STEAMER ASHORE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 170, 8 April 1918, Page 6

STEAMER ASHORE

ON SEATOUN BEACH PULLED OFF BY THE TERAWHITI A steamer, which is visiting these waters in connection with a special mission lind an exciting experience iu Saturday evening. In order to bo ready to go to sea as soon as the weather moderated tho steamer left Wellington between 3 and i p.m. on Saturday, and dropped anchor m Worser Bay, close in to the Marine Parade, which stretches from tho Seatoun wharf eastward towards the Pinnacles. It was blowing a furious north-wester-ly gale, which developed vicious rain squalls, and which blotted out the hills completely on tho other side of tho entrance. ' Between 7 and 8 p.m. the anchor dragged, and before enough steam could bo raised to steam offshore the steamer had drifted broadside on to the loose shingly beach, which forms the eastern extremity of the Seatoun Waterfront, about halfway between the Seatoun wharf and the Pinnacles. Had she drifted another halfmile to tho eastward she would most probably have encountered serious trouble in the reef that extends seaward from tho north-eastern corner of Seatoun. As it was, the vessel rested on an even keel ona soft sand and shingle bottom. The news of tho unfortunate predicament of the vessel was soon abroad. On the steamer's plight becoming known at Fort Dorset, a powerful searchlight was kept steadily on the vessel, casting a brilliant light on the stormy scone, and throwing every detail of the vessel's rigging and deck hamper into bold silhouette. Little could bo done, however, during tho night under such conditions to easo tho vessel's position, but the news of the mishap was conveyed to AVellington, following on which instructions were given for the Union Steam Ship Company's tug Tcrawhiti to make ready to stand by at daylight with tho uccossary hauling gear. From the earliest hour of daylight yesterday the stranded steamer, still 'sitting upright in tho sand, wns the cynosure of all eyes along the entrance waterfront. During the forenoon the big steel hawser of the Terawhiti was bent on to the stem bollards of the steamer, whilst the Janie Seddon hauled on a line astern. As little impression was made by the attempt to pull the vessel off broadside, it was decided that there would be a bettor chance of getting her off by n steady stern, pull. This course was 'followed for two Tiours before high-water (12.31 p.m.) The Terawhiti, aided bythoNatone, which took a manila hawser out ahctad of tho more powerful tug, kept a steady strain on the stern of tho stranded vessel. As it grew near midday those on shore could seo that soundings were being taken astern, a signaller high up near the bridge flapped his red and white flags in tho gala, and in response the Terawhiti, showing a full head of steam, went "full a,head," the hawser tautened out, and the steamer's propeller lashed the waves. For the first few minutes of the supreme effort there was no movement perceptible from the shore. 'At 1.1.40 the stern of the vessel swung slightly outward, and the strain being maintained, the vessel w:,is seen to be moving slowly but snnuly seaward. Ten minutes later the steamer was afloat, but a minute or two afterwards some consternation was expressed at the spectacle of tho steamer once more headed for tho shore, from whose grip she had immediately previous been liberated. This movement was necessary to enable the anchor to be weighed. As soon as that was (lone the vossel backed out to sea again slowly, under her own steam, the tow hawser was dropped, and she uteamed into port apparently none the worse for what had been an anxious experience to all concerned. As a matter of form, the vessel's bottom will bo examined to-daiy, and an inquiry by the Marine Department will be held into the stranding.