WARSHIP TO TRAMP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 563, 16 January 1929, Page 1

WARSHIP TO TRAMP

FORMER PRIDE OF * RUSSIAN FLEET KILCREDANE IN PORT Once the pride of the Russian Volunteer Fleet, now a humble but dignified tramp steamer . . . That briefly is the history of the Kilcredane, which arrived at Auckland this morning with a cargo of Phosphates from Casablanca for discharge here and at Lyttelton. Originally the Kilcredane was litted up as an armed cruiser. In addition to troops, she carried 1,000 passengers tnd ran from Odessa, in the Black Sea, to Vladivostock and Petrograd. Jn those days she was known as the MogiitlT. and was beautifully appointed. The Russian Revolution ended her days as a ‘'passenger-cruiser,” and about six years ago she was purchased by the Limerick Steam Ship Company and turned into a tramp steamer to circle the waters of the globe with cargoes of phosphates, iron ore and the like. Captain F. Kirk, who has had command of the Kilcredane ever since she became a tramp, has seen some excitmg times on the vessel. On Saturday, September 13, last year, f an toto a terrible hurricane in the Florida Straits. One boat was washed overboard and three others stove in. "he bridge was smashed and washed awa Y by the force of the waves which dashed over her, and everything moveable went overboard into the mountainous seas. The force of the gale can be gauged from the fact that the wind v s biowat rate of 120 miles an hour, ihe following day the Kilcredane was •'0 miles from the centre of the huirij ane, but the next day the hurricane had swept round in its course, almost c-atching the vessel again. Captain b-irk changed his course and thus another terrible expedience. i lie Kilcredane left South Shields on November 1 for her pr nt voyage. . ® called at Genoa, hunkered there ■*nd reached Casablanca, Morocco, on November 23. A cargo of 7,700 tons of Phosphate was taken on board, and on November 27 she left on her long voyl ge to New Zealand, via the Panama Lanai. ri Be * ore the last voyage the Kilcreane was employed in tramping round he globe with cargoes of iron ore for Rotterdam and England. Last year •n® visited Australia, taking a load of rh al from Newcastle to Papeete. From mere she went to Makatea and took n a of phosphate for Sweden. rWu l is tlie ot tllis tramp, whose rr* kf once knew the heavy, measured Russian soldiers and The light f ter of aristocratic Russian ladies.