Straight away the brigade assembled. In the fiery splendour of the rising sun,

(Rly. Publicity photo.)
Christchurch—Invercargill Express passing: through Caroline Bay, Timaru, South Island, New Zealand.

huge rollers, for several miles out, were breaking foam. That sea was the heaviest known on the Timaru coastline for many a day, but the ships were in no great danger as their anchors were still holding fast. The ship Benvenue had two anchors out and the City of Perth three; but even with these extra holdings, the ships could not continuously withstand the terrific poundings those seas were thundering aboard the vessels—something would have to go. Eight-thirty in the morning—snap—a cable on the Benvenue parted. The sundering of this cable sent the ship listing dangerously to starboard. The tilting of the ship continued at an alarming rate, and it looked terrifyingly evident that the vessel might capsize.

But look! a signal of distress comes from the ship.

Just at that moment, when things were looking blackest, gusts of nor' west wind began to blow from the land. Responding immediately to the wind, the Benvenue swung round and glided out of danger. The Harbourmaster then ran up signals from shore to instruct the ship to trim its cargo of coal and to prepare to put to sea. Answer came from the ship that the rudder was out of order, and repairs would have to be effected before it could depart.

Taking advantage of the breeze from the nor' west, the City of Perth loosened topsails and made ready to put to sea. Seeing what the City of Perth was about to do, the Benvenue decided to follow its example, and ran up the signal “sailing.” To the signal from shore, “Is there anything wrong?”, the City of Perth replied “All right,” and page 30 page 31 the minds of the anxious watchers on shore were set at ease by the movement on both of the ships which indicated they were about to put to sea.

It was now eleven o'clock in the morning and many of the spectators who had been there for some hours were making for home. Suddenly the Benvenue, to the astonishment of all concerned, ran up the signal, “Drifting.”

The Rocket Brigade asked, “Do you want an anchor?”

Quick came the Benvenue's reply, “Yes.”