LOG BOOK GLEANNGS

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 3

LOG BOOK GLEANNGS

SCARES—THE RUAHIHE INCIDENT [By First Mate.] Every day in this Dunedin that refuses to be shaken out of its phlegmatic calm even by a queen carnival for patriotic purposes one hears exhaustive discussions as to the fate of this ship and that, that someone heard from someone had been lost at sea through enemy action. They have caused more sensationalism than the Dunkirk evacuation. Rumours—all rumours. But they are vividly seized upon, and retailed with gusto. They are war rumours such as were noised abroad (how discreetly!) when the steamer Ruahine, in October, 1914, was the unconscious cause of a scare that speedily travelled throughout New Zealand, embellished by everyone, yet without any more foundation than that someone heard from someone else that she was reported to be sinking. This story is typical of all the rumours without foundation that are now being circulated.

Wellington circulated the scare. The day after the departure of the Ruahine on the first stage of her journey Homo a brief wireless message was received at that port that she was leaking badly and was heading for Cape Palliser. Immediately conjecture—rumour, in other words —was rife as to what had transpired in the brief 24 hours from her departure. Many versions went the rounds. . They were added to when the position on the Ruahine became worse. She radioed that she was getting a heavy list* although still steaming at full ' speed for safety. There was frenzied activity ashore to assist in succouring the Ruahine. Wellingtonians must have been astonished when the Wahine, M’hich had arrived meantime, suddenly belched thick smoke from her funnels, and within a short space of time swerved in a semi-circle away from her berth, and made off

down the channel at top speed. The Wahine wirelessed the comforting message that she was making a doublefigure knottage on her way. The Ruahine, meantime, had 4ft of water in one hold, and her list was becoming moro pronounced. ' Although the cause of the leak and its exact position were not known, there was no panic aboard . •*

The list to starboard increased. Passengers were warned to stand by in case of emergency; boats were swung out. The vessel swung about for her return to Wellington, and the list increased, but then lessened considerably once she was headed for home, though the decks were tilted at such an angle that walking was difficult. The sea was smooth, luckily. Some of the cargo was shifted, and water ballast tanks emptied. Gradually she leaned over to port, away from the leaking side, and carried on.

Then the Wahine hove in sight at top speed. There was great elation on board the Ruahine. In half an hour’s time the rescue vessel was alongside, and had slowed down to keep pace with the Ruahine, acting as convoy until port was reached without mishap. During the time from the receipt of the warning message on the Sunday morning until the early afternoon when the Ruahine berthed, rumours and speculations ran riot in the city All sorts of ideas oil the subject of the cause of the leak wore advanced—some said she had been the victim of an infernal machine in the holds, placed there by pro-Germans. It was found, however, much to the chagrin of the rumour-mongers, that

the cause was a perfectly ordinary on<j —an ill-fitting door to a meat chamber was responsible for the whole trouble. Within a week the Ruahine had sailed again for the Old Country, presenting 4 typical case of the circulation of harm* ful war rumours without foundation.