THE INDRABARAH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1753, 19 May 1913, Page 5

THE INDRABARAH.

HER CHANCES NOW. REFLOATING READY TO BEGIN. TWO BOATS ALONGSIDE. TO BE COAXED OFF: NOT TOWEIJ. Tho real business in refloating tho stranded steamer Indrabaroh is about to commence. Everything now depends oil tho weather. Tho coastal steamer Stormbird left for tho scene 011 Saturday evening, taking with lier throe Jingo coils of 21-inck wiro rope, as well as a three-ton mushroom anchor. She also carried a crato continuing pigeons, nnd these carried news of what ivns done at i lie wreck yesterday back to The Dourxion office, 'l.'ho first bird was liberated at 8.30 a.m., and came home in a little over two hours and a half. Tlio second pigeon was liberated at 1.15 p.m., and arrived home at i p.m. Following arc the messages received from tho Stormbird yesterday:— Arrived 8 a.m. Sunday. Wind, light N.W.; 110 sen; weather fine; Indrabarah lying broadside on; liead' to couth; weather prospects good; barometer, 29.78; running lines to steamer, under present conditions should finish by 3 p.m. Terawhiti has just arrived from _Wanganui (8.32 a.m.). Slip ii assisting us to lay the anchor. —J, Crotty, master. Tho second pigeon brought the follow nig:— Anchor laid under instructions at 32.30 p.m. Sunday. At present sending wires to Indrabarah. Wind and sea show slight increaso sinco morning. Wind N.W. Unless further instructed expect to leave for Wellington by 4 p.m.—J. Crotty, master. Late 011 Saturday evening Mr. W. A, Kennedy, local manager for tho Union Company, was advised that tho Terawhiti had been successful in laying all anchor on Saturday afternoon. Under these circumstances it is reasonable to suppose that all the four mushroom anchors liavo now boen laid. From tho above messages it appears that the Storm-, bird and Terawhiti nave been doing good work. 'Wlion Captain Crotty left Wellington 011 Saturday evening it was Ms intention to go as close to tho stranded Indrabarah as possible. If the weather proved too rough to mako a connection with tho surf-boat it was Captain Crotty's intention to use a rocket (run and tlius throw .1 lino over the Indrabarah from his own vessel. _ Tliis done the remaining worn of getting the wiro hawsers on board tin liner would bo plain railing. A report received by the Secretary ol tho Post Office from tho Postmaster at Bulls yesterday stated that both the Terawhiti and Stormbird wero alongside tho Indrabarah. If this message was correct tile depth of water round a certain part of tho Indrabarah must be over 13ft.—the draught of tho Terawhiti. It must also mean that tho steamers were alongside at high tide. If this happened to be the case the work of lightering the Indrabarah's cargo has been decreased to a minimum. Assuming that all the anchors are securely in position and ihe iviro haii'serj made fast on board tho Indrabarah, (hero is little or 110 chance of her being forced higher up on tho beach in rough weather. 0 Not to bo Towed, but "Coaxed." Many people are -under tlio impression that tho Indrabarah will be "towed" off tlio beach. This idea is not correct. Tin? proccss is really a gradual "coaxing" one, and this will be begun at high spring tides, perhaps to-day. The first effort will ire to get tho Indrabarah "working" in her bed. To effect this a strain is put U]x>n tho hawsers, and as the vessel "works" the tendency is for her to move toivards tho anchors. Tlio "slack" is then taken up by ineans of tho stranded ship's winches, and thus, inch by inch tho vessel is coaxed towards deeper water. Afterwards, if all goes well, the tugs bogin in earnest. It may be mentioned that the suction, underneath a vessel of tlio Indrabaruh's sizp is strong, and 11 st.rnjght null against that, combined with the. weight of the ship, would moan Hint, every rope and hawser would be broken. Then, again, if the IndrabaTah heaved straight ahead with her winches she would probably di? lodge tho anchors. A Long Hawser Laid. Mr. Birkett, who, together with _Mr. Daniels, is in charge of salvage operations for the Union Company, advised his local office yesterday that a wire hawser 3t(' fathoms in length, had been laid on Satur d:iv, nnd also t hat a second wiro would probably be laid yesterday afternoon. , Two Steamers Alongside. The Secretary of tho Post Office was advised by the postmaster at Bulls yesterday that tlie position, of the Indrabarah was the same as it has been sinco last Monday, May 12. The sea continues high. venting progress in towing operations, \bout !iOO people visited tho scene yesterday. The Terawhiti nnd Stormbird were alongside. Captains liainey and Plunkctt and Mr. Daniols aro ou board tlio liidj'abarnh. For the purpose of replenishing stores and water, the Union .Company s salvage tug Terawhiti went to Wangiuuu 011 Saturday evening. Warship Proposal Abandoned. The proposal to utilise the b'attlo-cruisGff New Zealand in towing off the s,trand<!(, Indrabarah has been definitely abandoned. The Frimo Minister informed a reporter last evening that Captain Ilalsey had been quite willing to make tho attempt provided that it did not interfere too much with his arrangements. Mr. Slasser also was consulted, and declared himself tin it© willing that tho attempt should bo made. Tho owners of the Indrabarah, however, aro of opinion that ijn warship could not get near enough to bo of very much assistance, and it lios therefore been determined to rely on other means in attempting to refloat the stranded ship.

REINSURANCE, By TelosrrßDli—Press Aesoclation-Oopyrirht (l!ec. May 17. 5.5 p.m.) London, _Mny li. The Indrabarnli lias been «siusurcd a\ forty prr cent