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| S.S Boveric 1906 |
The anxiety which was felt regarding the overdue steamer Boveric was relieved to an extent today by the receipt of a telegram from Fremantle announcing, as was generally surmised, that the vessel had met with no more serious misadventure than the loss of her propellor. This, under the circumstances, welcome news was brought by the chief officer of the Boveric, Mr Hayman, who together with three of the crew of the Boveric had sailed 1500 miles in an open lifeboat to seek assistance for the disabled vessel.
The heroic adventurers were picked up off the coast near Fremantle on Wednesday afternoon by the steamer Willyama, and brought on by that vessel to the Western Australian port they had had a long and arduous experience, having been no less than 27 days in the life before they were discovered, and their cruise has probably established a record as regards distance and time in lifeboats
At the time of her mishap the Boveric was approximately 500 miles north of the regular track of steamers coming from South Africa, and the chances of her being discovered by vessels coming from the Cape were remote. When going from Australia to South Afica steamers especially those with live stock on board-proceed over a much higher latitude than that taken by vessels coming the reverse way. The object of this is to escape, as far as possible, the strong westerly winds which sweep the lower latitudes of the Southern Ocean. More favourable conditions are found over the higher latitudes, and it was for this reason that the Boveric, with her valuable freight of 960 horses on board, was ordered to steer a course between the parallels of 28° and 32°. Upon the receipt of the news of the accident the Howard Smith Company entered into negotiations for the despatch of one or two steamers from Western Australia to search for the disabled vessel. The company has not at present a steamer in the west which would be suitable for such a mission, and they are therefore arranging for assistance outside their own fleet. The negotiations which are in progress were not concluded up to tonight but it is almost certain that aid will be sent to the helpless steamer to morrow.
The voyage of the Boveric began inauspiciously for Mr Hayman, the chief officer, and there seemed a prospect at one time that he would not be able to go away in her. Whilst the last batch of horses was being shipped at Port Melbourne the day before the departure of the vessel one of the animals made a savage attack with its teeth on Mr Hayman, inflicting an ugly wound on one of his shoulders. The injured officer suffered acutely from the effects of the bite but resolutely stuck to his post. Mr Hayman is well known in connection with coastal shipping Before joining the Howard Smith line he was in the service of the Adelaide S.S. Company, Limited. Although it is understood that the Boveric is amply provided with provisions for the crew, there is grave doubt as to how the horses will fare in event of the voyage being much further prolonged. When the Boveric left here she took sufficient fodder to last the animals for 45 days, but it is more than likely that when the accident occurred their daily allowance of fodder was reduced in order to provide as far as possible for a protracted sojourn at sea. The vessel has now been 48 days out from this port the opinion is expressed by several nautical men that a vessel following the course of the prevailing current from the spot where the Boveric began to drift would probably be swept across to the coast of Mauritius.
The manager for Howard Smith and Co. received a telegram tins afternoon from the chief officer of the Boveric at Fremantle as follows : -"Boveric lost her propeller April 3, latitude 30°42 south longitude 93 42 east drifting till 11th, when chief officer left, about 25 miles per day north-west directions Should be well northward of Australian-South African track " .
For those who like a happy ending
The Boveric arrived at Freemantle in tow of the steamer Narrunm, which turned back from her journey to South Africa to render this service. The passengers and crew of the Boveric, and the horses on board, are well and in splendid condition.
Sources
1902 'THE S.S. BOVERIC.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 9 May, p. 7, viewed 8 May, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14440755
1902 'THE BOVERIC.', The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954), 16 May, p. 3, viewed 8 May, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72847971
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