THE FOURTH OFFICER'S NARRATIVE.

Manawatu Herald, 22 June 1899, Page 2

THE FOURTH OFFICER'S NARRATIVE.

The fourth officer (Mr W. H. Smith) kept a private log. It furnishes an excellent account of the experiences of the Perthshire. From Mr Smith's log it appears the vessel met with a heavy southerly gale after leaving Sydney. When it subsided it left a heavy sea, in which the ship laboured. When the vessel broke down a boat was lowered, containing the chief officer and the engineer. An inspection showed that the propeller was lying against the rudder-post. The night was dark, and the sea was high and confused, and nothing could be done with safety ; so all sail was bent and set to a southerly wind. At dayftreak the next morning a boat was Again lowered, and the propeller was with fmich difficulty securely lashed; Jt: ' -'. : _ ; .\ Every effort was next made to get the vessel into the track of passing steamers, but the vessel had no steerage. A powerful searchlight was rigged, but the efforts made to reach the track j^ of vessels were ..disheartening. No sooner would the steamer gain a trifle than the wind would shift to another quarter. Even the most patient of those on board were now becoming irritable, and matters were getting worse and worse. On May 6th the gale increased, and the vessel laboured heavily, rolling in the trough of the sea. After nine days' blowing about it was found that the vessel was only nine miles to the northward of her first « position. On May 7th hope once moire dawned as the gale moderated an 4 enabled the Perthshire to maHe toMy-seven miles to the north and east. '■-.■ In proportion as. she went "to. the north the spfrita of thbge eta board revived, and they began to answer ««ie another more civilly, and to look %6S miserable. ■„... On the 10th May the vessel was just six miles jo the southward of thte track, and when she got on the track every effort was made to ke£p there. The Captain" rigged a; dp&g over the starboard quafrter, but that failed to get. the vessel round. Those \ on., board were continually tortured with the knowledge that the vessel was^ drifting across the track, and getting further away. On the 1 3th there, vjas'great excitement on board when a sail was sighted. It turned out to be the Whangaroa, and the little schooner stopped by the Perthshire all night. Then, after the Whangaroa left us aga\n in solitude, all attempts to get the ship round Failed! 'Up' to this point the average drift was seventeen miles daily to the north and east. On the 1.7 th.. May another; gale was experienced. It caused the chain lashing of the propeller on the. port side to carry away. Rewind was still northerly, and the vessel was now nearing the Auckland track, and hope was renewed, and everyone on board nursed the hope that the Perth- J. shire would be picked up for a "^ certainty. On the Queen's Birthday the ■.■■cmw and passengers did not forget to wish her Majesty ..many more years of happiness and i peaceful entry into the next world when the time should come. The next day found the vessel thirty miles from the track, and a sail in sight. AH hopes were damptsd on finding that it was not a steamer. Then, -J»r after sending . messages; the "Northern Chief left us alone once more. Next day they had crossed the track, and the potatoes had run out ; so had the yeast, but the bread was made by utilising stout in some mysterious manner; but the bread was black and scarcely palatable, and weighed twioe as heavy as the ordinary bread. The Perthshire kept sending off rockets at night, while in the track. On the 27th May she was sixty miles north- :> ward of the track, and had drifted 926 miles since the breakdown. On tfye 31st the captain decided, as the vessel was drifting amongst islands, that something must be done to repair the damage.- On June Ist a terrific

southerly gale was experienced, and the vessel drifted seventy-three miles that day. The Perthshire was now 150 miles southward and westward of the Norfolk Islands. As the gale moderated, the engineers commenced their hazardous work on the stern tube, which owing to the fineness of the vessel at this part, was extremely difficult. On June sth the weather was fine, and a stage was er*cted round the propeller. The men riarrowly escaped being washed off the staging. They managed, however, to get packing round the shaft and got the propeller into position. Then the Verajean hove in sight. On the Bth all looked forward to a great trial of the propeller for then the coupling had been successfully placed. On the nth the engines were started, and the vessel had covered 100 miles when the Talune was sighted. The great question arose as to whether they should now accept assistance. Captain Wallace went on board the Talune, and instructions were shortly afterwards signalled from the Talune to prepare to tow. The Talune nearly missed the Perthshire, and if the Talune had been an hour latter the Shire liner would have steamed on her- course to Sydney. i