Narrow Escape of the Hawea.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4792, 19 May 1884, Page 2

Narrow Escape of the Hawea.

(Pee Pbesb Association.)

Wellington, This day. . The steamer Hawea, on the last trip from New Plymouth to Nelson, had a narrow escape from going ashore in Cable Bay. From the statement made by the passengers, it appears the vessel left New Plymouth at 8.30 on Wednesday. The wind was blowing a gale from N.W., with a heavy sea. As the wind was a fair one, the foretopsails and foresails were set, and as the vessel was travelling at a good speed, every precaution seems to have been taken. Instead of one patent log being used, two were put out. When abreast of Cape Egmont, about 6 o'clock, the sails were taken in, and a good lookout kept for the land, as it was thought that land was seen on the port bow; but as the weather was thick and cloudy, no great distance could be seen. Knowing that she made excellent running, and that she would be approaching land, the captain put her dead slow himself, and the second officer keeping the look-out— in fact, never left the deck. The logs examined showed her to be still a considerable distance from Nelson. Notwithstanding this the vessel kept slow, about four or five n»iles an hour. A loom of the land was again seen on the port bow,, and whilst the captain was watching for signs of land the second offioer reported land on the starboard bow. The captain instantly stopped her, but suddenly—as if coming out of a mist—land was seen in front, and on either side of the steamer; The order " full speed as* tern" was. given, but it looked as if getting the steamer off shore was an impossibility. The waves breaking over the deck, and wetting the saloon, made the passengers who were sick, get out of their berths and look anxious. The stewards were busy baling water from , the smoking room, and on deck everything was done coolly. All the crew were called and the boats got ready. For about an hour the steamer remained backing and shivering from stem to stern with every sea. The force of the waves smashed the thick glass in the stern lights, and the carpenter had to block one up to prevent the saloon filling. Both crew, passengers and ladies kept very quiet, although anxious. The first soundings were five fathoms, after a quarter of an hour's Bteaming six fathoms, then eight fathoms. After an hour's fight, the Hawea got far enough jout to be put head to sea. The passengers give the captain and officers (especially the second mate) great credit. Current and westerly winds must have set the vessel over to the east, and thus made Table Bay.