PERTHSHIRE SAFE.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 450, 20 June 1899, Page 2

PERTHSHIRE SAFE.

FUUND BY THE TALUNE. TOWED TO SYDNEY. NAERATIVES OF THE DRIFT, (UNITED press association,) (by electric telegraph. COPYRIGHT). Sydney, June 18. The Perthshire, in tow of the s.s. Talune, was sighted off Newcastle tonight. The Talune picked up the Perthshire on Tuesday last off Norfolk Island. (Received June 19, 11.55 a.m.). Sydney, June 19. The Perthshire was anchored in Neutral Bay. She bears evidences of a long drift and knocking about in rough weather, otherwisa they are all well. It is understood the frozen meat aboard is all right. The Talune's run up the harbour this morning was in the nature of a triumphal procession. As sh« neared the Union Company's wharf the steamers blew their whistles and crowds on the wharves cheered. The Press Association representative interviewed Captain Spinks. He reported that rockets were fired every hour after leaving Wellington. They sighted the Perthshire at 3.20 on the morning of the 13th in latitude 29*3 south, longitude 163*38 east, about 700 miles from Sydney. She asked for assistance and they stood by till daylight. The weather was fine, with a moderate breeze. Captain Spinks arranged to tow and got the Perthshire's hawser aboard and started at 8.30 the same morning. They pro* ceeded at half-speed, making fair progress till eight o'clock on the morning of the loth, when the rope parted, the wind meantime having increased to a moderate gale, with sharp rain squalls, accompanied by a heavy head sea. Preparations were then made t« tow by chain cables, the Perthshire's being connected with the Talune's. Owing to the heavy sea the line had to be passed aboard the Perthshire by means of a rocket, and a fresh start was made at four in the afternoon of the loth. Strong head wind, with heavy sea, continued till the morning of the 17th, testing the cables to the utmost. The weather then moderated and the wind hauled to the southeast, bail was set on the Perthshire and port safely reached. Captain Spinks was warmly congratulated on all sides on his long and successful towing feat. (Received June 19, 1.25 p.m.) Sydney, June 19. When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had been repaired, and she was heading north under steam at 4 A knots per hour, and was then within 43 miles of Norfolk Island. From the date of leaving Sydney (April 26), throughout the long drift the weather was stormy. She drifted helplessly some fourteen hundred miles, crossing and re-crossing the track of the steamers and expecting to be picked up. No attempt was made to mend the shaft till she had drifted out of the tracks of the New Zealand steamers. (Received June 19, 5 p.m.). Sydney, June 19. The first engineer of the Perthshire gives an interesting account of the attempts to repair the propeller. The day after the breakage it was secured with chains, but owing to the difficulty x>t repairing it was decided that it would be preferable to wait for passing steamers. Meanwhile they removed the stern tube and found the breakage was at the end. After they got the ends together they had much trouble, and they slipped several times. He states when the vessel was picked up everything was working smoothly, and the engineer was of opinion that they would have had no difficulty in reaching port. They were greatly disappointed at being picked up after so much trouble fixing up. While the repairs were proceeding the engineers had scarcely two hours' sleep a day, and barely took tima to eat their meals. They considered if the repairs had been taken in hand at first instead of waiting for a steamer they would have been finished by May 9th. (Received June 19, 6.15 p.m.) Sydney, June 19. A private log kept by the fourth officer of the Perthshire, furnishes an excellent account of their experiences. Every effort was made to get the vessel into the track of the steamers, but she had no steerage way. Their efforts were disheartening as no sooner did they gain a trifle than the wind would shifc to another quarter, and even the most patient of those on board were getting irritable. On May 10th the vessel was just six miles southward of the traok, and the spirits of all revived. When they got on the track every effort was made to keep there. Ihey rigged a drag over the starboard quarter, but failed to get the vessel round, and then they were continually tortured by the knowledge that they were drifting across the track and getting further away. Up to the time the Whangaroa sighted her the average daily drift had been 17 miles north and east. On the 17th a gale carried away the chain lashings of the propeller, On Queen's Birthday the vessel was nearing the Auckland track, but the only vessel sighted was the Northern Chief. On the 26th the potatoes had run out and so had the yeast, but the bread was made by utilising stout in some mysterieus manner. The bread was black and scarcely palatable and weighed twice as heavy as ordinary bread. On the 31st, as they were drifting towards the islands, the captain decided that something must be done to repair the damage. On June Ist in a terrific southerly gale they drifted 73 miles, and were now 150 miles southward and westward of Norfolk Island. As the Ale moderated the engineers hazardous work on the stern tube, which owing to the fineness of the vessel in this part was extremely difficult. A stage was erected round the propeller, but the men narrowly escaped being washed off. On 11th Junfi the engines,were started, and they had covered a hundred miles when the Talune have in sight. Then the great question arose whether they should accept assistance. The Talune nearly missed the Perthshire. An hour later and the Talune would have steamed on her course to Sydney.