WRECK OF THE TRIUMPH.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1120, 3 December 1883, Page 2

WRECK OF THE TRIUMPH.

Total Loss Expected.

Queer Thting-s on Board.

The s.s. Triumph, one of Shaw, Saville and Co’s direct steamers, struck on the Ttritiri reef near Auckland on Thursday last, and though at first her condition was not thought serious, it is now considered precarious in the extreme and that she will soon break -op. It appears that the pilot left the vessel, which was leaving for son them ports with 1200 tons of cargo, outside Rangitoto at nine o’clock on Thursday night, after giving the Captain his coarse. The steamer, which was going eleven knots, struck very heavily. The captain was on the bridge at the time. When the position of the Triumph was noticed, the steamers Stella and McGregor at once left for the scene, and on returning reported that a jutting point of the reef had pierced tho vessel’s bottom jsst at the foremast, and that the forehold was full of water.

Tho statements of the officers ns to the cause of the disaster are very conflicting. The captain says he kept up to the Island light (Tiritiri).in order to get a straight run to Gape Colville, and that the vessel was going full speed ahead when she struck. The Engineer says that ho felt the vessel graze, and reversed his engines without waiting for orders. The second mate says she was being backed when she strnck, but tho captain’s version is thought the more probable from the fact of the vessel having gone so far on the reef as to remain swinging just under the foremast. The captain took the promptest action he could to got the vessel off* Some 300 tons of ballast were pumped out-of the fore compartments, and an anchor got out aft. The crew set to work energetically to shift the cargo, and a large quantity was saved, but the men were worn out when the Stella arrived in the morning. -.--■-■ A It is stated shat the management of the Triumph was not what it should have been. It seems that Mr Elliot, Under-Secretary for Immigration, and Mr Mays, the Immigration agent at Auckland, when the Triumph arrived, went on board to receive the immigrants 71 which she brought, and to see if the regulations had been carried out. They were dissatisfied with much they saw. It is the custom to give gratuities to the officers of vessels arid those in charge of immigrants when it is considered they have faithfully done tlieif duty. In tins case smaller amount* were paid to subordinates, but the snrn which it is usual to give to thri captain, chief officer, and doctor, was withheld pending further, enquiries. The steamers Waitaki, Glenelg, lona, and Argyle, made a united attempt to tow the Triumph off the reef on Sunday morning bnt without success. The Waitnki on Saturday took several hundred excursionists from Auckland to the scene of the wreck. An attempt wilt probably be made to get the vessel off by fifling the after part with ballast and lightening the forepart. The Triumph was built in 1880 by Clayton, Dixon and Co., Middlesbro--011 Tees. Her dimensions are—length, 350 f t; beam, 35ft 2in ; depth of hold, 27ft. Registered tonnage, 1797, bnt she is capable of carrying 2997 tons. Her engines were manufactured at the workshop of Blair, of Stockton-on Tees, and ore on the compound direct-acting A vertical inverted principle. Her nominal horse-power is 400, and actual 2000. Her hull has a full, heavy appearance, she having been built with the. main object of being a large cargo carrier. Her saloon accommodation is small. She is schooner rigged,- with doubletopsail yards, is fitted with both hand arid steam steering apparatus, is divided into six watertight compartments, and provision is made for 500 tons of water ballast. There is a large refrigerator aboard.