A ROUGH VOYAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1928, Page 1

A ROUGH VOYAGE

TRIP OF THE IS.S. MAUD. The s.s. Mad recently purchased by Mr J. Cuttanee, of Hokitika, iiad n very rough experience on the way from Wellington to Westport, as the following “log” will convey:— On April 7th left Wellington at 2 p.m. under steam with fair wind N.W. down the harbour. Cleared Wellington Harbour at 3.15 p.m., was off ICarori Rock light at 4.30 p.m. ; passed Cape Terawhiti at 5.30 p.m.. With Brothers Light showing in the distance about 30 miles away, hearing N.W. As we were making fair progress against wind and sea decided to steer for the light which was tlie direct course to the French' Pass. Owing Lo the wind and sea increasing causing the launch to ship n considerable quantity of water which reduced our speed to about two miles per hour, we altered our course and made for Tory Channel which was about 12 miles away under our lee. On sth April entered Tory Channel at 10.30 a.me and anchored inside the entrance fill 1 p.m.. when ns the wind seemed to have fallen, decided to make for Queen Charlotte Sound, which we reached at 0 p.m. and anchored in Gilbert Buy. On April Bth (Easter Sunday) as our coal and water was getting low, decided to make lor Pieton to got a fresh supply, but as we did not leave the anchorage till 3 p.m. and f.lie night being very stormy with heavy rain, anchored about 8 miles from Pieton opposite Tory ( haiinol at the entrance lo the Sound.

On April fUh (Faster Monday) got ip) steam and left our anchorage al 8.30 a.in. arriving at Pieton at 10 a.in., and found n large number of settlers and others Irom the surrounding district had mustered to witness the annual regatta for speed launches. etc.

Owing to the kindness of the master of the s.s. Gan net wo succeeded in getting coal, water, elf., leaving for our old anchorage. Gilbert l,a\ at ;> p. ln . and arriving there at 0 p.m. On April 10th left iineh'orage at 7.3(1 a.ill. for 'French Pass, about 28 miles away, only to arrive too lale to got through ns the tide had turned and the signal was up against entering the Pass. Anchored oil' Small Wharf on the south-east side ol the Pass, where .here is a store and post office which enabled us to report our arrival.

On April llth left anchorage at 9.30 a.in., entered French Pass at 10 a.in. with a seven knot tide in our favour. Arrived off Hie Croi.selles at 11 a.lit. and came lo an anchorage to clear bilge pump which had got blocked with coni. Left again for Nelson at 3 p.m., arriving there at 7.30 p.m.

On April 12th at Nelson took in fresh supply of coal, water, etc., hut as the weather was very unsettled with a strong N.AA'. wind and heavy sea decided to wait for more lavuiirnble conditions.

Remained n't Nelson from the 13th to the 20th. tho weather being stormy and a heavy sea running. Did not leave anchorage as it was impossible to get round Farewell Spit, owing to the N.AA'. and S.W. gales.

On April 21st got up steam at 7.30 a.pi. hut as the wind had increased to half a gale from the S.AA'. did uni leave the wharf for Separation Point til! 2 p.m., hut owing to a hot hearing in the crank shaft, did not arrive at anchorage till G. 30 p.m.

On April 22nd as the weather conditions had not improved and the wind was still S.AA'. with no sign of improvement, decided to return to Nelson and arrange with the Anchor Coy. to tow the launch to AYestporl. IfiO miles away, arriving in port at 1.30

On April 23rd having arranged with the Anchor Coy. to tow the launch to AA’estport left wharf at 11 p.m. in tow bv the s.s. Alexander, in charge of Captain McLeodT All went well tiili about 3.30 p.m. when the wind S.AA'. had freshened to a half gale with a short choppy sea running, causing the launch to ship a lot of water, as the s.s. Alexander was tra-

