WRECK OF A LINER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 309, 26 June 1912, Page 5

WRECK OF A LINER

THE RE-INSURANCES. By Cable—Frew AwsociatioM—Copyrighi Received 2<5, 12.45 a.m. 1 i London, June 25. Forty-fIT« per cent, is quoted for reivurance of the Star of Canada's hull aaa 90 par cent, for the refrigerating »achin»ry. BETTER PROSPECTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. GUborne, Last Night. iWitli the advent of fine weather the. prospects of refloating the steamer Star of Canada have improved. The tug Terawhiti with salvage gear U expected to arrive about 3 a.m., and t •tart with salvage work will probablbe made at daylight. The lightering of tfce «argo has been carried out briskly all day. J

LIGHTERING OF THE SHIP. Gisbornc. Yesterday. The weather having moderated, salvage operations on the Star of Canada are proceeding in calm water. All efforts to-day are being devoted to lightering cargo from the after holds, where the vessel is practically a full ship By relieving the weight from this end of the ship it is hoped to prevent the vessel from sagging. The cargo in the after holds, which are quite dry comprises 35,000 carcases of mutton' 10,000 sacks of oats, 1000 casks tallow and pelts, 300 bales wool, and about 300 tons of antimony ore. There is 24 feet of water in the three forward holds. The boiler and engine-room departments remain dry.

_ As far as Captain Hart can tell, there is absolutely no structural disarrangement of the hull. The buckling of the after watertight compartment in the engine-room is confined to a single plate, which damage occurred about 4 o'clock yesterday morning, and has not increased. The vessel lies in exactly the same position as yesterday morning. She has not moved a single inch since settling down at the bow, and has not subsided further. Questioned as to the probable extent of the damage to the vessel's hull the captain stated that it was confined to the forward end of the ship, under Nos. 1, 2 and 3 holds, and from investigations he beheved that they were not extensive_ rents, but the leakage was simply arising in consequence of the vessel settling on the bottom, The vessel lies in a most favorable spot. She lies I within a cable distance (200 yards) of j the reefs forward and after, with 30 feet

of water near the stern. The cargo in the lower No. 3 hold comprises oats. The captain does not anticipate any trouble from swelling of the grain, and, in fact, declares that it will help the position, as it prevents the water from surging m, and there will thus be less pressure on the bulkhead than if full of water. The water does not reach up to the 'tween decks in this hold. The vessel is drawing 30ft. at the bow, and the forecastle head is still fourteen or fifteen feet above the water. No water came aboard during the storm. - _The Star of Canada is drawing 24 or 25 feet aft. She was drawing 29 feet when she went ashore, the stern bavin" risen as the bow settled. Two anchors are out at the bow, and these keep the vessel's head to the sea. Another anchor is being laid frem the after end by the Union Company's Tuatea to-day. This is for the purpose of preventing the stern from drifting on to the edge of the reef as it becomes lightened. The Terawhiti is due early to-morrow with salvage plant. No difficulty is anticipated in pumping the water out.

TUG HIPIIX THE GALE. , Gisborne, Monday. The little tug Hipi's experience in approaching the Star of Canada last evening was something sensational. Halfpast two saw the little tug lying alongside a lighter with steam up. A pressman came aboard a few minutes later ami explained his business. "H'm!" said the captain; "yes; I suppose you can come." Three resounding hoots on the miniature vessel's syren brought half a dozen lightermen lrom .somewhere among the sheds, their oilskins and sou'-westera glistening in the lamplight. The engineer were already on board toiling in a red and comfortably warm-looking hole With a cling, clang of her engine bells', the Hipi put out, and steamed down the harbor. Once round the bend a head sea was met, and the little vessel "stood up" with her bow pointing skywards. "She certainly looks close in," observed the captain, while his own vesstd reared up on meeting the surge at the entrance to the river. "Yes; she's on the rocks. *H right." The little boat stood out near the vessel (which by this time was winking her signals from a Morse lamp suspended on her mast). A light was slung over the side of the ship, and then could be eeen, intermittently as the Hipi topped the rollers, that the vessel was lying stern on about half a mile from the shore with her midships quarters well down, but with all her lights going, thus indicating that there was nothing the matter with the engine-room. The Hipi tried gallantly, but it was too risky. "Put about, old chap," said someone to the captain, and the Hipi swung round obediently, reeling as her broadside met the seas. "What do you make of her? The Mokoia ?" "That's not the Mokoia; it's the Star!" Again the, captain tried to get the Hipi close, but a reef threatened, and once more he turned for home, the Hipi riding much more easily with her stern to the southerly than'with it dead in her eye.

When she was half-way home again all hands were agreed that the distressed vessel was the Mokoia, but just then the distressed one send up signals, hooting mournfully with her syren. "It's no use, b'oys; I'll have to go back," said the captain; and all hands gallantly assented, while the Hipi once again performed a dangerous turn, and steamed for the stranger. To within a cable's length she went, and then her engines were reversed, and taking advantage of the vessel's lee, went right close under her bows. Those on board then read the name, Star of Canada, and made sure for the first time of the identity of the vessel. The Hipi was presently carried closer, and a line of some thirty desolate-looking men could be seen leaning over the stranded vessel's rail amidships. The gale still kept up its racket, and it was difficult to hear. "We'll have to come back in the morning." bawled the Hipi. "We want you to take an anchor out," yelled the Star, in reply. "All very well for you," came the answer, "but what about us?" "What's the matter? You're not sinking?" "Water in No. 1, 2 and 3." The seas became worse, and the Hipi's engine bell rang "Full speed ahead." "Let Wellington know," came the last word from the stranded vessel, and the Hipi came back to Gisborne, leaving the Star of Canada to the one or two hours that remained of the darkness.