A NARROW ESCAPE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9546, 19 July 1909, Page 5

A NARROW ESCAPE.

STEAMER SHOT THROUGH A LOCK. A SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE. UnitediPress Association—By Electric Telegraph Copvrignt, SYDNEY, July 17. Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, the late Governor of New South Wales had a sensational experience on his trip Home. The ex-Governor was travelling in the Canadian Pacific Company's steamer Assiniboia, plying on the great lakes, a vessel of nearly 4,000 tons. She was waiting in a lock with the water at the same level as Lake Superior, and 18 feet above the level of the channel below, at the lower gates of the lock. A steamer which was manoeuvring at the upper gates crashed into them with a frightful rush, and with the force of the waters of Lake Superior behind them. The Assiniboia was carried like a straw through the lock, snapping the mooring lines like 'threads. The whole affair lasted a couple of minutes, and the Assiniboia and several oiher steamers grounded some distance down.

Spectators said that as the Assiniboia shot down the cataract that pored out of the lock, her bow pitched down the incline of water till the stem was so high that the propeller was clean out of water. Then she struck the level below, and the rush of the current swayed her over right on her beam ends, so that she took in water through the gangway. Sir Harry Rawson, interviewed, aftar the affair, said the water came down with a magnificent rush. It was a pretty sight,K but there was no panic. A ' couple of ladies fainted, "but tbev always do that, you know," added the Admiral.