EXCITING EXPERIENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1919, Page 5

EXCITING EXPERIENCE.

STEAMER SHORT OP COAL. An exciting experience befel the Wellington Steamship Company's coastal steamer liaden i'owell, 174 tons, Captain Jackson, on her trip up from Lyttelton to Wellington on Sunday. The vessel encountered heaby weather and as her bunker coal became exhausted nearly all the avai ; able woodwork on Die boat was sacriliced in order to enable her to reach port. The Baden Powell left Lyttelton at "0.30 p.m. on Friday, and under ordinary circumstances should have reached Wellington on Saturday afternoon. When the vessel cleared the Lyttelton heads, however, she ran into a north-easterly gale witli a heavy head sea. Throughout Saturday the vessel fought her way against the gale, and progress was slow. Shortly after S o'clock Sunday morning, before reaching Cape Campbell, the bunker coal gave oik, so it became necessary to use whatever fuel could be obtained. A small wooden forward deckhouse was fed to the flames, followed by spare gear belonging to the lifeboats, all the fire bucket stands, the ship's gangway, vegetable locker, all the bunks and gear out of a spare room, a big wooden fender, and all available light wood about the ship. On Hearing the Wellington heads weather conditions greatly improved, otherwise the ship's hatches' would probably have been put in the furnace. It is thought likely that if the engines had stopped during the height of the gale the vessel would have broached to, and a disaster might have resulted, in line weather there would have been little cause for anxiety, as there were ample provisions aboard for the crew of ten. The Baden Powell had a full cargo of general jpierchudue for WeUujgtwfc