VOYAGE OF THE SNOWDON RANGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3774, 8 March 1913, Page 10

VOYAGE OF THE SNOWDON RANGE.

CAPTAIN’S SKILFUL MANOEUVRING WITHOUT A RUDDER.

A remarkable triumph for British seamanship was the wonderful manoeuvring which had to bo accomplished recently to bring tho Snowden Range into safety in Queenstown Harbor, in Ireland, after a voyage which had been ah full of misfortunes as of gallant efforts to retrieve disasters.

Captain* Dickenson’s ship received a terrific battering during her long Atlantic voyage of fifty-three days. The vessel narrowly escaped foundering on many occasions, since she became disabled on December 5 in latitude 56. longitude 35 AVest, owing to the succession of storms experienced and the damage sustained, as well as through the fact that some of her hatches were twisted open, which flooded the ’tween decks, the bunkers, but she was never so near complete disaster as on Tuesday night, January 14. She was driven before a fierce gale into Queenstown Harbor, and stranded on Cumberland Bank, after being towed, rudderless and helpless, more than 700 miles by the Dominion liner AA relsliman, the crew suffering terrible hardships and the ship being time after time in extreme danger. Then came tlie hardest fight of the long ordeal, the struggle for port in a fearful storm. A HURRICANE. So great was the force of the wind, the Snowdon Range had to he left by the Welshman, and the tugs to ride out the storm at anchor. At last the gale from the south increased to a hurricane of ninetly miles an hour. The Snowdon Range was driven backwards by tho hurricane towards a dangerous rock-bound coast, with a great sea rolling. Bv Captain Dickenson’s skill, the rudderless vessel evaded the rockhound coast and escaped danger, and her captain deserves the greatest credit, as he hove up his anchor at intervals and allowed his vessel to be driven by the gale inwards. Steaming at intervals, he gained the harbor’s mouth from Graball’s Bay by this skilful manoeuvring,, and by the aid of the shifting hurricane from S.E. to S.AV. he reached a safe anchorage on Curlane sandbanks, when the vessel was towed the short distance to port. When the crew arrived off Queenstown, they were in a bad state’ from exposure to constant gales, hard work, and want of proper and regular food. The coal had also given out, and part of the cargo of grain had to be used as fuel. All the oil was used, and tho fresh water also gave out. The vessel’s decks, too, afford ample testimony of the trying experience. She had her port and starboard iron rails battered and bent out of all shape. Her deck steampipes are broken, her lifebelts have disappeared off the chocks, and her deck-houses, etc., are •damaged. A TERRIBLE TIAIE. '

The crew had a terrible time, and Captain Dickenson never slept an hour in his bunk. He was knocked down on deck several times and hin t. Chief Officer Adamson was also knocked oil the forecastle head and had his nose broken, besides sustaining other injury about tlie body. Many of the crew were swept by heavy seas from the front part of the ship to tlie after part and sustained injuries. Four of them suffered from blood-poisoning from cuts, and altogether their plight was deplorable. All on board speak highly of the marvellous courage and determination shown by the commander of the ship. Captain Dickenson, who, they say, by his splendid example enabled them to bear up when all hope of saving the steamer had gone Air Stephen Furness, ALP., chairman of Furness, AYithy and Co., owners of the Snowdon Range, telegraphed to Captain Dickenson : “AA'e are delnighted to receive the telegram, and are very proud of you and all members of the crew. Captain Dickenson replied, thanking Air Furness for his congratulations, which, he says, are much appreciated. “A REAL BRICK.” Captain Dickenson, who belongs to Sunderland, gave a modest rarative of his adventures in the intervals of his duties whilst the ship was being docked: —“Our trouble began on December 5, when in a hurricane the rudder was broken just below the coupling. On the first fine day we got boats out and knotted wires round it, but they broke, and >vc could do no more for four or five days. Then the rudder was taken away, and we used quantities of oil on the waters. file decks were awash and the boats badly smashed. The Welshman came along on January 1 and stood loyally by us. He’s a real brick, the captain of tlie AA'e lsh man.” , Asked if any of the crew were hurt, Captain Dickenson said everybody was more or less injured. “The vessel rolled terribly, and three times we broke adrift from the Welshman, and twice they had to slij} us. It was ,blowing pretty heavy, gales all the time, and oiice we went through a hurricane. Several times we thought the ship would not right herself, ami one of the hatches was stove in by a heavy sea which’ swamped the deck. We could not move our engines, for the ship would not keep steady under them, so the Welshman had to tow 5200 tons dead weight.” The captain then described his adventures in the heay weather outside Queenstown Harbor! “The tugs left, as nothing could live in such a sea and with such a gale blowing. AA r e dropped anchors. The ship was taking heavy ,seas and no one-could stay on deck. The searchlights from the forts played on us, and wo could then see that we were drifting. AA r e drifted along towards the harbor, broadside sometimes. Then we let go the anchors. and steamed sometimes ahead a little and sometimes astern. AA T e struck three times and got off again —luckily it was sand, not rock. Then we found ourselves beached.”

