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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Speedy Turakina

page 129

The Speedy Turakina.

Ship with a fine record—Once beat a Steamer—Victim of the Gales of 1882.

One of the speediest and moat-beautifully modelled iron ships was the Turakina, a vessel of 1189 tons, built on the Clyde by Connell & Co. When launched she bore the name City of Perth on her shapely bows, but this was changed after the disaster she met with at Timaru, where, on May 13, 1882, she was driven ashore during the gales that also cast the Ben Venue away. Launched in 1868, the City of Perth was first engaged in the Calcutta trade, in which she recorded some fast runs. A writer in the "Nautical Magazine" in 1917 gives us a
the Turakina At Port Chalmers.

the Turakina At Port Chalmers.

taste of her quality. He is referring to a passage made in 1871. "We sighted a ship ahead of us," he says, "and by 2 p.m. were alongside her. She was a New York full-rigged ship bound for California. Our ship was going fully 17 knots when we passed her, and in three hours we had left her completely out of sight. I have been in many ships in my time, but never in one to equal the City of Perth for speed."

In 1873 the City of Perth was diverted to Australia, making several successful runs to Melbourne under Captain Beckett, and in 1881 she was put on the London berth for Lyttelton. Captain McDonald was in command, and leaving the docks on December 4 she reached her destination on March 12, 1882, 97 days out. After discharge she went to Timaru to load, and it was while anchored in the roadstead that she fell a victim to the memorable gales that raged that year. It was on May 13. During the day tremendous seas were rolling in on the beach, and the City of Perth was seen to be riding in great distress.

A Wild Scene.

Both her cables had parted, and she was trusting to a single hawser to save her from following the Ben Venue, which had already gone ashore. When the Ben Venue's two cables had parted her crew abandoned her and went aboard the City of Perth, after which the Ben Venue was driven rapidly ashore and became a total wreck. As the City's predicament grew more desperate the watchers on shore saw her crew and the men off the Ben Venue put off in the boats. Would they live through those awful breakers? It was at this critical moment that Philip Bradley, a Timaru waterman, pluckily got a volunteer crew together, put off to the rescue of the apparently helpless boats, and stoodpage 130 by them until they were safe inside the breakwater.

"She's Gone!"

The harbourmaster (Capt. Mills) disapproved of the action of the captain and crew in abandoning the City of Perth while she still held by a hawser, and the sea showing signs of abating, he got out a whale-boat and a crew, and put off to her. Captain McDonald, of the Ben Venue, in the ship's gig, followed by yet a third boat, also put out. They reached the vessel in safety, but had hardly got on board when a cry was raised, "She's gone!" The thin hawser had snapped, and swinging round she drifted right on to the shore, to the horror of the on-lookers. The boats then put off from the vessel, and approached the line of breakers, which were rolling like mountains, white with foam, and anxious hearts beat high. The two foremost boats succeeded in gaining the shelter of the breakwater, but the gig was caught by the current, and it was soon seen that she must be swamped. Two white-crested rollers swept down upon her. The next moment she was lost to view, and her crew were seen struggling in the breakers.

A Battle Foe Life.

Suddenly the despair of the onlookers was changed to admiration, as Captain Mills, followed by the other boat, steered into the boiling surf to the rescue of the drowning men. The whale boat reached them, but just at the critical moment the rescuers shared the fate of those they had gone to succour, and two capsized boats and their crews were tossing helplessly in the waves. But the third boat held steadily on. An instant later the seas broke over her, and she too capsized, leaving 30 or 40 men battling for life within hail of land. And what rendered the scene more shocking was that the day was unusually calm and sunny, while the sea was terrific. Several brave fellows ashore, unable to endure the sight, rushed for the lifeboat, which was quickly launched, but she had not covered half the distance when she, too, capsized. She was righted and the half-drowned crew regained their places, to be once more completely turned over, the boat floating bottom upwards.

Perished Before Their Eyes.

