THE PERTHSHIRE'S DRIFT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 11, 22 June 1899, Page 4

THE PERTHSHIRE'S DRIFT.

When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had bren n paired, and she was ljeadmg not Ih under steam, at tour and a halt knots par hoiu, belli" then within foiiy-tbiee miles ot Norfolk Island. Fioin the date ot leaving Sydney, Apiil 29, tluoughout the long dritt the weather was stormy. She drilled helplessly some 1400 miles, crossing and recro^mg the track ot steamers, aud expecting to be picked up. JNo attempt u\is made to mend the shaft till she had dritted out of the track oi Isew Zealand steamers. The Putijslure bioke lut shaft at Six o'clock m the evening ot Apul 28. The hactuit! was within 4tt liom the end. Tlio engineers succeeded m repmnng the shatt on June 11, aiter ten da^s' labour, by means ol a patent coupling. But for the passengers aboard, the captain would probably ha\e attempted to make port unaided, though the experience ot those aboard was that they suffered little mcouveuience. Their only tear was that they would dult ashore alter they had chitted out of the track ot staamers. The impairs to the Perthshne were completed withm tort_y -three miles ot Norfolk Ibland. She had steamed 180 tudes to the northward when she was picked up The dntt was zigzag, bluwly south east, fcihe twice described a enele, coming back to the same point. Attempts were made to sail her, but there was not sufficient canvas to fji\e steeiaga way. A strong electric -light was kept burning at the masthead, and coloured lights were frequently burned.