HOAV TO AIAKE THE MOST OF IT,

Bv ALICE AIASON

“Because you live in a baordinghouse is up reason at all for considering yourself homeless,” argued <fho older woman. “For eight years before I married I boarded. And I know that with a little, individual effort a home atmosphere may be created on a small salary.

“Though the pattern in the carpet be faded beyond recognition and the dresser bo suggestive oil a second-hand store, a ‘homely’ effect is 7 possible with a little individuality, a few yards of cretonne, a couple of pillows, and a few well chosen pictures. “In the boarding-house in which I lived for two years previous to my marriage there lived a girl who worked in an office. She was getting a fair, ly good salary. Her working hours wore the same as mine. Our rooms were almost identical in size and in the furnishings provided by the house She complained continually about the unpleasantness of her room. And unpleasant it was. The walls were covered with unsightly calendars unframed photographs load posters, a motley, dust-laden collection. No sign of a readable book was about. Her dresser was an indescribable’ and at' least five-year-old collection _ of knick-knacks, whose water acquaintance was far remote.

SURROUNDINGS SHAPE CHARACTER.

“I could not get back to my own room quickly enough after a visit to hers. One evening she was complaining about the lot of tho girl who boards particularly bemoaning tho fact that she had no place to entertain outside of the overcrowded pub* lic parlour. I showed her how easily she could transform her room from the uninviting, untidy bedroom into an attractive living room. I showed her that my expendidure had meant just a few sacrifices for sweets and for frills and furbelows, that were amply repaid in the cherry welcome sung out to me in dainty, bright-col-ored crettone curtains and pillows, and the friendly hook and cherry picture. But my missionary work was lost on her. She said she simply could trot afford it, and added: ‘What’s the use. I’m only in in the evening, anyway.’ The next day she came rushing into my room to. show me a fancy feather boa'she simply could not ’ resist buying that day. ’Twas a hideously extravagant purchase for any but. a daughter of tho rich, and worse than extravagant for one that could not afford to spend a Hew shillings in gloom dispelling features for her room. The money she had expended on that one article was more than 1 had expended on my room, outside of my books.” Your surroundings have everything to do with the shaping of your life and your character. Aiid nothing is more effective in keeping a girl on the right path than the home atmosphere and home ties. So the girl removed from the parenal roof should aim to preserve the home atmosphere. And if a little colour and daintiness, a pretty chintz pillow or curtain, will help to preserve this atmosphere, count that money well expended. DON'T ECONOMISE ON BOOM. First tiling, see that your room is airy and light.. Don’t attempt to save on fresh air and sunshine. Be a wise • economist. Economise on clothes and amusements, if necessary, but don’t take an ill-ventilated, stuffy room with a view to economy, sunshine and fresh air are as necessary to business sucess as brains. Unpleasant living surroundings can work more ravages than almost any other health menace.

After a day spent in bare, uninviting; office or shop you should aim to offset tho commercial attitude toward life with a bit of femininity. Don a fresh, becoming simple frock in place of tho niussy waist or dress you’ve worn all day. Freshen your face with soap or cream. Brush up your hair in an attractive way. This suggestion of a change of surroundings will make you feel like a different woman.

Don’t let yourself degenerate into one of the fault-finding, charmless, self-centred single women so often found in boarding-houses. Instead of chafing under the responsibilities and home ties that demand economic living on your part, be thankful, that it is within your power to furnish a little comfort for the age parent or the means of education <pf a younger brother or sister. A responsible home tie makes the difference between a selfish girl, whose only occupation is girl. The gnawing lonliness of hours filled with regret and remorse over duties unfulfilled will not be part of the life of the unselfish one. fault finding is vulgar. Make up your mind that you are going to make the best af everything about your boarding-house. Finding fault with your food is vulgar. You probably get all you pay for. Put yourself in your. landlady’s place and figure out whether your living depending on it, you would be able to give moi'e than she is doing. If things simply cannot be endured make a change before you become a chronic fault-finder. Find a pleasant word for your table companions. Avoid the “due-there-in-five-minutes” dinner bolt. Avoid shop talk. impersonal and amusing incidents form the best table ‘talk. Remember table manners are an indication of breeding and just as important in the' boarding-house as at a social function. Be cheerful and pleasant with all the other boarders, but be eharry of the confidential person and the gossip If you find agreeable companions don’t let idle talk of the mischiefmaker turn your opinion. If von are tempted into joining the half hushed laughs or whispered criticisms against a fellow creature put vourself in her place long enough to feel the sting ofi such lack of kindlines. Aim to scatter sunshine by making others glad. If youdo. ytnir own life will be so sunshiny that the “homeless” application will not fit The girl with a talent which enables her to make more pleasant liev surroundings makes a home wherever she is. And it is a talent every girl can cultivate, if she will.