NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER LILLIE DENHAM.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2309, 29 August 1881, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER LILLIE DENHAM.

(Sydney “ Evening News,” August 13th.) The small screw steamer Lillie Denham, 21 tons register, so well known in the harbor, has been recently sold to Messrs Least and Bradley, of Timarn, New Zealand, to do duty as a tug-boat at that port, and left Sydney last week for Newcastle, where she arrived all safe. After taking on board a cargo of coal, including about five tons of coal in bags on deck, she loft Newcastle for Timaru at 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon. She was under the command of Captain Greenwood, the chief officer being Mr J. Neas Keith, and the chief engineer Mr Least (part owner), Mr Bradley (another part owner) being also on board, and a couple of firemen—making a list of six in all. Captain Greenwood reports that after making about five hours’ excellent running under steam and sail, they met with very heavy weather and stiff south - east seas, during which, from constant plunging and heavy working (it is supposed) the vessel unexpectedly started to leak, and so quickly did the water make that it was found necessary to jettison the deck cargo. Before this could bo completed, however, leaking increased so rapidly that she was boat part of gunwale under and in momentary risk of filling and going down with all hands, all hope of saving her having been temporarily abandoned. Tfle engine fires were flooded ont, and the vessel became almost unmanageable. The hand pump was started, and baling carried on incessantly until about 3 a.m., when the engines were got somewhat under command, but no steam of any pressure could be a long time be got up owing to the coals in the bunkers being thoroughly drenched with salt water, and hence little headway was made until about 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Wore ship, and stood in for the land under sail as tho only chance of safety, about 11 a.m., but failed to make it, tho wind being off tho land. Whilst attending to tho sails, the chief officer, Mr J. Ness Keith, had tho muscles of his right hand badly stretched and broken. When in the act of boating ship tho main sheet was carried away, and in his endeavors to hold to the broken end, tho flapping sail jerked tho limb so severely as to incapacitate his arm. Mr Keith, it may be mentioned, stuck well to bis post, remaining on duty at the wheel for eighteen hours and n half without relief, savo_ for a few moments when taking refreshment in a cup of coffee. The craft eventually sighted Boadbead, and reached Newcastle harbor about eleven o’clock on Tuesday.