EXCITING MOTORSHIP RACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1921, Page 1

EXCITING MOTORSHIP RACE.

SAVED 120,000-1)01.I/All CHARTER

VA X C() UV KR Fchrna ry

One of the most interesting races witnessed on the Pacific for some years was that which was successfully completed hv the British Columbia Marine Engineering and Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, and the Danish motorship Siam. The prize was a charter of a cargo of bulk grain that would yield about 120,000 dollars gross to the ship, and was well worth striving for in these days of light freights. Some time ago the East Asiatic Company took a charter to carry .5500 tons of hulk grain from Vancouver to Europe, and agreed to have the ship on berth and loading by midnight of February loth., and there was plenty of time, because the ship on her ordinary schedule would reach Vancouver with about a fortnight to spare. Accordingly matters went along in Hie usual way and freights dropped lower and lower, hut the Siam was not hurrying! for her charter was safe.

Then the old Atlantic kicked up a fuss, caught the Siam and twisted her until a couple of rivets broke off and let water into the hold. This would he poor for carrying grain, so she went into dry dock at Colon, on route to Vancouver via the Panama. Ihe repair job took longer than was thought, and the operators of the vessel awoke at last to the serious fact that the charter was imperilled. The ship could not reach Vancouver by February 13th, at the best.

Now, in the last two months there has arisen among operators of ships who loaded bulk grain at the Vancouver Government elevators a complaint that it required much time to lit ships with shifting hoards in the Vancouver harbour.' Mr luucs Hopkins, ol the 13. C. Marine, was’called in, when it was discerned that there was a chance t.iat tlie Siam might he further delayed in loading. He engaged a skilled foreman, colluded a gang of sixty-five carpenters arranged with the I’nited States immigration authorities for uninterrupted travel to San Francisco, and shippel lii> living squadron of 'Knight of the hammer" to Seattle, thence by i In' fact Pacific Coast S.S. liner President to tiie California port. The Siam was coming up the coast from Panama. The carpenters played "rummy ’ and poker and crihhage. talked politics, enjoyed the scenery and the ocean voyage. and drew wages all the time. They reached the Golden Cate of San FramisLo harbour he!ore the Siam looked over the city, siill under wages and on Friday. February 11th., they hoarded the sli ip after she Tad slipped through the Golden Cate, donned their overalls, unlimbcred hammers and saws took lumber ami timber aboard, and started the merry time of the saw and tlie nail. Then tlie ship, with the sixty-five carpenters making turmoil in Ter hold, turned northward again and lied at the full drive of her bronze flukes. The olficers prayed for fair weather, for they needed spoon! to reach I ancoiivcr and they also felt the landsmen carpenters would not he able to maintain their pace" should sen-sick ness grip them.

Storms had been raging on the Pacific Coast for several days, hut .fortune sent them sunny days, moonlight nig.its and smooth waters. They arrived on Sunday, February 13th., but only with two hatches completed, and three yet to finish. Monday morning there was hr that the vessel would not be ready in time even with tlie extra efforts put forth by tic B.C. Marine gangs, hut on the fateful morning of February loth. Mr Hopkins announced definitely that his men had won the race and the ship would be under the grain spouts, ready and waiting, some time in the afternoon.

He was as good as his word, and the Siam commenced loading a few minutes before the expiration of the ship s e.mitered time.

The grain was hurriedly loaded into the big motor-ship and speeded out of Vancouver harbour on its way to England.