Full Speed Astern.

At one time it appeared that full speed

“A brave vessel …. dashed all to pieces.”—Shakespeare.
(Photo., courtesy J. R. Leitch, Greymouth.)
The steamer “Kaponga” (Union Steamship Company) wrecked on the Grey River Bar (27th May, 1932), South Island, New Zealand.

astern had been ordered from the bridge. First the massive rods of the reversing gear engaged with huge cams controlling the tappet valves. Then, with a loud hissing sound, the engines commenced to move; slowly, at first, then faster and still faster until flying sparks escaped past the piston rings, the fumes from the crude oil and the heat and noise being most pronounced.

Further exploration, down big iron ladders brings the visitor to the floor of the engine room, where several men, clad simply in dungarees, shoes and greasers' caps, stood on the control platform and kept watchful eyes on clusters of gauges, sight feeds, drip feeds, lubricating dials, taps, wheels, valves, and levers all clustered like grapes growing on a vine. The way this little band of men worked in perfect harmony filled one with admiration. Each man did his particular duty scarcely speaking a word to the others, while the engineer-in-charge stood close by and kept an ever watchful eye on the whole complicated mass of intricate machinery.