WRECK OF ORIZABA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1383, 18 February 1905, Page 2

WRECK OF ORIZABA.

THE ORIENT. LINER STRANDED NEAR FREMANTLE, STEAMER TEN MILES OFE PROPER COURSE.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association —Copyright.

PERTH, Feb, 17, .The Orient 1 steamer Orizaba is ashore at Garden Island, nine miles from Rottness Island.

The accident occurred during hazy, .weather. The .vessel was sixteen miles from Fremantle, and ten, miles off- her proper course.

A message from Rockhampton: reports that the Orizaba’s boat has arrived, asking for assistance, ..Tugs were immediately, despatched, ■The , commander o£ the warship Ka--toomba has been notified to be in readiness to proceed to .the spot if required. Tlio steamer Lady, Forrest has returned from the wreok of the Orizaba, and reports that the vessel is hard aground, with 20ft of 'water in the engine-room. It is feared that she will become a .total wreck, but there are hopes that the cargo will be saved. When the Lady Forrester left the Orizaba, the passengers were being transferred to the tug Gannet, but as the night .was extremely dark the Gannet was not expected to reach Fremantle until after midnight. Captain. A-riunfdel, of the Underwriters’ Association, states that the vessel was moving a little - on the rocks and sand. - He considers there will be considerable difficuloy in getting her off, The weather is at present calm,, .but is threatening. Should, ft come i strong, the .vessel will quickly go\ to pieces.

STEAMER GOES ASHORE IN A HAZE,

-ROOK FORCES THROUGH THE ENGINE ROOM,

By Electric TelegraplG-Fer Press Association —.Copyright, Received 10,8 p.m,, Feb* 17* PERTH, Feb-, 17, The Orizaba struck on the south end of a five-fathom bank lour and a half miles tq the south end of Garden Islands, .The .vessel appeared to have been driven halt over the reef, and it

seemed as if her back was broken. She Was hard and fast amidship, but afloat fore and aft.

She arrived pli the lan.fi on the morning, but owing to bush fires nothing could be seen of RbttnestiTbe engines were going dead slow’. Abo.ut 11 o’clock the haze lifted, and ithe captain loupd out his position, and attempted to stand out to. sea. But just before noon she struck the reefy bumping twice, on the second occasion piercing her bottom. The impact was- felt in the engine poom. The rock went through the engine

room tank on the port side. The Water rushed in and fiowdefi the room, although the watertight doors were closed. The pumps were started, but were of no avail, Tbe fires were ordered to be drawn. So, fast did the water rush in that ■two, engineers were compelled -to, swim to .ope of ithe platforms, and | scramble on deck, -

TJie rent caused by the reef piercing the bottom was very large, c .When the vessel struck. Captain Archer, who was on the bridge, gave .orders fa empty the ballast tank and ordered the engines astern, but .to no avail, tbe vessel sticking fast amidships, and swinging fore and. aft. She quickly settled fairly on the rocks, and gradually listed to port, finally settling at an angle of ' ten degrees, " There were 159 passengers aboard, i but there was scarcely any commotion except in' - the third class, where a few, women became alarmed.

The crew behaved well, there not being tile slightest panic, and the coolies of .the crew going about their work in an especially cool and praiseworthy manner.

PASSENGERS ARRIVE AT FREMANTLE.

POSITION OF VESSEL.

By Telegraph—Proßß Association—Copyrlghl Received 10.34 p.m., Feb 17. Perth, Feb. 17. The Orizaba's passengers reached Fremantle at,3 this morning. The mails and luggage were traus shipped by tugs. The Orizaba' lies in an exposed position close to the Coventry Reef, on which the Carlisle Castle was wrecked with all hands some years ago. She is bumping heavily on the bank. Her position is extremely serious; It 3s fearod that there is not much hope of her being refloated. Should a strong westerly wind orop up she will likely beoomo a total wreok. Every effort is being made to save tho cargo, which is valued at a hundred thousand port nds. The Orizab a has the following passengers for New Zealand:—Mrs Benjamin, Misses Rimsbiart, Hogan ; Messrs Stewart, Barren, To’vnsond, Harold, Scbonhnt, Sheer, Jones and White.