THE F0URTH OFFICER'S LOG.

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

THE FOURTH OFFICER'S LOG.

The fourth officer's private log iur nishes an excellent account ot the ex ponences ot the Perthshire. It says. — Wo met with a heavy southerly, gale atter leaving Sydney. When it' sub sided it left a high sea, m which the sh/p laboured heavily. Wheu (jhe yes sel broke clown, a boat was lowered, containing the chief officer and the chief engineer. An inspection showed that the propeller was lying against the rudder post. The night was dark, and

the sea high and confused, and np i\)g could be clone with safety ' ! sail was bent, nnd set to a sowlie wind At dcubiealv next morning 'j boat was again lowered, and much difficulty the piopeller \as" cuiely la-hed. E\er\ eifoit w;k in! to g. t the vessel into the tiarM tite.iriK is b 1 t <-he lmd no sleeiaye m"i A powerful searchlight was nggid' one ot the niasis. The laihuv ot j effcnt* to reach tho mick oi \es> w,is dishe.ivti'iiinjj No «oo>u'i wo] the sh p g,un a trifle than the wi would shiit to another quarter Ji\ the nio^-t patient of those on bot weie now becoming mitab.e a nmtteis were gating worse and wot On Mhv 6 the gale increased, and | vessel laboured heav ),y, rolling in | trough oi the he,i. Aiter mne da blowing about, it was found that i was only nine unles noithward ot { first position. On May 7, hope on more dawned, as the gale modem! and enabled the vessel to make thirl se\ en miles north and east. In pi portion, as we got noith, the spints those on board revised, and we' bog to answer one ano'her more civil and took matters Jess miserably. ( May 10 we were just six miles 'soul ward ot the steamer track. When got on the track even effort wns ma to keep there. A diag was ligged q\ the stai board quaiter, but we failed get the vessel round. Then the oi cers weie continually tortured withf knowledge that the vessel "Has no drifting across the track, gettii further away. On the 13th there w groat excitement on sighting a sa The W hangaroa stopped by the Perl Shire a'l night, then alter the lit! schooner left they were again in so tudu. All attempts to get the sh I round foiled. Up to this pomt tl average diift was 17 miles daily nor and east. On the 17th they in another pale which caused the clio Inshing of the propeller on the pc side to carry away. The wind w still northerly, and they were nearii tho Auckland tiack. They nursed tl hope that they would be picked up t a certainty on the 24th, Queen's Birf da\. The 25th found them 30 mi from the track and a sail in sight, ty it was not that of a steamer. Tbi after sending messages the Northei Chief left them alone once more. Np day they had crossed the track. T! potatoes had iuji out, po that they hi no yeast, but biead was made by ri hsing stout. The broad was black ai scarcely palatable, weighing twice heavy as ordinary bread. Tl Perthshire kept sending up rocke while in the the track at nigl On the 27th she was 60 mil noitluvard of the tiack, or 926nii1e.8 a dnft since the breakdown. On ti 31st the captain decidjd th it aa th( were drifting among ?t the island something must be done to repair t! damage. On Jm.e Ist a tenil southerly gale was experienced. Tli drifted 73 nuks and -neie now II miles southward and westward Norfolk Island. As the gale moderate the engineers comm need hazirdot work ou i he stern tube, which owij to the fineness of the vessel at tl part was exu\ inely diificu't. Oa Jh sth the weather was flue A] A strt was erected lound the prupelltr. Tl men narrow 1;, escaped being W-ashi off the staging, but managed to q p<ickn/g round and the prc pc! er hove: to posit>ou. 'Ihfcu the Vt-rujeai! hove, sight. On the Bth they Were bokij torward to a great trial of'jtbepj peller. Then the conplJhgs w« eventually successfully placed. ( ihe 11th the engines were started a\ she had covered 100 miles When t{ Taknie was bigoted. Then, the gre question arose as to whether ,thj should accept asbistauce. The capt^ went aboaid the Tallin e aud ani struction wa.^ shortly after sigiialt from the Taiuue to prepare to to The Tallin e nearly missed 'her; " nour later aad she would b^ave steam on her.couihe to Sydney. The Perthbhno goes into dock a diachaiges her caigo.