Again she was righted, and for the third time she capsized. Meanwhile a large surf boat had been launched, and becoming utterly unmanageable, dropped anchor and rode helplessly in imminent peril of the same fate. The scene on shore now baffled description. Wives mothers, and sisters, seeing their loved ones thus perishing before their eyes, rushed among the crowd wildly imploring assistance. Nothing could be done. There was not a boat left, and those on shore could only watch the tragedy to its bitter end. The lifeboat was once again righted, and in the gathering darkness, with as many as she could pick up, she came slowly towards the shore, which this time she reached in safety, amid an enthusiastic welcome, all else being forgotten for the moment.

Death Of Captain Mills.

Captain Mills, about whose safety the keenest anxiety had been felt, was lying at the bottom of the boat. He died, however, before he could be carried home. Scarcely, however, had the lifeboat discharged her crew when attention was drawn to the state of the surf boat, still riding at anchor, and threatened with instant destruction. In spite of the terrible warning they had received in the fate of their predecessors, another crew was found to man the lifeboat. It was now quite dark, these tragedies having occupied the whole day. The lifeboat succeeded in getting some of the men from the surf boat, and again capsized. She, however, got safe to shore, and made a second trip in absolute darkness and succeeded in bringing off the remainder of the surf boat's crew.

The City of Perth was later refloated and towed to Port Chalmers and docked for repairs. She then loaded a cargo of wool at Invercargill and sailed for London on the 13th April, 1883, in charge of Captain McFarland, making the run home in 86 days.

Under A New Flag.

After a thorough refit the City of Perth sailed for Auckland under a new name, the Turakina, having been purchased by the N.Z. Shipping Company. She left London on the 24th October, 1883, in command of Captain Power, and arrived in the Waitemata on January 17th, 1884, after a good run of 84 days.

On several occasions, both on the homeward and outward runs, the Turakina encountered very severe gales, sometimes reaching cyclonic force, occasioning serious damage to the ship, and on one occasion she put into Rio for repairs. One of her worst experiences was in 1898. She left London for Port Chalmers on April 28, and had a most trying experience all the way to the Cape, meeting with a continuance of heavy gales and terrific seas. The bad weatherpage 131 started in the Channel and the ship labouring heavily forced Captain Fox to make for Portland Bay for shelter. The ship started again on 6th May. Favourable weather with light winds and calms were met with until the
Captain Power.

Captain Power.

equator was crossed on the 4th June. The south-east trades were taken before crossing the line, and being more southerly than usual several tacks had to be made to clear the coast of Brazil.

Off The Cape.

All went well until the ship passed the "pitch of the Cape" on July 4th, when she met with a strong north-east gale which gradually increased in violence, causing the ship to take on board heavy seas which smashed the skylights and carried away the poop rail on the starboard side. The gale continued with great fury, and everything movable on deck was swept away. During the height of the storm the ship laboured heavily, and it was found necessary to lash the men to the wheel in order to keep the ship steady, while oil bags were constantly kept out both fore and aft.

The seas were now terrific, breaking over the ship, washing out all the petty officers' compartments, sweeping the galley and forecastle and doing great damage everywhere. All the skylights, poop rails, topgallant rails and bulwarks were swept overboard. The force of the gale nearly swept two officers and two men overboard, together with the man at the wheel. As there was no appearance of the storm abating Captain Fox decided to heave the ship to the wind, a feat of great difficulty. This, however, was successfully accomplished, and with the aid of a plentiful supply of oil the effects of the sea were slightly moderated. The crew now urged Captain Fox to make for port, as they considered the ship was not in a fit state to proceed. Captain Fox then made for Algoa Bay, which was reached on July 9th.

After repairing damages she sailed again on September 18, and met with west and south-west winds across the Southern Ocean. After passing Cape Leeuwin the ship again encountered severe south-east gales. She passed the Snares on November 3, and Cape Saunders on November 6th.

Washed Overboard.

During 1888, when the Turakina was bound from London to Port Chalmers, she encountered another terrific gale, during which the chief officer and a seaman were washed overboard and drowned.

the Turakina made many successful runs to New Zealand. Her best effort from London was in 1886. She sailed on October 30th, and passed Start Point seven days later, crossing the equator twenty days out from land. She rounded the Cape on December 22nd; passed Tasmania January 18th; three days later was abreast of the Snares; arriving at Port Chalmers on January 24th, 83 days anchor to anchor and 75 land to land.

