“S.O.S.”

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1926, Page 3

“ 5.0.5.”

BRITISH STEAMER ANSWERS. TOWEI) SAFELY TO PORT. FINE FEAT OK SEAMANSHIP. With her propeller gone, the German steamer Adolph I.eonhardt was helpless, and lay wallowing in a hard nor’-nor’-west gale -off the Atlantic coast of America. Such was her predicament when she was picked up and towed to safety by the British steamer City of Batavia, which arrived at Auckland the other day.

Laden with case oil and general cargo, the City of Batavia, which had only a short time previously completed repairs after a very heavy buffeting during a voyage from Africa, to America. sailed from New 5 ork on .March 11 tli. bound for New Zealand, via Panama. Soon she was meeting the full force of a hard nor’-nor’-west gale, and was dancing about in lively fashion. •• I WANT ASSISTANCE.” On the morning of the following day the radio operator on the City ol Batavia picked up a wireless message from a disabled steamer, slating that -he was the Adolph I.eonhardt and was in urgent need ol assistance. The foreigner gave her position, and the British steamer was soon making full speed to the rescue. The weather at this time was very stormy, and the City of Batavia encountered mountainous seas. On arrival at the position given by tile foreigner, she could see nothing ot a vessel in distress. Then began a long and tiring search, the steamer cruising about at reduced speed. The hunt was continued throughout tbo afternoon of the 1 —ll i. and about seven o’clock in the evening the British’s efforts were rewarded. tlie German freighter being sighted drilling at the mercy ol the storm. STOOD BY ALL NIGHT.

Although she had found the helpless freighter, the City of Batavia was prevented by the mountainous seas from rendering immediate assistance, and it was decided to stand by until the following day. While thus waiting ti.r a chance to commence salvage operations, the crew of the City of Batavia, learnt that the Adolph l.eonliardt, while en route from Genoa to New York with”" a mixed cargo, ineluding a large deck shipment of cork, had encountered very stormy weather, and during the worst of the blow on the nrevious evening bad lost her sin-

gle propeller. Tans crippled, the foreigner bad sent out S.O.S. calls and bad got in touch with several vessels. The City of Batavia bad been tbo nearest, however, and the fact that she was coining to render assistance had been reported to. the other vessels CAPTAIN’S finE SEAMANSHIP.

With the coming of the dawn, efforts were at once began to take the German steamer in tow. The wind was blowing very hard and big seas made the task a very dilfietilt one. It was now that Captain 11. E. Nirholla.-. master of the City of Batavia, displayed qualities of the finest seamanship. A lifeboat could not have lived in the heavy seas, and the task of getting a line aboard by means of a ship’s rocket, was considered itnpractihle. The one remaining method of

connecting the two steamers tuts by heavy the line by hand. Slowly the City of Batavia was brought up on the other steamer s leeside, and an elfort was made to throw a. slender line aboard, hut the distance separating the two vessel was too great and the line fell into tho sea. After this failure, the Britisher came

;ilimit and once ran as near as she dared to the rolling foreigner, but this ellort was without avail. A third attempt met with a similar result, but on the fourth occasion success rewarded the English crew’s efforts, and a light line was thrown on to the crippled

vessel's deck. Speaking of the rescue ibis niriruing. one (it the junior officers said that the feat of getting the line aboard was due solely to the splendid seamanship of the master. '1 he whole job had been accomplished under extreme difficulties, and at a considerable danger to both ships. BOTH VESSELS RUN BEFORE STORM.

Once the heaving line had been got on hoard a stout towing wire was pulled over and this was shackled to the Adolph Leouhardt’s anchor cable. Some seventy fathoms ol cable was then paid out from each ship with tlie result that approximately one hundred and forty fathoms separated the steamers. The wind vas now blowing a bowling gale, and lor nearly twentyfour hours the steamers were compelled to run before the storm. With the weather as il was. nothing could lie done until the conditions improved. BOUND FOB NORFOLK.

Finally on-the afternoon of March 14th. with the weather moderating, the steamers put about and headed in a north-westerly direction tor Norfolk, Virginia. The City of Batavia’s prize was a fully-loaded vessel ot about :>OOO tons net. and the rate of tow was little more than three knots per hour. Fortunately the weather continued to improve and the distance of two hundred and fifty miles to port was covered without further mishap, the steamers arriving in Hampton Roads. Norfolk, on the morning of .March 16th. With the Gorman freighter safely anchored, the City ol Batavia cast off her tow line. and. after a short stay to replenish her coal bunkers, resumed her voyage to New Zealand. The remainder of the trip to this port was completed without incident and the steamer arrived in Auckland harbour at a late hour at night, she was berthed at the Prince’s wharf.

For her services in towing the German steamer to a port oi safety, the City of Batavia, which is a unit of the Elionnan-Bucknnl 1 Bine of freighters, should reap a -handy sum in prize