SCOWS PERILOUS TRIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1918, Page 4

SCOWS PERILOUS TRIP.

SIXTY-THREE DATS FROM . NEW ZEALAND. Sydney, August 15 The scow Cathkit, with a big cargo of white pine, left Auckland for" Sydney on June 10th. She arrived in port on Monday, after a voyage of no less than 63 days. She shows signs of having been badly battered.

She met: trouble right at the beginning. For 24 hours, an easterly gale prevented her from making any progress. Again, on June 14th and 15th, head winds prevented any progress, and on June qth another gale compelled the captain to order the anchors out, at the end of 75 fathoms of chain. Great seas broke continually over the little vessel.

On June 24th, she was not far from the Auckland coast, and a boat was sent ashore for provisions. On the following day, another attempt was made to resume the voyage, but by the 28th another gale had developed, and the waves were breaking right over the cargo, piled 3 feet above the deck. The pumps were kept going constantly. Better weather came, and the Cathkit got clear of New Zealand and well out into the Tasman Sea. Lightning, rain, and wind came in a great storm on July 7UI, and the Cathkit was driven far out of her course. At one time she was 500 miles eastward of Norfolk Island. Seas continually swept the vessel and ship, lashings and cargo were badly strained. The crew worked heroically, and prevented the cargo going overboard.

August 6th was probably the worst day of all. The little ship had fought her way, mile by mile, towards Australia, and then there came another furious storm. About 4 o’clock in the morning, in pitch darkness, the ship struck some submerged object with a terrific crash, and almost stopped. Fortunately, the scow, though shaken, was not seriously damaged. The crew by means ol lamps tried to see what the vessel had struck, but nothing could be discerned in the mad and broken water. Shortly after, through the storm, they caught the first twinkle of Sugarloaf light, on the Australian coast. With daylight, the gale increased, and one tremendous sea, hitting the vessel, moved the deck cargo, although it was held down with heavy chains. Matters appeared desperate, and, to give the vessel a chance, Captain Munns ordered that oil bags should be thrown over to windward. Fish-oil, engine-oil and paint-oil were used, and the seas were calmed somewhat, allowing the scow to ride out the worst of the gale. A lot of floating planks were noticed in the vicinity, and

probably were connected in some way with the submerged object struck by the scow. Another week was spent in laboriously beating up towards Sydney. It was not till Sunday that the struggling little vessel was descried from the Heads. A tug went out and took her in tow in the early hours of Monday. There was a big growth of sea grass on the vessel, and even the cargo, for about four feet from the deck, was green. The second mate is Mr P. J. Ewing, who had been three years minesweeping in the North Sea. His vessel was blown up, and he was badly wounded, and advised to go to New Zealand to recuperate. New Zealand was too cold, and lie shipped on the scow in order to get to Australia. Fie says, laconically, that he does not propose remaining with the vessel.