sir Walter Buchanan. M*. P.', Commissioner Cullen, the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. R. Fletcher), and otners. Tho crowd, however, was limited owing .to tho fact that wharf passes were distributed very sparingly, but some hundreds were tortimato enough to reach the ship's side, and witness what was, in its way -a historic-, scone. Just as.four o'clock struck the Arbitrationists, who'had put the finishing touches on their work by fastening down hatches, came ashore. ■ They were greeted by tho spectators with loud cheers, and responded lustily. Tlw Taranaki men in the gang cheered their Wairarapa comrades, who replied with cheers for the men of the "butter province." Cheers far the Ship. Five minutes later the test line which held the vessel's bows to the-wharf was cast off, and tho l.ni«e ship began to back out. 'As soon as she made the first- almost imperceptible movement the- crowd —specials, Arbitrationists, and citizens —broke into enthusiastic cheers, which wore renewed with double energy wheu tho master of the vessel (Captain Crossland) made his appeirando On the bridge. The bulwarks were lined by the Atlienic's crew and passengers, and they replied with cheer upon cheer. Tho stewards gathered in the bows, and sang lustily "London Town, That s Where We Long to Be," but at times their song was drowned in the long-drawn, blasts of the vessel's siren, which announced to the city that the Athenie was sailing—without the permission of the Strike Committee. ';

Salutes by Other Ships.. . As she fetched clear 'of the wharf, and came within view of the other yessols in the harbour, the AthciiM was greeted' with cheers from the crews of t'he respective ships. First of all Was H.M.S. Psyche, which hoisted the signals, "Well done; good-bye, and good luck." A moment later the Athcmc's sister ship, the Corinthic, now alongside the Queen's Wharf, signalled "Wish, you a pleasant passage," the message being repeated by'the Marerc, Remuera, Ri<mutaka, and other overseas' vessels at the wharves and in the stream. From the Harbour Board's signalling tower on Queen's' Wharf" also floated a message of cheer. As each of these signals was made, three brightly-coloured flags fluttered from the Athemc's signal-hoist, signifying "Thank you,." With a. few more siren blasts, the h% sjiip swung round, and headed down the harbour. The pilot (Captain Seluffiug) was dropped, a'nd, increasing her speed, she was soon lost to sight round Point Hakwell. The crowd remained on* the- end of the wharf until she had disappeared from view. iV Magnetic Captain, "I have never seen a deeper-laden ship leave this port for many years," said a Harbour Board official to a reporter, as the vessel got well out into the stream. The Athenic was certainly well loaded. She was drawing 30ft. forward and 30ft. 4in. aft, her Plimsoll mark being only about a foot above the water-line. Every hold was full to tho combings with valuable merehan''dise. Those wlio have been, responsible for the loading aad dispatch of the vessel may very well he proud of their achievement.

Tho shippers of the Athenie's cargo are full of gratitude te the master and officers of tho Athenie. It is realised that the magnetic personality of Captain Crossland went some'way towards maintaining the lojaltt of his crew in a troublesome time, and he has been ably seconded by every member of his staff. The officers of the vessel are as follow:—Captain, J. B. Crosslanid, R.N.R., R.D., master; Commander Q. A. Alcock, R.N.8,, R.D., chief officer, in charge of deck department; Engin? eer-Commander R. Reid, 8.N.R., chief engineer, in charge, of engine department; Mr. S. C. J. Freeman.Matthews, purser, in charge of passenger's and victualling department. Other officers; Mr. W. H. G. Yates., first officer; 1/imit. R. M. Porter, K.N.R., second; Mr. C. Serigo, thirdj Mr. E. T. Hughes, fourth; Mr. M. R: Ellis, fifth; Dr. N. V. Williams, M.8., surgeon; Mr. D, Wbitefo.rd, second engineer; Mr. H. Purvis, third; Mr. J, T. Coulter, fourth: Mr. C. W. Davidson, fifth; Mr. S. J.' Richardson, sixth; Mr. C. Newton, first refrigerating engineer; Mr. R. Magnoss, second ; Mr. H.JBustwood, boilermaker; Mr. W. Hanion, electrician.; Mr. «W. Hughes, chief steward; and Mr. G. E. Cook, Marconi operator,. Generous Act by Siiaw-Savill Co, Tho Athcnie is carrying about 1000 tons of-coal less titan a vessel of her size usually has when she sails for England. In the ordinary course she would liavo enough coal to tako her to Tone- ; riffe, hut on this occasion she will have i to take in 1000 tons at Monte Video. Although the price of coal in the South American port is almost double that whiah would h&vn fa? be |n>M in' Now

