THE STRANDED TYRONE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 8

THE STRANDED TYRONE

ON A SANDY BOTTOM. HOPES OP REFLOATING. WHAT THE SURVEY SHOW|. CBy Tclact«.dli.—Proe« Association,) Dunedin, September 29. So far the position in regard to tho wrecked Tyrone remains unchanged. The weather was good to-day, and tho sea calm, and tho vessel at latest advice had not altered her position. This morning a survey party went to the scene of the wreck t-o ascertain, if possible, tho exact position of affairs. The party consisted of Captain M'Lauchlan (master of the Tyrone), Mr. A. Morrison (Lloyd's surveyor), Mr. A. M'lntyre (naval architect, and superintendent of the Union -Company's ship-repairing works at Port Chalmers); and Mr. R. Miller (manager of the firm of Miller Bros., salvers of damaged vessels). This party, accompanied hy Captain J. King (assistant superintendent of the Union Steam Ship Company) and two or three other gentlemen, loft Port Chalmers in one of tho Union Company's motor launches about half;past eleven o'clock. Fortunately for the'enterprise the weather was beautifully fine, and' the sea calm enough to permit of easy access to tho stranded vessel. The members of '.the party left the launches at Ham n S" ton Point, and walked over the hill to tho scene of the wreck, and one of the launches, carrying diving gear, went round the coast to the Tyrone. After arriving at the scene of the wreck, Mr. Harry Pritchard, in charge of the launch, performed an act of . clover seamanship. After circling round in close proximity to the vessel to spy out his way he waited for a favourable opportunity to take his launch under the Tyrone's stern, into smooth water, between tho boat and/the shore. He performed the apparently impossible feat by dashing through a narrow opening 011 the crest of a largo wave. Shortly after diving gear was rigged and working between tho ship and shore. Diver Muller made three descents during the"' day, and so far as was possible made a careful survey of tho vessel's hull. - As a result of his inspection ho reports that the Tyrone is resting firmly on tho level sand, and so far as it lias been seen she was not resting ou any rock whatever. This Jatter information proved to he quite the reverse of the opinions formed by those who had observed tho vessel out from tho seaward side. From information supplied by Mr. Morrison this evening the vessel is, with the exception of one or two holes in her hull, structurally intact, and should sustain no further damage heavy weathor sets in from the south-west. The Union Company's tug Terawhiti is under orders to come down from Wellington with all dispatch, and to-morrow a donkey boiler and two pumps will be sent out to the wreck. . Hopes are entertained that the vessel will bo refloated. . The steamer was insured at Home, so the loss will not fall on the Union Company. ■"