SAILER IN DISTRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 235, 30 June 1919, Page 6

SAILER IN DISTRESS

LAURA FROM SAN FRANCISCO

MAKES PORT WITH TEN FEET OF

WATER IN HOLD

■ The _ barquentine Laura, of-365 tons, built in IS9I, and owned in Melbourne, after being outside : the heads for about a week,, was towed into port early yesterday morning by tlio Pelican'. On arrival at the wharf it was found that the Laura had about ten feet of water in her hold, and the water was said to be making at the rate of 2ft. an liow. The master, Captain A. G. Taylor, when seen by a Dominion representative, refused : to give any particulars of the mishap, or as to where it occurred, but from what. can. be gathered the tug Pelican received a call at ten o'clo:k on Saturday night to' i- 'Sailer in distress. ' Tho tug picked up the Laura about four miles outside 'the"heads, in a southerly direction, .and, got a line aboard about'one 6'olock"on'Sunday morning. The Ivoromiko, bound from Wellington to Lyttelton, -was standing by the barquentine' when the tug arrived. The drew manned tho pumps about nine o'clock,- but on arrival in port. an oil-

{ engine oh board was put into commission, i . and;/in conjunction with the Pelican, j. v started to Sower the water in the hold. I:■ 'At. five o'clock yesterday 'afternoon the j services of the Pelican were dispensed I - w;th,;.the -sailer's.own pump easily lioldi ins its own with the water. At eleven i . o'clock' last- night there was six feet of p .wafer in the. hold. •' K' "-The diver went down in the morning j';.and reported the keel to be badly dami:ngedi 'als» the starboard side amidship, | ■ and. during tile, afternoon he temporarily > • •repaired' the damage. Wheti the barqueni tine's hold is cleared of the water..she he taien up on the patent slip, t;vwhere the .exact amount of damage done [> win bp ascertained. :• The Laura has a full cargo nf oils ! . for-this port, for which, the Vacuum '. Oil Company ,is the agent. . [ . It is understood that the Collector of I;' Customs will hold a'preliminary inquiry into .the causes of the mishap.