The Portland daily press., 1886-03-04
THE SARNIA.
How Capt. Gibson Got His Ship Into
port.

Capt. Reid, port captain of the Dominion
Line, in this city, yesterday received from
Liverpool the following particulars OF the
temporary steering gear rugged by Capt GID
son on the Sarnia, on her last start from LlV-
erpool for Portland, when she lost her rud-
der:
The Sarnia's rudder was broken off by the
23-feet mark, and the rudder-post by the 10
feet mark. Capt Gibson set to work to i'm
proyise a jury rudder, and in this task he
succeeded in most satisfactory manner. To
perpendicular rudder-post, Al feet in length
length, secured by tackle, a rudder-stoek was
lashed, and to that was attached rudder q
feet In height and feet in breadth. The
rudder was operated upon by rope secured
to the outer extremity, and led up to the
quarterback on each side Of the ship. By
suitable tackle the rudder could be turned to
starboard or port, as desired; but of course,
a temporarily fixed appliance was not an eff
cient steering apparatus in comparison with
the ships proper rudder and steam power.
In less that fourteen complete days the
ship had made good 1177 miles, or rather
more than "a miles per day. When the wind
was easterly, she ran 243 miles in one day,
and 2O8 the next. The ship could not be
kept on her true course, and therefore when
she got too far away her head was turned, and
she described an immense semlclrcie. Inc
distance travelled must have been four times
that course made good. Capt. Gibson de-
scribes what took place on one day, Jan: 70,
as sample of proceeding. With light
north breeze and a moderate sea, the engines
were worked slowly astern to get the ship
into position, and then full speed ahead be-
tween south and east, with all head sails set,
and sheets to the windward In this evolu-
tionary manner 68 miles on the ships true
course, southeast, and on the 26th further
run ON the acquired route was accomplished.
This system of wheeling route, Capt. Gibson
believes in heavy weather would not be pru
dent A drag was lowered to counteract the
propeller when going astern:
Another cOntrivance which was Drougnt
into requisition was that OF lowering Doom
forward. A built spar, 80 feet long, ana
formed square at the lower end, was holsted
over the side at the fore rigging, and hung
up and down at the ships side with two
leading guys forward and one aft: Ihls was
found to produce wonderful effect In pay
ing the ship off, but when the sea was more
than ordinarily rough this weather-post was
taken inbOard. Great credit is due to Capt.
Gibson, his officers and crew, for the expedl-
tion used in getting this simple but admlra-
bly, contrived temporary steering gear INTO
operation. The ships rudder was injured
on Jan. 18th, and during the next day no less
than so miles were made true. Capt Gibson
did not want assistance; but tug with
tow rope astern, would serve as drag, and
by her aid the Sarnia could make at least 10
knots per hour in direct line, 1t is found
in practice that when steamships boilers
and machinery are in good order, and she is
rudderless, it is far preferable for the dis
abled vessel to tow the tug than the latter to
tow the former 1t is pleasant to record
such performance as that of the Sarnia. Ii
every ocean-going steamship, whose rudder
may be broken, can have the means Of steer
sea will be robbed of one of its perils.
The Mercantile Marine Service Associa-
tion, of which body Capt Gibson is mem
Der, have unanimously passed the following
resolution, which viii shortly be presented
to Capt. Gibson in an Illuminated form:
That the skill and seamanship of Capt. Joseph
Gibson, of the royal mail steamship Sarnia, in
handling his ship, after her rudder and rudder-
post were carried away on the 18th OF January,
1885, and his successfully bringing his vessel
back to Liverpool, a distance of 1900 miles, are
worthy of the warmest recognition OF nautical
men,