The Foundering of the s.s. Taupo.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3850, 3 May 1881, Page 1

The Foundering of the s.s. Taupo.

The Herald supplies the followioff particulars -.—The Taopo lias sunk in 38 fathoms ef water, near Mayer Island, and taken the result of two years* expenditure ot capital and energy with ner. On Friday, when she left Tauranga mi. tow of the s.s. Staffa at 1.30 p.m., high hop«s were entertained that by the evening of the next day she would hare made a triumphal entry into Auckland harbour, that all fearß would hare been set at rest, and that perseverance would hare received its reward. But -it wag fated to be otherwise. The' Wellington picked her up at Karewha, where the Taranaki was lost, about 5.15 p.m., and, baring made fast with four warps, she steamed away at the rate of 3| knots per hour. There was a light easterly wind, and the water was smooth. A man stood by the tow lines on board the Wellington, armed with an axe, the whole time, ready to cut them asunder should it have been deemed necessary at the time. On the Tanpo all went on smoothly enough until between 8 and 9 o'clock, one pump being kept going about half-time. The first warning they had of a leak was a few minutes after 8, when it was ascertained that the water was gaining in the hold. Then both pumps were set going; but eventually it was found that all efforts were ineffectual in decreasing^ the water. At last matters became so serious that a signal was given to stop towing, the lines were thrown off by the people on board the Taupo, and preparations were made for tearing. The men beat a precipitate retreat to the boat, tearing Mr Gouk, Mr Greenleaf, and Mr Charles Clark on board. When the Taupo ceased moving through the sea, the water in her hold remained stationary for some time, but after a while began again. When the Taupo signalled to cease towing, Mayer Islnnd bore N.E.iN. That was the first «arning the Wellington had that anything was wrong, and Captain Farquhar wai astonished to be told within a quarter of an hour afterwards that the ship was sinking, arid to send a boat for the crew. A boat was at once lowered, but hardly had she touched the water when the boat from the Taupo came alongside containing the crew and engineers. The Taupo having let go the warps the Wellington could not back up until these were hauled in, otherwise they might hare become entangled with her propeller. Then she steamed alongside, first to windward, next to leeward, but eventually kept off about 200 yards, and remained there till the Taupo sank. Mr Gouk saved some tarpaulins, screwjacks, and clothes, being the last to leave. The Taupo was abandoned at 8.20, but did not sink until 9.40. This was an appalling sight, and made the blood of the spectators run cold. Men who hare spent a lifetime on the sea say they.wish never to witness such a sight again. She went down stern first. She began settling down aft very slowly, increased gradually, and finally rapidly, until she stood right on end, about forty feet abore water, and the keel was plainly risible. Then there was a frightful screaming of wind through the ventilators and hatches, and crashing of timber, as if the decks were breaking up. The bursting of the boilers, extinguishment of fires, and escape of steam, also added to the ghastliness of . the occasion. When bolt upright, she she remained stationary for a moment, rose, then sank, never to float again. When going down there was heard a most unearthly sound, like a shriek, which struck terror into the hearts of those who heard it It has been aptly compared to the roar of a dying whale. Some consternation existed on board the Wellington at this time. A cry was raised, "The ship is sinking," and ladies awakened thereby rushed on deck in great trepidation, thinking that the Wellington was meant. She floated safely a short distance from the whirlpool created by the disappearance of the Taupo. She then steamed on and arrived in port at 11 o'clock. The sympathy for the owners of the Taupo and, property, lost, was universal. The hull was the property of Messrs. A. Porter, Frank Winter, and Greenleaf, and of course, is a total lossi Messrs Gouk and Greenleaf also lose the wages of a number of men for a considerable time, the use of material, and their own labour. The contractors, however, will not lose so heavily as they stood to do. The charter of the barques Clara HargreaVes and Martha has been waived by Mr Winter, and the use of the machinery will not be charged for. There were two portable engines, two centrifugal pumps ana driving apparatus on board.the Taupo when she sunk, and these of course were lost. The pumps and~ engines, however, were pretty well covered by insurance, viz.—£7oo in the South British and £300 in the Standard office. Several of the men on board the Taupo, of whom there were foui teen, lost clothing, some a portion, others . all." Chains, spars, ventilators, davits, and a miscellaneous collection of ship's fittings, to the extent of £300 or £400, sared from the Taupo, ! are on, board the Clara Hargreares at Tauranga.