THE S.W. GALE IN PORT, DAMAGE TO THE SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1297, 16 May 1878, Page 2

THE S.W. GALE IN PORT, DAMAGE TO THE SHIPPING.

Last night there was every prospect of heavy weather, and Captain McLellan, the harbor master, made every possible preparation. The vessels lying at the breastwork were hauled out head to sea and proper warning given to the masters. About midnight a strong S.B. wind sprang up, accompanied by much ruin. It veered to N.E. and N.W., and finally settled in the S.W., from which point it blew with hurricane force, accompanied by squalls of hail, rain, and enow. A heavy sea set in between the breakwaters, but all was sung till about ten minutes past five this morning. The sea setting in from between the breakwater most seveiely affects the Steamers’ and the No. 3 Wharf. At the latter, nearest the Breakwater, were lying the Adclphoi barque next the wharf, with the W. 0. Wentworth barque moored outside, and the brigantine Omaha outside her again ; both were bow to sea. The Enterprise brigantine had been hauled out from the breastwork, and was anchored well clear of the wharf, head to sea. At the time mentioned, viz,, about 5.10 a.m., the breastlines which kept the W. 0. Wentworth in her place parteri, and her bow swung towards the Breastwork, carrying the Omaha with her. The latter vessel’s anchor fouled the Enterprise, and her moorings carrying away the three vessels were jammed in on to the breastwork. The Enterprise being inside, of the Omaha suffered the most damage, her stern was partially crushed, and three of her starboard planks sprung. She swung broadside on to the wharf, where her bulwarks were very considerably damaged. The Omaha escaped pretty easily, her bulwarks and two or three stancheons being the only things damaged, but the W. C. Wentworth came stern on to the Breastwork, and, for hours, kept grinding against it. Her stern frame was ground to powder, and her rudder-post broken. Abou; 9.30 a.m. the p.s. Titan got fast to the Omaha, and hauled her clear to a safe anchorage between the Gladstone Pier and the S earners’ Wharf. Unfortunately the steamer fouled a spring, which prevented her returning to take out the Euterdrise. However, Pilot Reid got out a line to a buoy, there were plenty of willing hands, and the wind having moderated a little, the vessel was hauled out to a secure berth alongside the Steamers’ Wharf. By means of another line to the buoy the W. 0. Wentworth was soon clear of the wharf. The damage done to the Enterprise will, Captain Mundlo, her master, thinks, take at least £2OO or more to make good, and as the W. C. Wentworth will require a new stern frame and rudder post, besides other repairs, no doubt an equal or greater sum will have to be expended on her. The damage done to the Omaha was comparatively slight. The Enterprise and Omaha were insured, but we were unable to ascertain any particulars regarding the W. C. Wentworth.