The Triumph Disaster.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4653, 3 December 1883, Page 2

The Triumph Disaster.

The following is a condensation of the Press Association message dated Auckland, Sunday:— The Waitaki, Glenelg, and lona returned from the Triumph, at Tiritiri, at 7.30 this morning, These and the Argyle made a united effort to tow the steamer off the reef, but after over an hour's trial it had to be abandoned. The mode adopted was as follows:—The Glenelg took a hawser from off the starboard bow and steamed at right angles ; the Waitaki took a hawser from the stera, while the lona and the Argyle also took similar hawsers. A signal was given, from the Triumph and the vessels went full speed ahead, and the Triumph full speed astern. The engineer of the Triumph states her engines never did such work, they were working to their utmost power — two thousand horse. During the experiment some delay was caused owing to the strong tide rip which set on the steamers abreast of the Triumph, consequently the full benefit of tueir towing power was not obtained. Her position is not in Qny way altered. It has now been decided to fill the afterpart of the vessel with ballast, and to take out all cargo, <&c., from the forepart, and then make another 'effort "to tow the vessel off. Tha captain of ;he Triumph has his boats slung out, with life buoys in, in ease of a sudden change of wind. In order to provide for eventualities, the steamer Argyle remains in attendance. The officers and crew appear to take things quietly, apparently accepting the inevitable with a spirit of .'resignation, and the score of Chinese firemen are the most unconcerned of all. The statement of the lighthouse keepers is that shortly before the Triumph struck, the lighthouse keepej observed the steamer standing iowarde the jslaud, $nd toofe it fca be the SHIW

coming with stores for the lighthouse. As she got close to the lighthouse the keeper aaw it was a larger vessel, and roused his mate. As the steamer still stood on they felt something serious was wrong; the officer on duty returned to his post &t the lighthouse, and his mate went down the face of . the cliff, ,calling as loudly as possible to the steamer, which warning was evi> dently not heard, as she still kept straight on for the shore. Shortly afterwards he heard the noise of the vessel ■ grinding on the reef, and a confused sound of voices on board. He then called out again, " You're ashore;" and the reply was, "Yes; where are we?" The lighthouse keeper replied, "On Tiritiri itself." A voice called out, " How far are l we off?" and he responed, "Don't I tell I you, you are on Tiritiri itself; is the vessel damaged ?" The reply was," Don't know ; am &oing to back off." He again called out, "You had batter fire a rocket ashore with a line attached;" and he struck ama eh to show them where to throw it. The rocket was not thrown, A and no further information vouchsafed v from the steamer to the lighthouse-keeper, who returned to his quarters. This day, 12.2 p.m. The steamer Triumph lies in the same position to-day. A proposal is made to lighten the vessel by the removal of the cargo, and attempt to drag her off by employing one of the Union Co "s steamers. This would probably give force enough to tear the plates in the bow completely ofl it. Lateb, 1.45 p.m. The Ship Abandoned. , The Captain of the Triumph has aban* doned the vessel to the Underwriters, con* sidering it impossible to get her off.