BIG LINER ASHORE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1747, 12 May 1913, Page 5

BIG LINER ASHORE.

NEAR RANGITIKEI RIVES. INDRABARAH STRANDED. FIFTY MEN SILL ON BOARD. HEAVY SEA RUNNING ON COAST.

Tho Tyser liner Indrabarah, ono of the I largest vessels engaged in the New Zea- I land overseas trade, lies stranded on the beach near tho mouth of tlio Rangitikei | River. The first reports of tho disaster, ] which wore received in town on Saturday, stated that the ship was breaking up, and that tho crew were ashore. Neither of these statements was correct. V\ ith the exception I hat her propellers were damaged—to what'extent is not clear—tho vessel was at latest reports sound and watertight. Of the officers and crew, numbering about GO all, some ten carno ashore at. daybreak on Saturday after a perilous experience in the surf. The ship is lying about a quarter of a mile off shore, and the prospects of salving, so far as can be gathered, depend mainly on the weather. She is stuck fast at the bow on a sandy bottom, and there is danger that if heavy seas continue to roll in she may bump and become firmly embedded in the shifting sands. A message received last night stnted that tho seas were breaking right over her stern. It appears that Captain Hollingsworth arrived off Wanganui on Friday evening, and as he could not find an anchorage, headed his vessel out and decided to make a circuit that would bring him back early ,in the morning. It is surmised that ilia ship was carried out of her cotirso by tho tidal current on the coast. Although no lives were lost it is evident that but for the courageous action of Mr. Adcock, tho second officer of the ship, there would have been ope fatality to chronicle. Tho story of Mr. Adcock's exccdingly plucky rcscue of Mr. Ma.nson is told in full below. The Union Company's powerful salvage tug Terawhiti has been dispatched to the s'cene of the wreck, but the latest advices to hand from Bulls contained no word of her arrival. Word from Wanganui at an early hour this morning stated that tho weather was moderating though it was still blowing hard from the south-west. STORY OF THE DISASTER.

SHIP FIRMLY AGROUND. BOAT'S CREW LANDS ON THE BEACH. (By Telegraph.—Prew Association.) V/anganui, May 11. During tho severe westerly gale on Friday night tho Tyser steamer Indrabarah stranded on the beach soveu miles north of tho llangitikei ltiver, and about twenty-five miles from Wanganui. Tho vessel is now lying stern on to tho sea, and there is reported to bo every prospect of refloating her. Tho Indrabarah was bound from Gisborno for Wanganui, to load frozen moat She was due at about nine p.m. on Friday, and is reported to havo arrived off the roadstead, but, the weather being very dirty, she put to sea again, and at fouf o'clock next mornin.g took the bench. Tho land in the vicinity is very low-lying, .with broad belts of sandhills, and at night is very hard to discern. It is estimated that (he steamer is lying nearly half a mile from the shore on a sandy bottom. She is said to be lying as though at anchor, with steam up. , Distress Signals Seen. At six o'clock on Saturday morning a farmer observed distress signals, and went to the beach in tho direction he saw tho rockets. It was rhen fairly dark, but.lie could just make out a boats crew pulling to tho shore from the helpless liner. The boat had a crew of ten, who landed after a perilous trip over tho intervening breakers, which rolled in with great force before a strong westerly. . A Plucky Rescuo. One man named Andrew Manson, a stevedore, was washed out of the boat, and had- it not been for tho efforts of tho second mate, Mr. Adcock, would assuredly have been drowned. Manson was thrown an oar, which lie grasped, and for two hours his battlefor life continued. With awe those on the Indrabarah watched tho struggle. It was then that Mr. Adcock performed a deed of heroism. Despite (he bitterness of tho gale, mid the greater peril to which he was subjecting himself, he stripped, and affixing a life-line, plunged into tho raging surf. After almost superhuman eiforts ho gallantly rescued his comrade, who had by this timo drifted well (o (lie southward. Mr. Manson was on tho Star of Canada at tho time of her wreck. Ho says this was the closest call ho has ever experienced. Mr. Adcock was much exhausted, .but was able to walk to tho nearest farmhouse, that of Mr. Dalrvmplc's, while Manson had ; to be taken on horseback, and afterwards taken to Bulls for mcdical treatment. Accommodation for the Seamen. The settlers displayed great hospitality. The unfortunate, sailors were supplied with a tent and food, and they have pitched camp in a sheltered position, and tho second officer and crcw are standing by, and will return to the vessel as soon as the sea moderates. Since landing, there has been no communication with the vessel. The first report received in Wanganui slated that the Indrabarah was being pounded by heavy seas, and was breaking up fast. She was then lying broadside on, and-bearing the full weielit of the waves. This rcporl is altogether wrong, for the Tndrab:irah is weathering the gale well, though there is danger of her sinking into sind.