A Steamer in Peril.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7837, 1 June 1905, Page 3

A Steamer in Peril.

THE TAIL-SHAFT BREAKS. SAVED J3Y A WATERMAN'S , SKIFF, A sensational incident occurred in Sydney Harbour on May 22, when tlio small siean ei' Magic, belonging to the lirm of liernard llynK's, Limited, narrowly vgcnped destrucuon oil the rocks at Oct «ye's -Head. It appeal's from statements made by those on board that the Magic was bound from Manly to Sydney, and that about a-quarter past six p.m., when in the vicinity of George's Head, the mil-:.haft suddenly snapped, and the vessel was rendered absolutely helpless. The engineer, who was below at the time of the accident, narrowly escaped with his life. When the fracture occurred, -he says, he was close to the shaft, and pieces of iron and wood flew in all directions with terrific force. One piece of iron passed within a few inches of his head, and had il struck Mm he must have met. with instantaneous death. When the Magic became disabled she was between 200 and 300 yards from the shore, and she commenced to drilt towards ilhe cliff*). 'ilhosc on board feared that the vessel would be dashed on the rocks before assistance arrived, and every minute the position, became more and more serious, With a view of securing aid the master of the Magic blew three loud blasts of his whistle, ;l "d he also attempted to make signals of distress! by jhoisljng a light. It is usual, when a vessel is in peril to (ire rockets or blue light, but evidently there were none on board, and the signals made by the Magic failed to attract tho attention of the authorities In tho meantime the little steamer continued to drift nearer and nearer to her doom, and those on board prepared to laumh the bout, should it be found necessary Fortunately a boatman named Thomas F a rrell happened to be in the vicinity at the time, and lie pulled over to the distressed vessel to oiler any assistance that might be in his power. Tho master of the Magic, realising the extreme danger of his position, requested the boatman to take him in tow and to keep the vessel from drifting on tp thp rocks until help arrived. Tp tow 3 steamship with a 1 Oft.. wuter-iunn's skjll' is IK) easy task. Nevertheless Farjell replied tlial he would <io his utmost to savp tho vessel, and a towlinu was passed aboard. For throe hours Farrell worked desperately at the oars, and inch by inch the disabled steamer came along until eventually the Magic.was taken by tho skiff alongside the Submarine Miners' Wharf at Chowder Uay.