In 1889 she made a very fine run from Hamburg. Leaving Bishop's rock on November 25th she crossed the equator on December 12th, only seventeen days out; rounded the Cape January 6th; passed Tasmania January 28th; Cape Saunders February 2nd; and anchored at Port Chalmers on the 5th, 84 days port to port or 72 days land to land. The ship's best day's runs were 312, 310 and 302 miles.

the Turakina also made another good run to Wellington in 1889. On this occasion she sailed from London on October 11th, had fine weather to the Line, which was crossed twenty-eight days out. Passed Cape Leeuwin on December 20th, Tasmania 26th, and Cape Farewell on January 2nd, making the run from this point to port in nine hours, or 83 from Beachy Head.

A writer in one of the Southern papers, referring to this clipper ship, stated: "the Turakina averaged runs of 80 days on ten consecutive voyages to New Zealand." It will be seen from the records given below that the ship, although a fast sailer, never had the luck to make one voyage to New Zealand under 80 days port to port. She, however, did some remarkable sailing on many occa-page 132sions, and especially when on a voyage to Auckland in 1893. She sailed from Liverpool on August 21 of that year, under the command of Captain J. J. Hamon, and arrived at Auckland on the 30th November. After passing the Cape of Good Hope on November 1 the ship encountered a severe north-west gale, and with similar weather she logged in 48 hours 610 miles, and on the 8th and 9th of the same month she travelled 666 miles in the 48 hours. Many large icebergs were encountered when in the Southern Ocean. After discharging her cargo the Turakina sailed for Lyttelton and loaded for London.

Sail Beats Steam.

Mr. Basil Lubbock publishes an incident related to him by one of the officers of the steamer Ruapehu. "In 1895 the Ruapehu was running her easting down on her outward passage when a sailing ship was reported astern. Orders were given on the Ruapehu to drive the ship, and the patent log showed a good 14 knots. Three hours later the Turakina passed along our lee side. She held her own with reduced sails until 9.30 p.m. Next day at noon we had run 315 miles. At midnight the wind came aft and next morning the Turakina had passed out of sight. It was a wonderful performance and made a man feel glad to be alive to see it." the Turakina held her own for fourteen days. She covered the 5000 miles between the meridians of the Cape and Leeuwin in sixteen days, her best runs being 328, 316 and 308.

the Turakina was originally built for Smith's famous City Line, in the Indian trade. Eventually she was sold by the New Zealand Shipping Company to the Norwegians, and under the name of Elida she is still afloat.

Her New Zealand Record.

Here follow passages made to New Zealand by the Turakina:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Oct. 24, '83 Jan. 17, '84 Power 85
Oct. 12, '91 Jan. 23, '92 Hamon 103
To Wellington.
Aug. 23 Dec. 1, '86 Power 101
Oct. 3, '88 Jan. 8, '89 Power 85
Oct. 2, '89 Jan. 5, '90 Hamon 95
Sep. 1 Dec. 5. '90 Power 95
Aug. 11 Nov. 12, '92 Hamon 93
Aug. 31 Nov. 24, '95 Hamon 85
Oct. 6, '96 Jan. 3, '97 Forsdick 89
To Lyttelton.
Dec. 3, '81 Mar. 12, '82 McDonald 97
To Port Chalmers.
Sep. 21, '85 Jan. 4, '86 Power 105
Oct. 30, '86 Jan. 24, '87 Power 83
Land to land 75
Oct. 11, '88 Jan. 3, '89 Power 83
Nov. 9, '95 Feb. 3, '96 Hamon 84
Land to land 70
*Apr. 28, '98 NOV. 6, '98 Fox 191
*

the Turakina is credited with having made the following runs Home:—

1892: From Gisborne to London, 78 days.

1894: From Wellington to London, 71 days; to the Lizard, 69 days.

1895: From Port Chalmers to Isle of Wight, 73 days.

The Nuggets Lighthouse, Otago (From The Sea.)

The Nuggets Lighthouse, Otago (From The Sea.)

* Put into Algoa Bay for repairs.