WRECK OF THE MIOWERA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 267, 10 November 1893, Page 3

WRECK OF THE MIOWERA.

DETAILS OF THE DISASTER,

A despatch from Honolulu states that ab 8.20 p.m. on the 9bh Ocbober the Miowera struck the coral reef jusb outside the en. trance to the Honolulu Harbour, ab quarter s peed, bow on, ploughed her way through the sand, and plumped right down on bhe coral in the centre, whore ehe camo to a Bbop. There was little or no shock, bhe sand having stopped her headway, and no alarm was tolb by anyone on board. The engines were immediately reversed at full speed, bub no effort could budge her. The Government bug was eenb out, and a new nine-inch hawser was soon fastened from the stern of the Miowera to the tug, and all night long the little vessel pulled and tugged her mightiest bo save the big one, the latter reversing her immense propeller at her highesb speed all the while. It was soon found tkab bhe work had only kepb bhe vessel from going furbher on the reef and thab nobhing more than that could be expected until high tide next morning. There was not a particle of excitement on board, only, bwo or three of bhe male passengers being on deck. All bhe obhers, ladies included, were sound asleep in bheir cabins, having been assured thab there was no immediate danger, and that the vessel would gob off in the morning, it nob beloro.

Captain Stotb made the following abatement to the press representatives :— "I wish to say that the first land I saw was the hill directly back of the town, which I took for Diamond Head, as thab was entirely corered by clouds, and there being no lighb upon it, I naturally took the land furthesb to windward for Diamond Head. We took our bearings by the sun at noon, and later on also, and reckoning our speed irota the last sights, I thought we were several miles farther off than we were and should have been if the speed had been correctly registered. Thero wore no lights on the buoys, and there was absolutely nothing to warn me of any danger. I cume along at slow speed until I picked up the red light and, a little later, the green. Ab thab time I was a long way to windward of the line of the lights, and, of course, knew that when I had them in line I would have a leading light. Consequently, I came very slowly to leeward, and while yet to windward of the leading light, the green light suddenly wenb out. I stopped tho engines and ju«t then a man in the bow sang out thab there was a buoy on the starboard bow, and close aboard. I took a sounding and found six fathoms of water, aud while 1 apprehended no danger I believed that there was libtle enough water and rang to back Blowly. Ib was then 1 first learned that we were aground, as the screw would not movo her. We had drifted aground bow on, and the rollers had swung her around until she rested where she does now, broadside on tho rocks. There was no piloc aboard, and I saw no pilot-boat till after we were aground, and then he was lighting the lamps on the buoya bo show us where we were when ib was too late. In any other country the pilob would have been outside and not in the mouth of the channel lighting lamps to shovr a stranded vessel her position."

The efforts to tow off x the steamer were continued throughout the nighb, but proved futile. Ab high tide a small coastal steamer also lent assistance, but notwithstanding, the Mioweraremained hard and fast. During the night the incessant pounding of the surf caused the big rudder to break off and disappear. The American warships Philadelphia and Adams now offered to help. On the llbh the 2,500 ton Japanese liner Aikokumaru went and supplemented the efforts of two powerful tugs, the Miowera also having two heavy anchors out for use as kedges. In the atternoon the steamers made a combined attempt to pull the Miowera off, bub after an hour of the hardest work either veecel's engines ever did, it was given up for the day. On the following day a hupromo effort was pub forth to shifb the Miowera from hor precarious position. The United States warship Adams, qwo coastal stoamerß and a powerfull tug fastened hawsers on to the wrecked steamer and at high tide the Adams gave bhe signal to the other vessels to haul up to their anchors and keep their hawsers tight. At 2.30 the general signal to pull was given, and every vessel cracked on the last pound of steam ib could safely carry. Each vessel had its own hawsers connected with the bows of the Miowera, besides hauling in on bhe kedge anchors. Ib was a supreme effort and one deserving of success, bub it was nob to be. Afber half an hour's hard work the 1500-foob 9inch hawser of the Adams parted with a reporb like a cannon, and the effort had to be given up for another day. At r.oon the following day bhe Adams, Likelike, Hawaii, and Elen made another effort bo pull the vessel off, bub ib was of no use, and finally the effort was given up. On October 24th the rudder and part of the Miowera were recovered by divers, and a contract was entered into with Captain A. McDowell to float the Bbrnnded steamer. The contractor was to make the attompb bhe day after the departure of the mail boat, and he was very confidenb of succes*. The work was bo bo done with the aid of eight huge Samson posts. The posts are capable of lifting 000 tons dead weight, bub after pumping out 500 tons of water ballaHt he be'ieves the actual lifb will be about 600 tons. As soon as the vessel makes a headlong etarb towards deep water, the watertight compartments forward will be opened, and tho vessel will soon have sufficient; water ballaat in her to prevent her capsizing.

Advices received by the Postal Department; state that a nautical representative of the Underwriters' Association and several divere arrived at Honolulu by the Maripoea from 'Frisco to assist in connection with the wreck of the Miowera. A final attempt to got the vessel off was to have been made the day after the Mariposa left, and if this failed she was to be abandoned to the Underwriters. The vessel is not injured, but it is improbable she will be got off, as the hull is sunk deeply into a sofb coral reef.