On Board Ship.

What had been happening on board the ship all this time? The captain of the Benvenue stated that towards one o'clock on Sunday morning, the sea became very heavy and the vessel, which was lying stern to it, began rolling and lurching heavily. Numbers of blind rollers came aboard, breaking-in the stern windows and sweeping the poop. All hands were called. Soon afterwards a heavy sea struck her, and it was thought the ship had struck the ground, but an examination revealed that her rudder had been broken and the remainder of her stern ports staved-in. Continuing their fearsome attack, the seas then swept a boat off the skids. A second anchor was let go, and the ship then fell into a trough of the sea; the cargo of coal in the hold, although held by shifting boards, was thrown over to starboard, resulting in a dangerous list.

Daylight was anxiously awaited, the boats meantime being made ready for lowering. At 9 a.m. the starboard cable parted from the ship. A third anchor was got up and a steel wire hawser bent on. At the same time efforts were made to trim the coals, but no sooner had the crew shovelled one way, than the rolling of the vessel lurched the coals back again. By 12.30 p.m., the third anchor was ready, but the pitching of the vessel made the task of getting it over the side difficult and dangerous. By one o'clock in the afternoon, the second anchor parted, and it was soon seen that the vessel was drifting and gradually heeling over. The crew were ordered to the boats, the ship was abandoned, and the crew made for the City of Perth.

Hardly had the Benvenue struck the rocks than the City of Perth started drifting, at the same time flying her ensign down and the signal for “medical assistance.” Four boats then left the City of Perth and made for the breakwater. It was then learned that the medical assistance was required for the first officer of the City of Perth who had broken a leg while trying to clear the cables, which had become

(Rly. Publicity photo.)
A concert in progress in the Sound Shell, at Caroline Bay, Timaru

entangled. The City of Perth hung to her last anchor for about half-an-hour, then drifted towards the rocks, stern foremost.

In those days there was no harbour in Timaru. Cargo for the ships was taken to the landing service station, loaded on to lighters or open boats and then towed to the awaiting ships that would be standing some distance from the shore. It was from this landing service station that a landing service whaleboat and another boat were launched and set out for the City of Perth. These two boats, which together contained a crew of fifteen men arrived at the derelict vessel in safety.