LONG STERN PULL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1769, 6 June 1913, Page 6

LONG STERN PULL.

STRANDED TYSER BOAT.

SHIFTING lIER OFF REACH.

HER CHANCES BRIGHT. THE GRAND EFFORT TO-DAY. I<ast night's attempt to pull tiio Ilidrabarah off tlio liungitikei beach failed, but a vory optiinistio view cf her chance is now entertained. From ivporl.t received from Captain Watchlin, of tho Union Company's tug Ternwhiti, yesterday, it seams that sho may bo worked into deep water any timo now, and a vigorous effort is to bo mado at high tido (his morning. Sho lias Ixxm shifted 2,10 fathoms seawards, and at 0 a.m. yesterday was lying in lift, of wator. CnptainWatchlin stated further that tho vessol wns moving seewnrd steadily. Considering the fact that when tho Imlrabornh went ashore sho was drawing 18ft. of water forward and ?1 ft. aft, it is very reosonablo to suppose that alio would bo fully afltyit at high water Inst evening. It is now thought very profiublo that sho will bo towed out into tlio 1 light on this morning's tido; that is, provided tho weather is at all favourable.

In moving a distance of 1500 feet, tho IndrabaTah has ovidently gone well dewn upon two of hor anchors at least, but there are still others, further seaward, to get a purchase on. Ono length of cable,attached to these remaining archors, measures ft mile, and tho other over 500 fathoms. If it is wanted, tho second sixton mushroom anchor which has been taken up by tho'Terawhiti will probably bo laid much further out.

The vessel went ashore at 4 a.m. on May 10. Sho was bound from Gisborno to Wanganui to continue Homeward loading, and arrived off Wanganui Heads abont 9 p.m'. on Friday, May 9. Failing to find an anchorage, Captain Hollingsworth, her' commander, decided to stand oft', as the night was very dirty, and there was., a, tremendous sea running, with a sot 'to the south. It was soon evident that the bdg Indra Lino steamer was dragging inshore, and eventually she grounded on the Kangitikei beach. After locating her position, a lifeboat was lowered, under tho supervision' of tho second oflioer, Mr. Adccck. A tremendous luroh *toro away tho oars, and precipitated a stevodoro (Mr. Manson) into the sea. Tho second, officer managed to rescue Manson, and got him safely ashore. Meanwhilo, tho force of tho galo 'and sea-carried tho steamer round, head to shore. Sho was apparently firmly embedded in the sand, and though hard aground, really looked as though she was merely at anchor. As days passed, however, heavy weather set in and drove tho ship .further on to the beach, with the result that at low water on ono occasion there was only two feet of water under her bow. It then was thought by many that she was doomed, but exports who had formed a good "horse sense opinion of the situation, never doubted that unless something very untoward happened, tho Indrabarah could and would bo floated off. < Immediately on. receipt of the news of stranding in Wellington, Captain Eainoy (Marino Superintendent for tho Ttsct Lino), and Messrs. Daniels and Birkett (salvage experts for the Union Company), left by motor-car for tho scone. Meantime the powerful tug Terawhiti was made ready, and a large quantity of gear was put on board. .Included in this were threo huge mushroom anchors and several heavy hawsers. Tho tug arrived off the stranded vossel on Monday, May 12, but could not do anything for somo days, on account of tho heavy weather on tho coast.

On Saturday, May 17, the steamer Stormbird loft Wellington, and was successful in laying an anchor with a long length of cable attached. The Terawhiti was also successful, in laying an anchor. With these in position, it was anticipated that the Indrabarah would not shift further up the bcachi, and this theory, soundly formed by those engaged in tho work of salvage, proved correct. Subsequently two nuge 6ix-ton' mushroom anchors were manufactured here, and one of them waß laid by the Terar whiti on Juno 1. Attached to this w\is a mile of four-inch and five-inch wire cable. On every available occasion tho Indrabarah pulled on theso anchors, and on Sunday, June 1, sho was shifted sear wards a lew feet. At that time experts held the opinion that the stranded vessel would be refloated last evening.

Early yesterday morning a messago was received from Captain Watehlin of tho Terawhiti, which stated that at about 9 a.m. "the Indrabarah had been shifted seaward 250 fathoms, and was then tn 17ft. of water. Sho was still moving steadily seaward. It was higft spring tide at 10.25 p.m. yesterday and it was between, that hour and midnight that it was considered that tho Indrabarah would bo refloated.

When the first news was received stating that tho vessel was in 17ft. of water hopes of getting her off practically rose to a oertainty. It will be remembered that, when she went ashore, the Indra/barah was drawing 21ft. of water aft and 18ft. forward. On the faco of things it' was practically, certain that she would bo refloated on last night's tide. It is probablo that the vessel will como to Wellington under her own steam, and escorted by tho Terawhiti. It was reported that one of tllo propellers had been damaged, but, as she is a twin-screw vessel, it will not bo very difficult for her to make port under her own steam. There is lio doubt that those who have had charge of the salvage operations liavo done excellent work in getting the Indrabarah off the Rangitikei beach. Captain Hollingsworth has always been hopeful, and Captain l'lunkett, Lloyd's surveyor, when interviewed by a Doiiinion reporter on May 23 was very optimistic regarding refloating the vessel. The four anchors which wero put out seawards have dono their work, and dono it well. Evidently the Indrabarah has practically been "coaxed" off. As soon as the anchors wero known, to have held, the pull began. The first effort was to get tho Indrabarah "alive" in her bed. To effect this, a strain was cut on tho hawsers, and as the vessel worked, the tendency was for her to move towards the anchors. 'The slack of the hawsers was then taken in bv the winches, and thus she was gradually edged towards deeper water. All the reports received from tho Indrabarah have stated that she wag making no water, and it seems therefore certain that her original cargo is uninjured. She shipped the following lines at tire under-men-tioned ports:—From Gisbome: 264 bales of wool, 405 casks tallow, 132 casks pelts, 12 542 carcasses mutton, 3129 carcasses lamb, and 1280 quiarteTs beef. From Auckland ; 50 tons of flax, and between 500 and 000 cases of kauri gum. From Napier: 43 000 carcasses of mutton, 700 casks of fallow. 400 bales of wool, and 205 bales of flax. From Wellington (by the Gear Meat Company): 15,000 carcasses of mutton and 250 casks of tallow. MESSAGE FROM BEACH. STEAMER SHIFTED 1200 FEET. (By Tclecrrftpii.—Press Association.] Palmerston, Juno 5. The grand effort to refloat tho Indrabarah will be made (o-night at 10.30, when the tido will be at its highest. Hie latest news procurable bv telephone to-night from a residence within five miles of tlio stranded steamer reported progress up to 8 p.m. At that hour tho steamer , had shifted 250 fathoms as tho result of hauling on the big mushroom anchors. Tho sh"ift had been mostly parallel witlu tho shore towards AYangnnui, and a littlo out to sea. The steamer's distanco from tho shore now :is a quarter of a mile. Tho vessel's stern points north, and lies almost broadside on to the shore. It will be impossible to obtain any news to-night of the grand effort, as it will take a horseman more than an hour to reacti. the nearest residence after leaving tho beach.