Ruskin logs, 1914-1918 / Alfred Ruskin - Page 48

[Page 48]

24th.
Collier Fullerton arrived and secured alongside Sydney. As we had a large amount of coal to get in than we ever had before, Capt. and Officers and everybody coaled. The heat was terrific but the ship's Company stuck it well, not one fell out. While coaling Aux. Cruiser Edinburgh Castle and another Collier S S "Thornhill" arrived. The E. Castle patrolled while Sydney coaled. Sydney took in 1,080 Tons of coal.

26th.
At 8 AM weighed and proceeded close up to E. Castle and 2 Colliers for fresh provisions. E. Castle, 2 Colliers sailed at intervals during the day so as to be 20 miles apart. Sydney had to remain behind to send down divers to Clear her inlet valves, they had got choked owing to very shallow water we had been steaming in when searching round Carapaporis Channel. Sydney eventually arrived sailed at 11.45 AM. Passed the sternmost Collier at 4 PM. and got in station by 5 PM. The Plan arranged was for the E. Castle, Thornhill, Fullerton to sweep south in a line about 20 miles apart.

27th.
At midnight course was altered to South. This brought the sweeping ship from line ahead to line abrest 20 miles apart. Swept South to Abrohos [Abrolhos] Rock off Brazil (nothing doing).

March 1915.
Tuesday 4th.
At 6 AM. arrived at Abrolis Rocks found HMS "Carwana", "Vindictive" there in charge of a large convoy of supply ships. HMS Carnarvon had struck an uncharted Rock of Rio de Janeiro.