SUNKEN TRAWLER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 204, 10 June 1933, Page 2

SUNKEN TRAWLER

CREW'S GOOD FORTUNE.

TIMELY SIGHTING OF LAUNCH.

(Per Press Association). GISBORNE, June 9

The complement of the lost trawler Serfib had the best oF fortune in sighting the riding lights of the fishing launch Huia while making their way co the shore in a leaky dinghy after the abandonment of the vessel near W aipiro Bay. Tins portion of the .coast is noted ior past shipping tragedies' and a landing through the surf would have been a perilous proceeding under the prevailing conditions.

Captain Flett is a trawling master of lifetime experience in Home and New Zealand waters. He knows the coast well and fully realised the peril of attempting a landing on the Open Bay shore, but the condition of the trawler left no alternative. The water gained on the pumps at the rate of eight feet in half an horn - , and the ship was wallowing in the trough of a heavy swell, with occasional seas sweeping over.

The complement comprised: Captain Flett, J. Black (mate), H. Samuels (engineer),. A. Jennings ? D. More and H. Whettaway (deck hands), J. Elliott;, W. Taylor and Howlett (firemen), and R. Henderson (cook).

The skipper is certain that the trawler struck nothing and the only theory to account for the sudden. Inrush of water was the breaking of a seacock under the engine-room. Three pumps failed to keep the water in check, and half an hour after the first alarm the fires were put out and steam released as a precaution.

Reports from various points along the coast north :of Waipiro Bay indicate that the vessel was not sighted during the night or early morning, confirming Captain Flett’? opinion that the Serfib did not suryive long after her abandonment. '

WATER RUSHES INTO STOKEHOLD

MATE’S VERSION OF DISASTER.

GISBORNE, June 9. The crew of the wrecked tTawler, Serfib, arrived in town late this evening; with the exception of Captain I lett, who went on to Auckland by the Margaret \V. from Tokomaru Bay to-day.

The mate, Mr J. Black, stated that the vessel left Auckland on Tuesday morning, and after operating in the Bay of Plenty the following day, reached Hicks Bay on Thursday' morning, but had no luck with the trawl and the ship proceeded towards Tolaga Bay, He was reading in his bunk at 3 p.m. and heard an uncommon tremor and jumped up. Just then a fireman, J. Elliott, rushed in and said she was making water fast. At that time a good southerly sea was running and the vessel was approximately four miles from laud. The mate turned her head for the land. The skipper came up, investigated, and found that the report was correct. The lifeboat was hurriedly prepared and lifebuoys were put in. In half an hour’s time the water had risen eight feet in the engine room. The vessel began to labour, and it was decided to abandon ship. A big roll was on and it was a hard job getting the lifeboat out, the keel being damaged in the process. The lifeboat began to leak, and two men were bailing. Within a few minutes of leaving the ship there was over seven inches of water in the boat. The sea was increasing and the men’s position was most perilous, though the crew took the matter goodhumouredly. Then the mate, who was steering, spied a light which proved to be on the launch Huia. As the men left the lifeboat it filled with water.

In the Enginei- room. Mr Samuels (chief engineer) corroborated the story as to the trawler’s mishap. On hearing the news he rushed to the engine-room and put. on all available pumps on the bilges. The dynamos were then started to show where water was coming in, and the firemen on watch were instructed to get as much steam on .as possible to drive the ship toward the land. In ten minutes the water was rising through into the stokehold. The cranks were then splashing water on to the dynamo and put it out of action, leaving the engine-room in semi-darkness. When Mr Samuels left the engineroom the water was up to his knees, and coming in fast.. Mr Samuels paid another visit to th,e engine-room to look at the steam gauge. Water was level with the dynamo head. All the crew took the affair quite philosophically. They will leave for Auckland by service ear in the morning.