CAN SHE TOW OFF?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 5

CAN SHE TOW OFF?

THE BEACHED LINER.

FIGHT FOR S.S. INDRABARAH THE LATEST REPORTS. HER BOW HAULED SEAWARD/ Get her oil? Is she a gamble or som<y thing more certain? Thin is what thoaa interested in tlio fight for tho Indrabarah are asking. Whether she wilL remain on Hangitikei beaoli till next spring tides or not, no ono can toll. If she does, ovory. thing depends on tho woatlior. She ii lying on what 1b (and always must bo) a part of the coast t» which charts cni! furnish no cluo since the lie of tho sea floor is subject to great changes. Hor bow, howover, has now teen swung out to point seaward, and this is a great gain in position. There is a conflict of export opinion concerning tho chances of tho Indra liner, and reports received in Wellington yestorday were of a very contradictory nature. Ono was from tho postmaster at Bulls, who is somo 18 rallcs away from tho sceno of tho stranded liner, and tlio other was from Captain Watchlin, of tho Union Company's tug Tcrawhiti, which is in closo touch with tho operations. Captain Watclilin's messages wore of a very reassuring character, and, in view of tlio fact that ho is in chargo of tho ealvaga tug, and is acting under instructions from tho experts on board, his messagog carry weight. Captain Plunkett, Lloyd's Surveyor, who is on board tho Indrabarah, advised tho local agents for Lloyd's (Messrs. Dalgety and Co.) that tho weather on Thursday night was favourable. Ho added that good heaves on tho anchors had been made, and also that tho steamer had been shifted about a quarter of a milo north. At tho timo that the message was dispatched tho Indrabarah was practioally half a mile from tlio beach.

Tho message received from Captain Watchhn indicated that tho Terawhitt was still in tho vicinity of tho Indrabarah, and had been doing good work. For the first time since the Indrabarah became stranded the tug managed to get a towline on board her, and hold tho ship in position until the tide went down. Tho work of laying 1 , No. 1 mushroom anchor was then commcnoed, and it waa land well out to sea.

On the top of high water on Thursday night the Indrabarah's head was turned to sea by shipping a wiro from aft to forward, and pulling on tho anchors. This was responsible for shifting her bowa to tho westward, laying her in a splendid position, for relaunching. At that timo tho Indrabarah was hanging on to No. 8 and No. 4 mushroom anchors, At the timo of the dispatch of tho message yesterday morning tho weather was not very favourable, and it was reported to ba freshening from tho .westward, witli increasing 6ea. In n smooth sea . tho Tcrawhiti could got closo alongeido tho Indrabarah. Given a favourable opportunity, it was anticipated tliat.tho towlino would bo passod aboard at tho first opportunity. Later in tho day the postmaster 'at Bulls advised tho Secretary of tho General Post Office that Mr, Simpson, from Heaton Parle Dill, saw tlio Indrabarah at 9 a.m. yesterday. Ho stated that ono anchor at least would have to be relnid, and tho delay in getting out tho additional six-tan anchor may account for tho stoppage. Tlw boat with all tho experts on board wa9 too far out to make communication easy. As tho tides are now decreasing, it was thought that tho Indrabarah may remain whero elio is for some timo. At 8 p.m. yesterday another message was received from the Postmaster at Dulls. It road as follows:— "The position of tho Indrabarah this evening is much tho same as nt high tide yesterday morning, with tho exception that tho bow has swung round and is now pointing seawards. To-day tho sen has been oonsidorablo, causing the Indrabamh. to como slightly shoreward!!, but she remains nt_ a quarter of a mile off this evening. This makes communication, so difficult that no. ono on land can say with: definiteness what will happen next. Probably a day or two will be taken to relay tho old anclior and get tho ■latest ones into a good position.'.' When spokon to yesterday several seafaring men whoknow tho' locality well were of the opinion that, if what Captain Watchlin had said .was correct, there should bo little difficulty in getting tho Indrabarah into deeper water. It was contended that, if tli» Indrabarah had been shifted tho distance stated, sho must !» practically afloat. With a littlo mora "coaxing," and given favourable weather, slio must bo got off tho beach very soon now. It must bo understood, however, that oveiytbing depends on the weather. From now onwards for a few: days tha tides will decrease in height until spring tides como on again. It is thought that a sandbank has form., ed behind the position which the Indrabarah has vacated. It is to clear this bank that tho vessel has been heaved slantwise (iff tho beach. Tliobo who know tho Rangitikei beach, well stato that there is a sandbank mil out to sea which cont.imies for somo length north and south. It is surmised that the Indrabarah was forced over this Tiy the force of the galo and sea after shejvad stranded. To clear this will ''be a difficult job, but seafaring men in Wellington were very optimistio conooriring tho vessel's chances of boing got off. LOCAL ACCOUNTS. THREE OB FOUR WEEKS YET? , <Hy Tclcjraph.—l'resa Association.) Palmcrston N., Juno G. The latost news appears to indicate tho beginning of a new stage in the Indrabarah's efforts. It will bo remembered that in her quiescence she was lying almost broadside on. to the shore. In such a position it was obviously impossible for lier to pull herself straight out to sea. However bravely she might answer her helm on the high-seas, she certainly could not do it with her keel grooved in sand. She consequently did tho next best thing, sho moved away at a tangent, gaining -at least somo balance of profit from tho operation. During these movements the sea was calm, and there were comparatively no lifting waves to assist in her "coaxing" work. Yesterday. how--1 ever, heavier soas returned, and whether by good seamanship or by the unguided play of the waves, sho turned her nose round straight out to sea. Among the loss optimistio of tho onlookers is Mr, Dalrymple, who owns tho stretch of beach on which tho vessel lies. Il'o states that tho Indrabarah lies on a bar, or sand-shelf, whicli extends for half a mile from tho shoro. Assuming that' the vessel is hatf-way over this shelf, sho 6till has a quarter of a milo to travel bo for o she can drop into deep water. Others arc of opinion that tho vessel has drifted in-shoro siitco the lionvy weal her returned. Mr. Dalrymple thinks that, in any case, three or fpur weeks will elapse before tlife vessel will be afloat.