BARQUE’S REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 18, 20 January 1913, Page 8

BARQUE’S REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.

DISMASTED DURING ELECTRICAL STORM.

Strange things happen to those who go down to the sea in ships. This is forcibly illustrated the story told by the captain of the Peruvian barque Belfast, which was towed into Port Jackson, Sydney, in- distress. With the loss of her forctopmast, foretopgallant mast, and main royal mast, the Belfast was crippled during an electrical disturbance while crossing the Tasman Sea, and she has returned here for repairs, and to replace her compasses and chronometers, which were rendered useless by the strange happening. It was a thrilling experience for all hands. The Belfast presented a sorry spectacle as she was towed into port by the tug Champion, and she was the object of considerable interest at the anchorage off Double Bay (state's the Daily Telegraph). Of 1810 tons, the Belfast is a BHt-ish-huilt vessel, hut has been sailing under the Peruvian flag for some years. Most of the crew are foreigners. She loaded coal at Newcastle for Callao, and set out on her voyage on December 3. Fine weather and a fresh breeze favoured the vessel, and she made good progress across the Tasman Sea. She had got to within 300 or 400 miles of the Dominion coast, the wind being south-west, and all sail set.

“Suddenly,” said the captain, “on the night of December 15 we ran into an electrical storm, and at 11.30 p.m. there was a flash aloft like a blue light, and down came the masts. The flash passed over the mizzenmast, striking the main royal mast, then descended to the foremast, cutting everything away like a saw.” Some of the crew describe it as some meteoric phenomenon, but it is more than likely, in view of the prevailingconditions, that the barque was struck by lightning. The watch on deck for a time were in a state of panic, fearing the worst, but when the pumps were sounded and the vessel found to be tight their

anxiety was allayed. The sailors, however, would not work any more that night on account of the visitation, but in the morning the wreckage was secured and a survey made of the damage. The phenomenon had a damaging effect on the ship’, instruments. Captain Parajon, who was on the poop at the time, was dazzled by the display, and when a little later he went 1 to the compass on the poop he found | that the needle was spinning round and round. All the compasses—the ship carries three—were rendered useless, and so were the chronometers, and, taking into consideration the crippled state of the vessel, the captain decided to make for Sydney. For 12 hours after being dismasted the barque was in a howling gale from the south-east, and she knocked about considerably in rough sea that accompanied the storm. It is remarkable that though the wreckage fell with a crash on deck no one was injured. The captain made a report to the Consul on arrival, and a survey of the vessel will be field to-day. After repairs she will continue her voyage for Callao.