Ketch in Peril.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1921, Page 1

Ketch in Peril.

SYDNEY, July 23. After a remarkably perilous experience of the storm the auiliary ketch Maseotte was picked up oil' North Head in distress curly yesterday morning, and escorted into Broken! Bay by the North ('oast Company’s steamer Yulgilbar. The Maseotte is a vessel of 248 tons displacement, and was bound from Raboul to Sydney. By arrangement sh* was picked up off Tacking Point at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday by the Yulgill,a.r, and taken in town for Sydney. At about 6.15 p.m. <yi Thursday when the vessels were five miles south of Nornh Head, a fierce south-easterly squall was met with, accompanied tiy rough seas. The Mascotte’s towline carried away. Another line, a heavy steel hawser—'was got aboard, but almost immediately it too parted, and in doiTi£ so portion of it became entnnglcd with the starboard propeller of the Yulgilbar, and fouled it. The Yulgilbar was now in serious danger, and the master was compelled to abandon the Maseotte in the teeth of the storm and make for shelter. By steaming against his helm with his port engine he manneed to run into Broken Bay, where ho was aWe to get clear of the tangled

hawser. The storm during the night increased in violence, and the Maseotte was blown to the north, dangerously near the Tnggerah Reef. By the skilful use of his engine and sails the captain of the ketch managed to keep his vessel head on to the sea but could not-get Out of his perilous position,' and the

captain sent up distress signals. Tncse were sighted by the Yulgilbar, hut she was unable to render any immediate assistance. The work of clearing the propeller, however, was hastened, and at an early hour on Friday morning f.ie propeller was freed, and the steamer put to Sea, picking up the ketch at about 7 a.m., and escorting her to a safe anchorage in Broken Bay. The distress signals of the Maseotte were also seen by the lighthouse-keepei at Bnrranjoey. Ho communicated with the signal station at Smith Head, who ordered the Pilot steamer Captain Cook to steam to the scene. The Captain Cook left with great promptitude, hut by the time she arrived in the vicinity the Maseotte had been picked up by the ATilgilbar.