TOWED 2500 MILES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 7, 26 August 1914, Page 3

TOWED 2500 MILES.

DISABLED CAIRNHILL IN PORT.

Hanging on to a tow-line 120 fathoms in length, with 30 fathoms of cable attached (states the Sydney Daily Telegraph of Monday, 17th inst), the disabled steamer Cairnhill was brought into port yesterday by the A.U.S.N. Company's tug Coringa. Ihe towage feat is a record, covering a distance of 2500 miles—from New Ireland, in the Bismarck Archieplago—and offers a good idea of the capabilities of the Queensland toug. The Coringa is of 118 tons. She is quite a new vessel, and was specially imported by the A.U.S.N. Company for service at Brisbane, being built on the Clyde. Captain Karsten has command of the tug, and he is very pleased with her performance. It was, he states, a most anxious time, but having a good tug under him he has enabled to successfully carry out the work, although the conditions of weather at times were trying in the extreme. The contract price for the tow is stated to be £SOOO. THE TAIL SHAFT CARRIED AWAY The Cairnhill, it will be remembered, broke down on March 31 last, while on a. voyage from Nauru to Stettin, witli 7100 tons of phosphates on noard. The tail shaft had carried away, leaving the vessel totally disabled. All efforts to get the vessel into an island port failed, and Captain Moodie decided to send 34 of the crew away in boats to seek assistance. The crew left on April 9, and Captain Moodie and four of the crew continued to drift with the Cairnhill in all directions. TEMPORARY REPAIRS.

Temporary paddlewheels had been rigged, but they were unable to do much with them. The Cairnhill drifted east, south, south-east, west, and north-west. During the early stages of the drift the vessel was well away from land. There was sufficient food on board to last the five men for several months. The position, however, appeared hopeless, as the vessel was well away from the ordinary routes of deepsea steamers. The plight of those on board grew more hopeless as each day passed, and the big steamer continued to drift further and further away to the eastward. As the days dragged slowly by the disabled steamer was carried back in the direction of land—mostly uninhabited islands, which presented new terrors. LOOK OUT DAY AND NIGHT.

A special lookout was maintained day and night. On May 13 the Cairnhill had a narrow escape by drifting straight towards Fisher Island, the wind carrying the steamer dangerously near a reef. The wind fortunately changed and took the Cairnhill clear. One paddle had broken the day before. The Cairnhill on May 17 sighted smoke from a steamer, but the vessel passed out of sight. Two days later the Cairnhill drifted fairly close te-'flie' coast'of 'New Mecklenberg.'''' A European hotuse ; was seen; and Ca'ptain iVloodie, launching* boat, weh'i ashore. Assistance i wag subsequently* 'secured fram two small island ' steamers, and on Jiune 27, last the Coringa' deft Brisbane to tow; the steamear to 'Sydney for,repairs.' | ~.,. [\y-\ ■ /■■■■■'■"'■ THE TOW WAS STARTED ON JULY 9.

It was decided to shape a course so as to bring the vessel to the Australian coast through Grafton Passage, off Cairns. Fier.ce and strong south-south-west winds and head seas were experienced all the way to»the Deborne Group, where the vessels anchored. The heavy weather, together with the foul condition of the bottom of the Cairnhill reduced the average speed of the tow to 2.8 knots per hour. At Deboyne Lagoon coal supplies were obtained by the tug from the Cairnhill, and the tow was then resumed. The two vessels proceeded through the Jombard entrance, and across to Grafton Passage. An average speed of 4 knots was made from Deboyne Islands to the coast, the wind being south-east. Anchorage was sought off Magnetic, and thence the tow was resumed, a call being made at Brisbane en route to Sydney.