THE STRANDING OF THE TRIUMPH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1015, 3 December 1883, Page 2

THE STRANDING OF THE TRIUMPH.

[by TELEGKA PH ] Auckland, Ye t wday. The Waitaki, Oleuelg, and lona have returned from the Triumph at Tiritiri. At 7 30 this morning ihs* steamers named, with the Argyle, which had been lying by the vessel at night, made a united effort to tow the steamer “ft' the reef, but after over an hour s tri ti it had to be abandoned as uusuccos&fol. The mode adopted was as follows :—Tho Gienelg took a hawser from off the starboard bow, a'd steamed at right angles ; the Waitaki took a hawser from the sern, and proceeded out, while the lout and Argyle also to k a similar hawser. All being in readiness, the signal was given from the Triumph, and together the vessels named went full spe d ahead, and the Triumph full speed astern The engineer of the Triumph states the engines u -ver d;d such work, it being difficult to stand up on the deck through the vibiation of the engines, which were working io their utmost p over, 2,000 horse. During th ; experiment tom s delay was caused owing to the strong tide rip, which set off tho steamers abreast of the Triumuh, consequently tho full benefit of their towing p over was not obtained, sti 1 there is no doubt that oven it tho full power had been obtained she cou'd not have been go: off, being too firmly fixed on the reef, and hat position is not in any way altered. It has now been derided to fill the after part of the vessel with ballast and to ■ a':e out all cargo, etc , from the fore pa t, and then make another effort to tow the vessel off The .lass since Saturday his neon falling, and, although at present blowing very fresh £r->m the west, which d.es not imperil the safety of the Triumph, there is every indication of it coming in from the northeast. In such a case she will hive to be abandoned, as no vessel could go alongside to render assist moe. The ketch L’zstte, while lightering during the heavy westerly squall this morning, carried away her bulwarks and stove in the top of a portion of the port side. Tho captain of tho Triumph h.s his boats slung out with life buoys in case of sudden change of wind, in order to provide for eventualities. The Argyle remains in attendance The officers and crew appear to take things quietly, apparently accepting the inevitable with a spirit of resignation. The score of Chinese firemen a e the most unconcerned of all. The Waitaki on Saturday took several hundred excursionists from Auckland to the scene of tho disaster, and a number of photographers to take view. of the scene. shortly before the Triumph struck on the south-east point of Tiritiri, tfie lighthouse keeper on duty observed the steamer standing towards the island. He took it to be the Stella coming with stores for the lighthouse, as they knew she was :n Auckland. As she got close to the lighthouse the keeper saw it was a much larger vesse', and went and roused his mate, who turned out to see tho sight. They commenced joking together, saying the steamer was gjing to rush tho lighthouse and jump their claim. As the steamer still stood on, they felt sure something serious was wrong. The officer on duty returned to his post at the lighthouse and his mate went down the face of the cliff, calling as loudly as possible to the steamer, which warning was evidently not heard, as she still kept straight on for the shore. Shortly afterwards he heard the noisjofthe vessd grinding oc the reef and a confused sound of voices on board. He then called out again, “ You’re ashore,” and the reply was, “ Yea ; where are wo ?” The lighthouse keeper replied, “On Tiritiri itself.” A voice called out, “ How far are we off?” He responded, “ Don’t I toll you you are on Tiritiri itself. Is tho vessel damaged 1” The reply was, “ Don’t know ; am going to back off” He called out again, “You had better fire a rocket ashore with line attached,” and he struck a match to show them where to throw it. The rocket was not thrown, and no further information vouchsafed from the steamer, and the lighthouse keeper returned to his quarters. Auckland, To-day. Tho steamer Triumph lies in the same position to-day. A proposal has been made to lighten tho vessel by the removal of cargo and to attempt to draw her off by employing a Union Company’s steamer. This would probably give power enough to tear the plates in her bow completely out. Later. The captain of the Triumph has abandoned tho vessel to the underwriters, considering it impossible to get her off.