THE ROTOMAHANA ACCIDENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1014, 6 August 1883, Page 2

THE ROTOMAHANA ACCIDENT.

Captain Carey makes the following statement regarding the mishap co the Rotomahana, which it will be seen differr considerably from that given by the Press Association co-respondent;—We were steering along our ordinary course, and took our departure from Slope Point. I saw (he Brothers’ Point and Waikawa Harbor. Slope Point was the last point of land we saw," and we passed it about three or four miles off. We shaped our course west by south, which would take us fully three miles off the shallow part We were goiugabouteightor nine knots,and 1 think tho current must have taken her in. There was at the time a slight swell from the southward, and the wind was off the shore. At 3a.m. I shaped the course west by south off Slope Point. The second officer, Mr Gresham, was on the look-out bridge, and I was on the hurricane bridge, looking out for the Dog Island light at the time of the casualty. It was about 3 45 a. m. when the second officer telegraphed “stop.” I rushed to the telegr iph on the hurricane deck, and ordered “full speed astern.” The second officer had seen what he thought to be breakers on the port bow. He saw a white streak, and immediately telegraphed “stop” acting with great promptitude. As soon as I telegraphed “ full speed astern,” I went up on the look-out bridge and took charge, the second officer going to his station at the boats. After going full speed astern for some short time, and the vessel’s way havi g been stopped, she touched lightly. The currant then slewed her round like a top, sending her round so as to head northward in two or three minutes. Then I put the helm hard aport to try and get her off. Tho engines were going full speed astern all the time, and the vessel touched on the siern, bumping rather heavily, and I put the helm hard aport again and went ahead. The lead was kept going and we found the ship was forging ahead. The man reported from five to seven fathoms. I then saw a rock on the starboard blow, and at once went astern again ; put the helm a starboard and slowed along the shore, bringing Slope Point on the starboard bow, the vessel heading to the eastward. That was the only outlet I could see, and I went for three or four minutes that way. The man at the lead reported seven, nine and eleven fathoms, and then for a time he gave “No bottom.” I said “ What is it now?" and he replied, “Seventeen fathoms, and no bottom.” The vessel, I think, must have touched on the edge of the reef. When we got into seventeen fathoms of water I stopped, and then saw the Dog Island light bearing about west, but only saw the light twice. We stayed in that position till daylight, and then steamed for the Bluff, arriving there about 9.30 a. m. I cannot account for the vessel striking on the reef, except by supposing that a current set her in shore. The course taken should have cleared everything. We had two logs over, and I tested them at the Nuggets, and found only a mile difference between them in 50 miles. When the vessel struck every man went to his station. The boats were lifted off the chocks ready for swinging out. The p issengers behaved splendidly. ■ >ne man came on the bridge, out went away immediately I told him. The ship only struck heavily twice. I think we must have gone astern against tho ledge of ihe reef, but the first bump must have been on the sand.” [ey telegraph.] Dunedin, To-day. Tho Rotomahana was docked to-day and found to have sustained serious injuries. The aft stern frame is broken 9in below the boss ; the keel piece is broken, six feet of it being gone; two feet pf the stern post is broken off; forty-three feet of the keel showing larboard streaks. Both' sides are twisted on tho starboard side about amidships, and there are several large : deni 8. Some rivets started abreast the j port side and there are several smaller j dents. One blade of the propeller is ( broken right off, and three others are j broken. No damage has been done forward. Her repairs will take a consider- j able time. <