velling through the water from 7 to 8 miles per hour. As the morning broke, matters became worse and the launch hail become a semi-submarine and at times r thought our wheel house would he swept overboard. As there was no appearance ot any improvement I Idd to signal by whistle for the steamer to slow down, otherwise the launch would ho swamped or towed under. Captain McLeod answered our signal and slowed down to hall speed giving ns a chance to start the engine and pump the water out of the engine room and bilges. As tlie sea was still very heavy, we eouid not replace our stove, which had been washed out of its fastenings. Tho result was we could not get any fire to boil our kettle till tlie following day at AAestpprt. As th< day wore on the s.s. Alexander kepi vis in low at half speed, hut through the wind and sea increasing. our

launch was again converted into

semi-submarine hut being anxious to reach AA'estport did not wish to cause , any delay, recognising that Captain McLeod was doing the host he could , under the circumstances. As the night closed, the wind had veered in the N.AA’. and had increased to a gale bringing up a heavy cross sea and what water the launch did.not take over the hows she toolover the stern, filling our dingy and emptying it again. T may state Hie dingy was lashed on top of the deckhouse or cabin. About 1.30 a.m._ (liter ‘being at the wheel for fifteen hours. AA'. Smith' relieved me. My other mate Charlie Foxernfr who had assisted all through the night and Jav took his tun. at stoking, as steam had to he leapt up for signaling to the steamer. T had just managed to reach tie cabin and close the scuttle to keep the water out, when an extra heavy sea struck tho launch' on the broadside throwing her on her beam ends, till her rails were under water, was.ii„g everything that was loose overboard. As I did not think the launch could recover I made an attempt to open the scuttle to get out lnt found the dingy had been shifted ti.l it rested on top of the cabin jamming the scuttle so that I could not move it, and owing to the crash of t.ie seas on dock and the roar of the stoim I could not make my mates hear me. 1 was kept a prisoner for over an hour, till the boat bad been washed back ami in to its first position wmch enabled me to get out on deck before the next sea washed her back ; ’Trelieved AY. Smith to enable him to go and pump out the water which had found its way between decks. Ho reported later there was iom inches of water over the foot plates in the engine room which endange.

our tire, if not causing an explosion of the boiler.

As we were travelling between live and six miles per hour our launch a gnu 'beenmo a .submarine and 1 olten held my breath when I could see thcliigh wall 5f water ahead of us, thinking our time had come, as it seemed impossible for the launch to recover in time to meet the oncoming wave towering above us. AA’hon the launch succeeded in mounting the crest ol the ware before we descended into darkness again, the head light of the Alexander used to show out bright through the gloom, bringing us a ray of hope and a thankful feeling that we were still afloat and to hope that God would hear our prayers.

Just as daylight was breaking our port towline parted, causing our launch to sheer bodily to port, but luckily our rudder chains held her till we were able to signal by whistle, “Ease ii]), port towline parted.” After some difficulty the towline was adjusted and a fresh start was made for Westport under reduced speed, as only one part of the towline could be used on the starboard side.

AA'c readied Westport roadstead about 11 a.m. and after a lot of flag waving between steamer and signal station Captain Aid.cod told me he did not think he could tow us in on account of the heavy sen* and run in the river. We had the choice of standing out to sen under our own power, or to take the bar. AA c decided to stand in for the bar and risk having to hack out if there was too much run in the river to steam against. Luckily we succeeded in crossing the bar and came to anchor in the basin at 3.30 p.m. bringing to a close one of the most exciting trips ever made by launch on the West Coast.

Although there were at time considerable risk and danger, there were many compensations in viewing now scenery and places; not forgetting the many kindnesses we received at tin different ports of call. Often the dilfcrent members pi the crew came in for a lot of questioning and chaff as the following Will show:—

One of the. early resident of Hokitika now residing in AA'ellingtoii. wanted to know if if was not necessary to stop the engine when we wanted to sound the. whistle, as it would he impossible to find steam lor both; and again the same gentleman aftei getting a list of provisions carried by the launch, recommended a bucket ol straws to go with the s<>lbs of Hour. Again the crew fell in by asking why a bucket of straws and was told to reinforce the scones or bread as it would make them tougher and last longer.

In conclusion the launch is now anchored in the AYostport basin, none the worse for the buffeting she received mul only waiting lair weathei to make a fresh start to complete our trip to Hokitika to try her luck on the fishing grounds olf the Const, with every hope to supply a long felt want to Use Hokitika residents.—Cheerio.