ACCIDENT TO H.M.S. EUPHRATES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 28, 28 November 1879, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO H.M.S. EUPHRATES.

Intense excitement prevailed in Portsmouth on the evening of September 24th, in consequent} of a rumour that the Euphrates had been capsized as she was being got out df dock. Happily the report waw an exaggeration, for although an acoidetft occurred to tho huge trooper, the officials acted with becoming promptitude, and all risk to the* ship was averted. It will be, however, for the navalauthoritiesto consider whether this occurrence does not point to a danger arising from the system of letting the water ballast from the double bottoms of ships when docked, and not admitting it again before they are floated. It is unquestionably the fact that the big ship was somewhat top-heavy, for, while there ivas no water ballast or coal on board, the provisions for the voyage were being shipped, and there was a considerable quantity of cargo on deck at the time of the accident, whioh occurred thus :— The water had been let into the dock, and it had got sufficiently high to lift the ship ; all was going well, when a squall from the south-west set in, and, strikiug tho hull with a tremendous force, took her over to port a distance of about fifteen degrees. The sudden movement naturally caused great alarm, a« it was feared that she would strike the side of the dock, but there was no panic either on board the ship or by the dock side, and as the heel did not increase the apprehensions of the officials were somewhat relieved. Messages were at once despatched to the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief Constructor, and Admiral Fanphawe and Mr W. B. Robinson and other officials promptly put iD an appearance, and the orders given were carried out with the utmost speed. Mr Farrell, the master rigger, had a guy affixed to tho mainmast to assist in righting the vessel, and orders were given to lot the water into the double botton, but still tho list did not perceptibly lessen as the trooper was floated out of dock : but as the weight of water increased she gradually righted herself, and was got alongside a jetty contiguous to tho dock. It was more than two hours from the time the ship was struck by the squall before she righted herself. It is thought that Bbc has not sustained serious damage of any kind, and that it will be unnecessary to redock her, but a careful examination will be made.