DANGEROUS VOYAGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 207, 2 August 1937, Page 8

DANGEROUS VOYAGE.

STORY OF CITY OF SHANGHAI. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jul- 31. After drifting helplessly at the mercy of the wind and seas on a dangerous Pacific atoll while the crew struggled for three days to carry out repairs in the tunnel shaft, and then being nunsed on a long ocean voyage, the City of Shanghai arrived at Auckland this morning from New York. The mishap occurred on July 10. While steaming in a moderate sea the propeller shaft suddenly began to vibrate violently and the engines were immediately shut off. The engineers toiled night and day until repairs were effected under great difficulties and the propeller put in condition to complete the voyage. The fact that the vessel was successful in limping into, port, although three weeks behind schedule, was evidence of the workmanlike job. During the repairs the vessel drifted crab-wise, rolling and shipping occasional seas and only 52 miles off some treacherous tropical islands. The rudder was almost useless without the motive power and there were no stay sails on board which could be rigged. “If the shaft had gone again it would have smashed through the ship’s side,” said a member of the crew. Last Sunday the City of Shanghai was overtaken by the City of Glasgow, which vessel shepherded her for the remainder of the voyage to Auckland. Their average speed was from 2J to 4£ knots. The repairs to the damaged vessel will be done at Wellington.