3-066-011 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Steering spar contrivance for H.M.S. Bacchante after the squall, 1881. 'Prince Albert Victor and Prince George of Wales, serving their Queen and country on board H.M.S. Bacchante, have had to look out for squalls. We are favoured by a correspondent from that ship with [a sketch representing] the condition of the Bacchante when caught in a heavy squall in the South Indian Ocean...She had her sails split, several sheets carried away, the fore-topgallant mast sprung, and the topmast studsail carried clean out of the bolt-ropes, as the wind shifted suddenly to the starboard beam. Again, when the Bacchante approached Cape Leeuwin...she met with another disaster. The wind suddenly shifted about two points, and the ship "broached to," and was struck by a heavy sea. One life-boat was carried away from her quarter, while the other life-boat was forced in-board, breaking the davits, and striking the rudder-head. It gave such a violent wrench to this, that the rudder was disabled, and it became necessary to rig up a temporary steering-apparatus. It consisted of two spars lashed together, and towed directly under the stern, to the aft ends of which two hawsers were affixed, one leading on each side of the ship, through a block on the end of the spars'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.