A WILD VOYAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1921, Page 2

A WILD VOYAGE.

Port auousta in gale. CREW’S LONG ORDEAL. One of the most battered vessels by the recent storm that raged along the coasts of Australia was the Port Augusta. This 7800-ton steamer left New York on September 22 with a mixed cargo for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Hobart, and Sydney. In all, her burden was 6895 tons, less than a third of which was consigned to Sydney. In the final stage of her voyage she rode high in the water. 'At daybreak on December 8 the Port Augusta steamed out of Hobart under favorable conditions—then she ran into the gale. For two and a-half days the vessel and her crew fought with the elements such as none of the crew had experienced. The sea was a fury and heavy rains extinguished visibility. Time and again the vessel was given up for lost; but, at the pinch, superb seamanship on the part of the skipper, Captain H. Hollis, beat off disaster. Mountainous seas tossed the steamer about as if she had been a cork. The cargo worked from its position and rolled from one side pf the ship to the other. This position was faced by tlje chief officer, Mr. G. H. Homvill. The deck below Nos. 1 and 2 hatches presented a fearful appearance. Oil drums were rolling about like marbles. After a prolonged struggle the chief officer succeeded in restoring some sort of order, but it was touch and go with him too often.

The following day saw no abatement of the storm, and once again the shifting of cargo took Mr. Horswill below. This time the main trouble was a 6| ton iron structure, portion of a lift, that was doing the damage. As the vessel pitched about at the will of the seas this heavy weight, aided by the oily boards, swung about the deck, tearing 4in steel staunchions, from their positions as if they had been matchwood, and grinding its heavy casings to splinters- ’ The staying of the mad career of this enormous weight was an unenviable job, but it was done. By the skilful insertion of chocks the runaway was manoeuvred into a position where it could be made fast. The next day brought a hopelcs- dawn for the men of the Port Augusta. Not one of them had turned in from the moment the storm was encountered, and still the gale showed no sign of abatement. It was a weary skipper who turned the ves.=<<’s bow toward the land, vowing to I take an entrance into Port Jackson no matter what the conditions might be at the heads. South Head was sighted at last, uid Captain Hollis headed his ship into port On the way in the pilot steamer was passed, and she signalled the Port Augusta. “Follow me.” Too weary to heed the message, the skipper of the Port Augusta “butted along,” and the eventful trip ended at 5 p.m. At 7.30 p.m. the crew were soundly sleeping. Thay deserved t.