THE ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMER WAITAKI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4278, 9 February 1884, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMER WAITAKI.

Narrow Escapo from Sinking.

(BY TrXKUIUI'ir.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT.)

Whasoakei, this day. Tub steamer Waitaki narrowly escaped filling yesterday, under these circumstances :—About 150 tons of coal had been put in her forehold at low water, and tbo men went aft to fill tho bunkers. As the tide rose, it was observed by the men forward that tho steamer's stern began to cock up, and on going forward it was found that a port had been left open in the fore-cabin, which is below the main deck. The water had rushed in here and filled. Every attempt was at once mado to keep tho water down, but it had gained too much headway for the vessel to rise. Her nose was embedded in the mud, and with tho groat dead weight of coal in tho forehold and water in the forecabin, the vessel's bow wan held undor, and the water gradually gained on her. Men were ecut down from the mine, and about forty of these, with buckets, set to work, keeping tho water that leaked through tho forward bulkhead horn filling tho engineroom. At high water tho whole of tho Waitari's forecastle was submerged, while her propeller was half out of tho water. It was touch-and-go, in the engine-room whether the- fires would bo put out or not. The water was now up to the fire-bars, and it got so hot that tho men could hardly stand to their work. However, they stuck to it liko Trojans, and just mastered tho elements. Another two inches of water and the fires would have gone- out, and then the wholo vessel would have been submerged. Tho critical point over, a tonkin pump was brought from tiie mine ready for work as soon as tho tide wont down. Tho pumps wero useless till 10.30 last night, when tho tide loft the fore-deck. Then the ship's pumps wore started and the tonkin eonnocted to a locomotive on tho wharf set to work. In two hours' time tho vessel began to riso, tho pump throwing out 10 to 12 thousand gallons of water an hour. It must ba remembered that tho actual quantity of water in the vessel was at no tirao .very great, as tho forehold was half coal. At 3 a.m. the vessel was herself again, thanks to the ready appliances in tho shape of men and pump that wero at hand. But for these the loss to tho Company would have been at least £2,000, as the cabin furniture, etc., would have been destroyed.

Mr Chappell, tho engineer, had n very anxious timo of it, and ho and his men worked like demons to fight the water back. Captain Crawford also had a bad 12 hours of it. Ho was working amongst the men in a cotton shirt through all tho water and rain, and this morning ho is rather indisposed. All on board, in short, worked with a will and determination worthy of the occasion, and.this morning they aro all resting. Tho steamer will bo cleaned up in tho afternoon and sail for Auckland tomorrow (Sunday) morning. No one can bo blamed for the mishap, for it was one of those things which the angel Gabriel could not havo foreseen, and tho wholo thing happened so suddenly that nothing could bo done Captain Haultain dived down to shut tho port but could not do so.