The Portland daily press., 1898-03-21
THE OSBORNE DISABLED.
Big Freight Steamer Towed Into Halifax
Yesterday.

Halifax. March 20.-The big freight
steamer Osborne, Captain Rettie, from
London bourd to Philadelphia, was towed
in here disabled tonight by the oil tank
steamer Duffield, Captain Young, also on
voyage from London to Philadelphia.
The Duffield had got her prize mile in
side of Camperdown, at the entrancesto
Halifax harbor when the towing hawser
broke away and the two steamers We're
separated. The Osborne fortunately found
safe anchorage and efforts were made
by the Duftield to get hold of her again,
but darkness shut in and the Work was
very difficult and dangerous, though tugs
from the city which had gone ont to meet
them lent as much assistance as possible.
It was seven O'Clock when the accident
happened to the hawser. In bringing th3
Osborne into port two hawsers had been
used to perform the towing, but when the
steamers got inside the entrance to the
harbor, one was considered sufficient, and
the other was hauled in. The remaining
one could not stand the strain. After the
accident thesOsborne began to roll 50
much that efforts to connect the hawser
had finally to be abandoned and Captain
Rettie arranged with three steam tugs to
bring his ship up to the city. 1t was q
late hour when the tugs got the disabled
steamer under way and the Osborne was
not expected to get all the way up the
harbor before three or four O'Clock in the
morning.
Tugs returning from the Osborne after
midnight reported that the effort to get
her up to the city has been abandoned for
the night owing to the gale, but she will
be brought up early in the morning.
The accident which disabled the Os-
borne was ths breaking of her tail shaft
on Friday night, 11th inst. For over two
days she drifted helplessly. One day an
esat- bound passenger steamer came near
enough to be signalled TO for assistance.
but she declined to take the drifting
Osborne in tow. The Duffield bore down
on her at O'Clock last Monday morning
and three hours later had her under way
with two hawsers out. They started on
the long tow from latitude 6.25 north /;
longitude 42. so west, distance of over
1000 miles from this port. Capt. Young
of the Duffield offered to take the Os-
borne to Halifax or Philadelphia, and
Capt. Rettie of the disabled vessel pre-
| ferred Philadelphia as both steamers were
| bound to that port. 1t was probably
shorter tow to the Azores, but Capt.
| Rettie was anxious to get as nsar as pos
sible to his destination. Had the wealth
| er been favorable the two steamers would
perhaps have reached Philadelphia all
right, hut as Cney nearou bne coast neaVy
| gales prevailed and 1t was almost con-
stantly stormy. The Osborne having a
| light cargo, rolled and pitched fearfully
and the strain of the towing hawsers was
tremendous. On Friday last, Capt.
Rettis requested the commander Of the
| Duffield to make for Halifax and they
turned their noses in the direction of this
port, reaching the harbor without mishap.
The accident which happened inside the
mouth of the bay when the hawser broke
away, will nGa affect the salvage ques-
| tion, az the Duffield had brought her
prize into port and did not give her up
until Capt. ReJtie engaged steam tugs to
| bring him to the city. The Osborne 6
propeller was not lost when the tail-shafr
| broke, being secured and lashed before it
fell off. The Osborne was towed the
| longest distance of any disabled steamer
ever brought to Halifax. The Duffield
will proceed for Philadelphia without
| delay.
The Osborne is under charter to the
| Atlantic Transport line. She is a fine
steamer of 2O33 net tonnage, 1888 gross.
She was tuilt at Wallsend three years
ago and is owned by John B. Verel OF
| Glasgow. The Du field il 2426 tonnage,
3767 gross, and is owned by the North
ern Petroleum Tank Steamship company
of Newcastle on.Tyne.