ill, and Albion Company felt that t-ho.y would not bo justified in the present circumstances in taking more coal from the port' than was accessary. When the vessel drew away from the wharf, the filiie-petor was hauled down from the foremast, and the national flag of Uruguay was hoisted ift its place. The Athenie -has on board a considerable mail for Monte Video, the capital of this republic, which was the reason for the.Jiving of the flag. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) went, on hoard'the Athemc during the day and conveyed the.thanks of" the City to this Commander arid the crew.. Produce Cargo Worth *254,00 a." The Atlienic's cargo -of dairy produce was approximately 25,000 crates of cheese and 55,000 boxes of butter. This, at £4 per crate of cheese, and £2 1,65. per bos of butter, shows the value of the dairy produce 'to be £254,000. Tho liner has never' before taken away such a large cargo of this kind, and it was only exceptional circumstances which made it possible on this occasion. One of these circumstances was the fact that- space usually occupied by froaen meat was available. The whole of the butter is in firstclass condition, as it has been well kept in cool' store while delayed.' The bulk of the cheese, too, is _in the best of order, but some Wairarapa crates, which had .to be left on the railway trucks awhile, are not quite in the condition in which they originally left the factories. It is thought here that both tho butter and the. 'cheese frill" bring high prices in Loudon, and that the shipment will not meet a drop. The Cargo Lines Lifted. Details of the Athenie's cargo are- as follow:—Butter: Auckland, 13,836 boxes; New Plymouth, 20,510; Patea, 895; Wanganui, 2385; ' Wellington, 17,883; Bunedin, 400: total, 55,908. Cheese: Auckland, 379 crates; New Plvmauth, 4936; Patea, 3117; Wanganui, 224; Wellington. 8108: total, 22,764. The vessel also carried 15,070 bales of wool'and skins; 3228 .bales of flax; 154 casks of tallow and pelts; 20 tons of sundries;.2o carcasses of mutton; and 14SG carcasses of lamb. The Athenie also took 15 stud ram's for Monte Video.

Athenie's Passengers, The following is a list of the passengers who left' by the Athenie yesterday:—First saloon—From WellingtonMr. C. S. King; from Dunedin—Captain M'La-Ughlin.; from Napier—Mr. J. L. Duff. Second saloon—From Wellington —Misses M'. Garlins, E. A. Major, Mesdames S. A. Widdiiigtoa, H. H; Lindsay, Mr. W. Western; from Auckland— Mrs. M. H. Button, Mr. H. B. Hiirle; from . Christehureh—Mrs. ■•Asqu.itk, Messrs. .8. Asquitli, M. Ballintyne, F. Oaley, Master A. Asquith, Third-class —From Wellington—Misses D. Bennett,. H. Cbbley, Hegarty, Josephson, Joyce, D. Wilde*, Mesdamcs Bennett, Josephson, E. Joyce, Wilde, Messrs. H. Vf. Ainslio.' H. Anderson, C. 'Bennett, C. H, Brown, J. Burford, P. Courtinaii, J. B. Honvood, W. Hunt, P. Josephson, T. Moss, Roscoe, D, Smith, A. T. Thorpe, F, Zanotti, White, Wilde, Master Wilde. From AticMaud—Mosdaiiies A. Monk s Tosh, and 'Warren, Messrs. J. Belcher, L. J, Ooha.m, F. C, Everett, J. K. Gotten, F. Q. Hunt, R, Irwin, H. Lloyd, J. Tosh, K. Warren, Masters Tosh (2), Warren, and Monk. From Christchiirch—Misses .B-uston, F. Jones, H. A. Vesty, and H. Williamsou, Messrs. M. Braid, H. Dodds, T, Heatott, J. T. Seed, F. Tyrer, and Captain M. H. Ransom. From NapierMrs, Weaver and Messrs, Weaver and Goulter. From Dunediri—Misses Hoekoit (4), Mrs. S. Hadsoii, Messrs.. W. ? Ryan and M. J. Foster, and Master Hodsoii. From Timaru—Mr, T. 3: M'Enery and Master T. M'Enery. From Nelson—C. Moxey. .-.!• 'i-,v ■■■