Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Monday 5 November 1945, page 2


10 Hour Fight

To Save Ship

SYDNEY, Sunday .Tho crow of the wooden steamer Kinchela fought for ^0 hours with buckets and a hand pump to heep the ship afloat while coming down the

coast.

A former Brisbane boom ship, thc Kinchela loft Brisbane on .Monday morning towed ,by H.M.A.S. Lithgow. Heavy seas ;hat evening opened up thc limbers at tho stern. Water pour-ed in, rose to thc firebox iu the en-gine-room, and ashes choked thc bilge pump. ' When tho ship's hand pump failed, a bucket brigade was formed, tile men hanging on with ono hand and working with thc other; but they could not overcome the intake ot' water.

Eight miles off tho coast, tho Lithgow put n baud pump and working party on board.

The Winchola was taken into the shelter of Coffs Harbor, where thc water level was reduced and the bilge pump cleared. Each man in tho working party was issued with a bottle of leer, and residents of Coffs Harbor put

on a dance for them.

Another covotte, H.ALA.S. Wagga, relieved tho Litlißow and patched up thc Kinchela with copper and cement.