MISHAPS TO STEAMERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15502, 1 February 1916, Page 8

MISHAPS TO STEAMERS.

COLLIER KOMATA ASHORE AT PENCARROW HEAD, CARGO JETTISONED. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, January 31. Laden with some 2400 tons of coal, the Union Company's steamer Komata, 1994 tons. Captain' John Carey, left Westport at o o'clock yesterday morning. About midnight, when in Cook Strait, she ran into a heavy wall of fog; and precautions were taken to ensure her safety. Very slowly she felt her way towards the Heads, soundings being frequently taken, and the foghorn kept at work continuously. In the early hours of the morning the fog thickened considerably, and obscured almost everything from view. At 5 o'clock, when the fog was thicker than ever, and Captain Carey on watch, she bumped heavily and came to a sudden stop. The engines were immediately reversed, but the Komata remained hard and fast, and all efforts to shift jher by means of her engines were unavailing. When the fog lifted the wreck of the Devon could be seen in front of the Komata. A little to the left, and just within a biscuit's throw of the stranded vessel, was an ugly looking rock, and there were other rocks scattered about in the vicinjty. The second mate of the vessel immediately went ashore in one of the ship's boats, and communicated with the lighthouse-keeper, who in turn telepuoned the news through to the city. Only the most meagre information was available, and there was a good deal of conjecture as to what had happened to the vessel. One report was to. the effect that she was a total wreck, but this was. entirely without foundation. The tug Terawhiti was despatched shortly alter 7 o'clock to the scene, and .amongst those who left with her were Captain Stott, Marine Superintendent for the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr R. Paterson, the company's Superintending Engineer. Arrived on the scene, the Komata was found in a little bay on the far side of the lighthouse. Members of her crew were hanging over the sides watching with interest the movements of the approaching tug. Soundings taken quite close to the stranded steamer showed seven and a half fathoms of water. A boat was immediately cast off from the tug with Captain Stott and Mr Paterson aboard, and the tug cautiously felt her way in the wake of the boat. It was found that the Komata was in deep water, and the tug could come ,right alongside, greatly simplifying the work of salvage. No time was wasted in making preparations for pulling the vessel off from her resting place. A heavy steel hawser was fixed to the stanchions on the after deck of the Komata, and then to the donkey engine on her main deck. To the other end of the hawser was attached a kedge anchor, which, the tug carried out to sea and dropped some distance behind the Komata. Another line was then made fast to the stern'of the vessel, and later to the deck of the tug. Then the engines of both vessels were 6et going at full speed. Up to 1 p.m. there was no appreciable change in the position of.t%e vessel, although the tug was striving valiantly. The coal in the Komata's forward hold was being dumped as fast as the firemen could throw it overboard, and tons upon tons were jettisoned. The fog was still intermittent, and settled down liko a thick pall at irregular intervals. When it was at its thickest, objects 200 yards away could not be discerned from the deck, and even tho bulky landmark of tho Devon wreck was obliterated from view. Occasionally could be heard the tooting of the foghorns of passing vessels wrapped in. fog, and tho sound of the constant explosion of detonators' came from the direction of the lighthouse. The Arahura arrived during the afternoon to assist the tug in the work of rescue. The combined efforts of the tug and steamer proved unavailing, and late in the afternoon both returned to port. There is now some conjecture as to whether or not she has grounded on a rocky bottom, in which case her position is serious, especially if rough southerly weather should set in, as the locality is very much exposed. The stranded vessel has made a little water, but fortunately the sea is exceptionally smooth. 10.35 p.m. An examination disclosed two feet of water in the bilges. The water was bubbling through the joints of tho stokehold floor plates, but the engineroom was quite dry, indicating that the damage was forward. The vessel is apparently held hard and fast by a pinnacle of rock just under No. 2 hold. She moved somewhat under the strain of the tow-ropes at high water—perhaps two feet. A hulk was placed alongside this afternoon to receive the coal, and a small steamer is standing by all night in case the weather changes. The latest report from the scene is that there is no alteration in the vessel's position, and nothino- further can be done till- high water at 1 a.m., when another attempt will be made to tow her off.

THE KAITOA FLOATED OFF,

PASSENGER'S NARRATIVE. MISHAP WITHOUT THRILLS. (press association- telegram.) WELLINGTON, January 31. The details of the Kaitoa's experience were told at Makara by Mr B. Trathen (of Trathen and Co., Nelson), who was a passenger. The passage, he said, was over a millpond sea. No fog was encountered until about half an hour after passing Jackson's Head, when the vessel ran into a heavy bank, which obscured overs-thing. Captain Stevens kept the fog-horn going continuously. About a quarter to seven the. narrator, while sitting at tea, felt the vessel give a siight bump, and then followed two heavier bumps, and the vessel then came to a stop. Mr Trathen, with others, rushed on deck. They seemed to be about fifty yards from shore. Fog was still heavy around them, and objects, even a little distance away, were indistinct, but they could see rocks ou either side, and ahead loomed up inhospitable rocky cliffs. Then suddenly, and the sight impressed them all, out of the bank of fog above them there appeared the sunlit top of Terawhiti mountain. A wafting aside of the fog blanket had shown it to them, and it told thom where they were. Meanwhile there was no excitement aboard. The ship lay balancing on the sand spit upon which she had run. The soldiers aboard had been put under military discipline by Lieut.-Colonel Andrews, N.Z.M.C., "and they stood nady to help. The boats were swung out, and no time was lost in getting the passengers ashore, the women, of v-hom thero were nine aboard, going first. The landing was effected without any accident, and virtually without any wettings. Blankets and tarpaulin wore sent ashore,, and preparations made to settle down, for the night, a

tarpaulin being rigged up as a shelter icr the women. The opening was warm, and only a very slight breeze came up from the south as the sun went down, and in a little while coffee, cocoa, biscuits, and fruit were being served out. The second officer and six men., who volunteered for the .work, pulled off in one of the boats 'along the coast to seek assistance. The passengers, who were settling down for the night, watched them go. hugging the rocky coast. Soon they were lost in the fog. The boat's party was successful in locating Terawhiti station, and from there news of tie mishap was telephoned to the city. The tide when the Kaitoa struck was at its lowest. This, as the weather was perfectly calm and no damaging sea running, was fortunate, for with the return of the tide the little vessel was quietly lifted off the sand, and at about 9.30 o'clock the passengers ashore saw her float from her temporary resting place and back out to sea. Two boats put off to her to ascertain whether the passengers were to go aboard again or remain on shore, but the fog came on heavily, and the boats returned. Tits Kaitoa remained off shore during the night, and once or twice her signals were seen ; Soon after daybreak Mr Trathen and two other Nekon residents —Messrs Currow and F. Sparrow—having urgent business to transact in 'Wellington, decided to endeavour to find the shore route to the city. Accordingly they tramped six miles to Terawhiti sheep station. After being hospitably treated there, they made for the Makara road, where they were fortunate to find a of four which Messrs rs::nnatyne and Co., had sent out. Tn tin.: they were brought to town. One oilier -passenger, a soldier, had sot out to find the route to town, but, was less fortunate. He tramped about the hills for five hours, and eventually brought up at Te Kamara homestead late this morning : From there, after refreshments, be was sent on his way, ,-thl -was picked up by a motor-car. "With these exceptions, all the passon.cors were takeD off bv the Kaitoa ah 7:30 this morning. The re-embar-k.nlion was carried out without the slightest mi?hai>, ard with' despatch. The vessel then made for Wellington, arriving at the wharf at 11 o'clock.