ACCIDENT TO H.M S. EUPHRATES.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1793, 19 November 1879, Page 3

ACCIDENT TO H.M S. EUPHRATES.

Interne excitement prevailed in Portsmouth 1 on the evening of September 24th, in consequence of a rumour that the Euphrates had been capsized as she was being got out of dock. Happily the report was an exaggeration, for although an accident occurred to the huge trooper, the officials acted with becoming promptitude, and all risk to the ship was averted. It will be however for the naval authorities to consider whether this occurrence does not point to a danger arising from the system of letting the water ballast from the double bottoms of ships when docked, and not admitting it again before they are floated. It is unquestionably the fact that the big ship was somewhat top-heavy, for, while there was no water ballast or coal on board, the provisions for the voyage were being shipped, and there was a considerable quantity of cargo on deck at the time of the accident, which occurred thus: —The water had been let into the dock, and it had got sufficiently high to lift the ship; all was going well, when a squall from the south-west set in, and, striking the hull with a trimemdous force, took her over to port, a distance of about fifteen degrees. The sudden movement naturally caused great alarm, as it was feared that she would strike the side of the dock, but there was no panic either on board the ship or by the dock side, and as tho heel did not increase tho apprehensions of the officials were somewhat relieved. Messages were at once despatched to the Com-mander-in-Chief and tho Chief Constructor, and Admiral Fanshawo and Mr W. B. Eobinson and other officials promptly put in an appearance, and the orders given wore carried were carried out with tho utmost speed. Mr Farrell, the master rigger, had a guy affixed to the mainmast to assist in righting the vessel, and orders were given to let the water into the double bottom, but still tho list did not did not perceptibly lessen as tho trooper was floated out of dock : but as tho weight of water increased, she gradually righted herself, and was got alongside a jetty contiguous to ■the dock. It was more than two hours from the time the ship wag struck by the squall • before she had entirely righted herself. It is thought that she has not sustained serious damage of any kind, and that it will be unnecessary to redock her, but a careful examination will bo made.