IN THE STORM'S GRIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1920, Page 5

IN THE STORM'S GRIP.

VESSEL'S PERILOUS VOYAGE. STEERING GEAR BREAKS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . _, _ Christchurch, Last Night. The Waitomo, which arrived at Lyttelton from Geelong to-day, had an exciting trip. At midnight on Thursday last, when a fierce south-south-west gale was blowing and a heavy sea running, the battens on No. 2 hatch broke adrift, and were replaced with difficulty. At 2.30 p.m. on Friday the steering'chain broke ana the vessel fell away in a trough of the sea. All hands were employed in lashing down the rudder quadrant,' which was threshing madly to and fro, which task was eventually accomplished. An attempt was then made to ship hand-steering gear, and while this was in progress the lashings on the quadrant carried away, and the connecting wa« of tho hand-steering gear broke, for three hours, in pitch darkness, the deck and engineer officers struggled to splice the chain with a piece of steel hnwser. The vessel was rolling heavily, and Uib men were working waist deep in water. Frequently they had to drop their tools and hang on when the waves broke on board. Ultimately the splicing v.as completed, and the vessel got under tvsy again. On Saturday morning the pounding of Our-seas caused Xo. 2 hatch to again burst open, but it was battened down without loss of time. The weather cleared considerably on Sunday, and the VVaitomo had a fair run down to Lytte.ton. In all she travelled 70ft miles with * patched up rudder chain. 500 of which through a raging gale, the chain hav.ng to be nursed with great care She lias 50.000 sacks of wheat to discharge at Lyttelton, and 20,000 packs for Tiißcru.