TERRIBLE TRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1933, Page 6

TERRIBLE TRIP

SHIP’S BATTLE WITH A GALE

TWO DAYS AT THE PUMPS.

BRIDLINGTON, February 21

A thrilling story of how a crew worked the ship’s pump and baling apparatus ceaseless for two days and nights, while the water in the hold gained on them an inch an hour during a terrific gale, was told to-day when the Belfast steamer Tory Island reached Bridlington Harbour with a list of 45. degrees and in a sinking condition. She, was bound from Ipswich to Tyne with water ballast, and wps found in the bay to-day by two Bridlington fishing smacks, the crews of which boarded her and helped the exhausted crew to bale out the water to enable her to reach harbour.

Captain D. MacLeod, of Aberdeen, told the story when lie came ashore. He said:

“Shortly after we left Tpswieh on Friclav night for Tyne the weather became had and then worse, with heavy snow and a squally wind which veered from north-west to east, blowing harder ana harder. W r e had to face mountainous s n<, x, which swept us from all sides. When near Newarn Light we spramr a leak, so made for Yarmouth Ronds. The gale had increased when we left there on Sunday morning.

“The entire crew had been working all rmht with the pmnns going at top pressure, but the gale battered us. and the water wn« gaining at the rate of

an ’"<di an hour. “We met terrific seas and fierce snow squalls, with the wind coming from r>vnry northern point of the compass. This caused heavy waves from all sides, which knocked us about. The storm never moderated, and we decided to frv to reach Bridlington harbour. Night and d-iv we kent the nomns working, and we had to start bailing out, hut the water still gained and the list whmh began in the gale increased dangerously, and we were down at the stern When off Smethwick Sands, in Bridlington Bav, we were met by two fishing boats, and their crews boarded us.”