THE DISABLED WHANGAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 240, 3 October 1908, Page 2

THE DISABLED WHANGAPE.

7PICKED t!L ! NEAK LAUTOKA. DiUFTINU ON TO A REEF. A NARROW ESCAPE. By Telegraph.--Press Association. ~ . Suva, October 2. Illi: Tolua is returning with the disabled \\ hangape in toiv. S m, », Ust Night. 11m 'iuiiiii picked up the Whangape oil Lautoka passage last night. The \yi|fnngapc was firing rockets at the time. Temporary repairs were being eil'ected, but she was drifting oil to a reef. The mishap wcuiTed un the 18th. A hawser was passed round her propeller. The heavy swell retarded the work. Tile gliip, which was in ballast, rolled continually, anil drifted to the northwest. On the HUI) September she was 201 miles from Mount Washington; on the iWth, 14S; on tlie 21st, 88. When t'ie bout lelt on the --ml she was 3.3 miles away Irom .Mount Washington, and on the 23rd 2o miles.

The propeller was useless. The lifebnat s were provisioned anil .*■ cluster of electric lights placet! on Ihe masts, rockets being sent up as well. She was drifting westward on the 24th. the depth of ivater being HI: ia thorns. \\ iicn U5 miles oil' .Mount Washington the engines were still unsuccessful. On (he 2.5 th a second anchor was.lowered. The bout was then i2 miles oil' Mount Washington. On the ftitli land was observed ahead anil a steamer sighted. The shaft, was then reset and the sails .placed in position. On the 2gJi the vessel was 57 miles from Xavnla passage. The engines were working, the sea anchors being cast oIT. On the 2!) th the headway was but I % knoi,s, the shaft slipping. She was 30 miles from Navula on llie 30th, but the wi'id increased, and the captain was afraid to attempt the passage. On the Ist instant her position, was unchanged, but at 5 p.m. the speed was 3'/ a knots. When two miles from Nnvula the Tofnn was observed. This was at fi o'clock. A hawser was fixed at midnight. All oil board the Whangapo are well. There were six months' provisions on board, besides 22 sheep.