THE STRANDED TYRONE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 8

THE STRANDED TYRONE.

.EFFORT TO FLOAT HER,

DIVER'S SURVEY UNFINISHED

(By Tolesraoh.—Preaa Association.) Dunedin, October 1. A stiff -nor'-easter sprang Tip this mviii.ng, and made tho continuance of preliminary' operations in connection with tho attempt to refloat tho Tyrone practically impossible. Tho tug Plucky left I'ort Chalmers in the morning, towing a punt on which had been placed a 16 Ji.p. boiler and some other gear, but it was deemed inadvisable) to proceed outside the Heads, and tho punt was accordingly moored at Harrington Point and the tug returned to Port Chalmers. It is hoped that tho weather will havo sufficiently moderated by tomorrow to enable operations to be gone on with. The Maitai, arriving to-morrow morning, is bringing a quantity of salvage gear, and tho Terawhiti is expected to-night or early in tho morning. ' The Harbour Board's tug Koputai, s with several members of the board ana others interested, went out to the scene of t-lie disaster to-day. The vessel presented a rather desolate appearance, but she sat as firm as a rock, and seemed cither to bo down at tlio bows or else resting 011 something very solid at tho stem. Tho waves were washing tip against her side, and throwing spray. 011 to tho decks forward, but she stood immovable. The salvage party seem to liavo a pretty stiff problem confronting them, but-, until the diver has completed his survey, there can bo nothing more than conjecture as to the extent of the injuries. ,

IN WAR TIME. ONE MEMORABLE VOYAGE. Tiie Tyrono was 'one of the transports engaged in bringing back troops to Australia from the Cape, at the close of hostilities in South Africa in 1902. In those days she 1 answered to tho nam& of Drayton Grango. Slio made two trips' in this connection, and tho following reminiscences concern tho latter of these voyages, when, with 2300' souls oil board, she left Durban for Albany, Melbourne, and Sydnay. Tho troops were a miscellaneous gathering of "Tommies," comprising sections from Thorneycroft'a Scouts, Australian Brigade, N.S.W. Bushmen, Australian Commonwealth Horso, and N.S.W. Mounted Rilles. As may be imagined some difficulty was experienced in stowing away such a number of then; but by utilising every available inch of space tho returning soldiers wero quartered in a maimer, completely filling tbreo decks. They slept in hammocks, which'wero slung oyer the tables*'at which t'hoy had their meals, 16 men to a table, bin the real crush was felt when an adjournment was made to tho 'deck after tho last meal of the day. A theatre crowd was a very ordinary affair to tho solid block of men which pressed against each other. Under such conditions 'sickness broke out, and-betwecn Durban and Albany 14 men were carricd off by pneumonia, and 75 men wero transferred to the shore hospital on arrival at St. Kilda in a critical condition, suffering from t-h-3 same malady.

The.moil (says one who was on board) were- a decidedly miscellaneous lot. Among them were soma redoubtable boxing men, and. one of these became rather a source of dread to the military police.

The police had to use every discretion in maintaining order. And, in this particular case, it was deemed unsafe to make any concerted attempt to arrest the man, and tho police tried to take him one at a time. He, however, gave live highly-scientific demonstrations of boxing. The remaining police decided to call a temporary truce. The pugilist then amused himself by smashing electric light globes.'

The men. wore paid off, for their servico during the voyage,: many of them receiving considerably over £100. Gaming coteries were much in evidence, this being practically tho only recreation, Gieat ingenuity was displayed in devising new hazards, though tho ancient game of "two-up" (played with sovereigns) found most general support. Tho climax in this respect was reached on the run between 'Albany and Melbourne, during which time the Melbourno Cup was run. Data regarding tho horses was obtainod at Albany, and, in duo course, several extemporised bookmakers presented themselves attired in rakish and sportivo garb, witli the regulation bag at side, and a brisk business was done. Oil the day of the steamer's arrival in Melbourne, the "Age" printed a page of protest regarding the conditions 'on board. Up till that time the men had seemingly grown,accustomcd to their crabbed and confined quarters, but tho picture drawn by the "Age" worked on them, and tlioy sliowed their feelings by, attempting to man the boats and toko French leave. Tho captain checkmated by steaming out to sea, and on to Sydney, where a memorable voyago terminated.

REINSURANCES AT LLOYD'S. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. Octobor 1, 11.20 p.m.) London, Ootober 1. The Tyrone lias been reinsured at fifty guineas per cent.