18["The Nor'-West Gale", The West Australian, Thursday 23 March 1899, page 5]

THE NOR'-WEST GALE.

EXPERIENCE OF THE STEAMER ALBANY.

A TRYING TIME.

Cossack, March 22.

The steamer Albany arrived from Onslow this morning, having been nearly four days on the voyage between the two ports. Capt. Odman reports that he arrived at Onslow at 9 a.m. on Thursday, the weather then being rough with strong easterly winds prevailing. He stopped there to get the mails and Customs clearance, but owing to the heavy sea had to wait till 5 o'clock on Friday morning. He then left for Cossack. At noon on Friday it was blowing a strong easterly gale and he turned the Albany back and anchored under Twin Island, which is some 12 miles north of Onslow. At 6 o'clock on Saturday morning he made a second start and got as far as the sand bank at Mary Ann Passage, but owing to the hazy weather ha was unable to pick up the island and thorefore turned the steamer round again and ran to an anchorage at Twin Island, where the vessel arrived in the afternoon. A fresh start was made on Sunday morning, when the barometer reading was 29.40. The weather was a little more settled. At 2 p.m., when off Sholl Island, the wind suddenly changed to the south-east, and blew with terrific force, the barometer falling to 28.90. At 4 p.m. on Sunday night the wind increased to hurricane force. At this time the Albany was six miles off Enderby Island, and the captain decided to run the steamer out to sea. At 10 o'clock the same night, when the wind was at its height, a portion of the steering gear carried away. The ship was then broached to, and she drifted broadside before the wind till 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when the wind, having veered from the south-east to the south-west, blew itself out in a west-south-west direction. At 5 o'clock on Tuesday night the Albany was five miles north-west of Rosemary Island, and was got under way for Cossack Roads, which place was reached at 3 o'clock this morning. Two boats were smashed up during the gale, and two stud bulls and 100 sheep, besides the ship's sheep, were killed. Reports from the country in reference to the gale are not yet available. The Marsh road from Roebourne has been almost completely swept away in places.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

We are indebted to a saloon passenger on the Albany for the following narrative of the passage:--

Cossack, March 22.

The steamer Albany was delayed on the trip down through terrific weather after passing Onslow. We left Onslow at 4.30 a.m, but had to put back to anchor for the night. We started again at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning, and at about 11 a.m. met with a heavy storm, which lasted unceasingly until Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock. Considerable damage and loss was incurred, 50 sheep and two valuable bulls being destroyed. The seats on deck were forced up and floated about, doing much damage and causing water to flow into the cabins plentifully, keeping the men busy bailing out all the time. Several small boats were rendered useless, and the rudder was disabled at about 9.50 o'clock on Sunday night, after which we were at the complete mercy of a raging sea. We highly commend Captain Odman for his untiring efforts and unselfishness displayed during a most critical time, and regret to say that he sustained a severe fall on the navigating bridge rendering him prostrate for a fow minutes. However, he did not leave his post, although he received a large gash on the side of the head, as well as many bruises. The pains-taking officers, as well as the whole crew, also deserve much credit. Mrs. J. C. Smythe was tho only lady passenger, and there were six gentlemen passengers, namely Captain Owen, Messrs. E. T. Elliott, M. Dwyer, R. A. Williams, J. Fealey, and S. Lobascher, all of whom had their luggage damaged by water.