HAVEN

Radio Record, 1 July 1938, Page 23

HAVEN

CRIPPLED BARQUE PENANG IN DUNEDIN ARRIVAL of the crippled Finnish barque Penang, off. the Otago Heads, caused an almost unique stir in Dunedin. The berthing of the barque at Port Chalmers was the signal for a steady stream ot curious sightseers to make, the | short journey to Fort. When the Penang was towed to Dunedin, where ; repairs to her- broken masts are heing |. carried out, she at once became'a most . {mportant attraction. While the Penang was at Port, 4ZB earried on an excellent relay from the | deck of the vessel, Aiec McDowell donning the cloak of radio reporter for the oceasion. Mr, McDowell is not very | often heard in these relays, but he proved not only vety capable, but by his questionings brought to Mght in- > teresting sidelights another man might have missed, The Penang arrived at Port Chalmers with her topmast and topgallant ~_ mast snapped off short, ranging over ~ the side of the vessel in a confused mass of tangled spars, stays and shrouds, and lashed inboard to pre" yent being washed away. Captain K. ¥. Karlsson, speaking very good Inglish with a strong accent, made the story of the accident sound over the air like a tale from Marryatt or Clarke Russell, "Yt turned in about midnight," he said, "after a final look at the weae ther and the barometer. About 1 a.m, 1 was roused by a crash and, halfs dressed, tore on deck to see what wags the matter. I found a sudden squall had carried away the topmast and the topgnllant mast, and that the starboard gunwale was awash, "For a time I could not find out if the mast rad gone ur smashed through the deck. Had it been the latter there is little doubt the vessel would have foundered, and another ease of vanished ship and crew would have been added to the unsolved mysteries of the sean. "Only the starboard watch was on deck at the time, but I soon had all hands on deck and the wreckage firme ly lashed in place. I could have simplified the job by cutting away the royal and upper topgallant yards, but I decided to save them if possible." H® squall struck the Penang in latitudes 49 to 50deg, south, about. 500 miles from Stewart Island. The cap tain decided to make for Otago Harbour for repairs, as it was in the general direction of his course for the Inited Kingdom. Repairs are expected to take about a month. . Captain Karlsson had some interesting things to say about hobbies. He claimed that the sailor had. no -téai hobbies, for such things as. carving model vessels and so on, the chief pas time of the crews, were considered part of a sailor's daily work. They aided him, in learning ‘thé ropes" mote thoroughly. . ee