Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: dragoncity on June 20, 2005, 07:27:22 AM
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From what little I have read in the subject, Murray River Paddlers rarely (
if ever) used Feathering Paddles as they were too complex and prone to damage
by snags and sandbars, etc.
If dammaged they would need a proper workshop to repair, and considering the
nearest workshop might be 1000 River MILES away !
So the 'efficiency' was also measured in 'repairable' terms as well in MRP's
case.
it lead to the expression : "up S..t creek, without a paddle!"
Beautiful they may be but they are just not worth the effort, of couse if
your scale model has them then it should.
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Hi Brett - from memory, the only reference to a MRP with feathering paddles [from Ships of the Inland Rivers]
was the 1856 PS MOOLGEWANKE [Napier & Webb Glasgow] - imported in sections & assembled at Leferve
In 1904 she burnt to the waterline & her paddles went to another newer hull, but that name escapes me
I think the name MOOLGEWANKE sounds more Scottish than OZ, but whoever picked it should have had a
rethink - Derek
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> I think the name MOOLGEWANKE sounds more Scottish than OZ, but
whoever picked it should have had a
> rethink - Derek
Yes, Derek..definitely a rather unfortunate name and so fervently
hoping you didn't drop a "R" from the end of it!
PJ
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G'day Derek and other PDers,
I don't know whether you've googled Moolgewanke yet so I've posted
below a short story re the explosion in 1874. Apparently the hull was
still perfectly sound after the explosion (the energy from the
explosion must have been directed out and up) and was subsequently
rebuilt (poss. converted into a barge) which later, as you note,
burnt to the waterline in 1904.
The name is an Aboriginal dialect for 'Yeti' or 'Bigfoot' or some
such similar Aussie beast, so pre-dates your Scots ancestors Derek ;-)
Tks by the way for the photo post of the cotter pin solution - nice
and simple, mate. Looks as solid as a rock.
cheers
Tony
Auckland, NZ
where the weather is 27 C, humidity in the mid 90%s, with a wind
gusting to 35kts in exposed places - windy, hot and moist, not much
fun at all!
--------------------------
The Moolgewanke Calamity
Reported in the Observer newspaper, Aug 1, 1874
In a communication dated July 24, we learn that on Tuesday, news flew
up and down the river that a fatal explosion had occured on board the
steamer Moolgewanke, at James Long's hut, Big Bend. On visiting the
place it proved only too true. The steamer had arrived before
daylight in the morning, and had blown the whistle to let Long know
she was there. He got up, crossed a small lagoon that lay between his
place and the ship, and could not have reached her many minutes
before the dreadful explosion took place.
It is supposed that he, the cook (a Chinaman named Sam Son,) and a
Robert Rust (a stoker) were taking coffee when they were thrown in
the air. The last-named two fell side by side on the bank, about four
or five yards on the shore, while poor Long was carried, with a large
piece of the boiler, between 70 to 80 yards, and was only prevented
from going further by coming in contact with the upper branches of
trees and falling down through them, broken all over, and nearly
undressed - his coat, waistcoat, braces, and comforter being left at
different distances from the ship's side to where he lay, showing
plainly the line in which he was thrown.
The Chinaman had no limbs broken, but was scalded and bruised all
over, and was seen to be alive by others of the crew for a few
minutes after they turned out. The engineer was blown into the river
with the whole of his cabin, and awoke in the water, but managed to
swim and get hold of the ship's side, and is only bruised on the
thigh.
Captain Fuller and the rest of the crew, with one passenger - eight
in number - including the engineer, were in bed, and would have been
on deck a few minutes later. The ship at a distance looks nearly all
right, except that her funnel in lying on the top of her deck-house;
but on looking into her she presents a strange, torn appearance as
far as her woodwork is concerned.
-
G'day Derek and other PDers,
I don't know whether you've googled Moolgewanke yet so I've posted
below a short story re the explosion in 1874. Apparently the hull was
still perfectly sound after the explosion (the energy from the
explosion must have been directed out and up) and was subsequently
rebuilt (poss. converted into a barge) which later, as you note,
burnt to the waterline in 1904.
The name is an Aboriginal dialect for 'Yeti' or 'Bigfoot' or some
such similar Aussie beast, so pre-dates your Scots ancestors Derek ;-)
Tks by the way for the photo post of the cotter pin solution - nice
and simple, mate. Looks as solid as a rock.
cheers
Tony
Auckland, NZ
where the weather is 27 C, humidity in the mid 90%s, with a wind
gusting to 35kts in exposed places - windy, hot and moist, not much
fun at all!
--------------------------
The Moolgewanke Calamity
Reported in the Observer newspaper, Aug 1, 1874
In a communication dated July 24, we learn that on Tuesday, news flew
up and down the river that a fatal explosion had occured on board the
steamer Moolgewanke, at James Long's hut, Big Bend. On visiting the
place it proved only too true. The steamer had arrived before
daylight in the morning, and had blown the whistle to let Long know
she was there. He got up, crossed a small lagoon that lay between his
place and the ship, and could not have reached her many minutes
before the dreadful explosion took place.
It is supposed that he, the cook (a Chinaman named Sam Son,) and a
Robert Rust (a stoker) were taking coffee when they were thrown in
the air. The last-named two fell side by side on the bank, about four
or five yards on the shore, while poor Long was carried, with a large
piece of the boiler, between 70 to 80 yards, and was only prevented
from going further by coming in contact with the upper branches of
trees and falling down through them, broken all over, and nearly
undressed - his coat, waistcoat, braces, and comforter being left at
different distances from the ship's side to where he lay, showing
plainly the line in which he was thrown.
The Chinaman had no limbs broken, but was scalded and bruised all
over, and was seen to be alive by others of the crew for a few
minutes after they turned out. The engineer was blown into the river
with the whole of his cabin, and awoke in the water, but managed to
swim and get hold of the ship's side, and is only bruised on the
thigh.
Captain Fuller and the rest of the crew, with one passenger - eight
in number - including the engineer, were in bed, and would have been
on deck a few minutes later. The ship at a distance looks nearly all
right, except that her funnel in lying on the top of her deck-house;
but on looking into her she presents a strange, torn appearance as
far as her woodwork is concerned.