THE RINGAROOMA’S ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2719, 2 October 1894, Page 4

THE RINGAROOMA’S ACCIDENT.

Sydney, September 28. Particulars of the accident to the Ringarooma are to hand. The men appear to have behaved splendidly, the water-tight doors being all closed aud a collision mat fixed in an incredibly short space of time aud in perfect silence. During the first three or four days, while spring tides were flowing, the ship bumped heavily, and had she not been strongly built must have become a complete wreck. Constant attention to the cables, hawsers and anchors which were laid out, day and night, greatly relieved the strain on the ship, and coupled with iron shoes which the crew built under the fore-foot not only prevented the vessel moving further up the reef, but helped her off at high water. This was undoubtedly the reason she was saved. At every tide the hawsers and cables were hove taut. After several unsuccessful attempts to tow the ship off, it was found that owing to the strain of the cables she was gradually wriggling off the reef. At noon on (September 12th she had slipped aft 13 feet- and the same afternoon, by continual heaving on the cables, she got free and was able to steam to Port Sandwich. There js no doubt the safety of the steamer is due to the unwearied exertions of all hands, night and day for 13 days without relaxation, and th 6 fact that by continual rolling the ship bad worn for herself a bed in the coral reef,

H.M.S. Ringarooma arrived here this evening. A court-martial will be held into the circumstances when H.M.S. Crescent arrives with relief crews.