ASHORE IN DENSE FOG

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3013, 26 February 1917, Page 8

ASHORE IN DENSE FOG

MISHAP TO THE MARAROA GROUNDS NEAR PENCARROW TOWED OFF SAFELY DIVER'S SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE Wellington was thrilled, shortly after nine o'clock on Saturday morning, by the news, received by aerogram at the G.P.0., that the ferry steamer Mararoa had run ashore in a dense fog at Turakirae Point, about five miles to the eastward of Pencarrow Head. A. later message received by wireless intimated that the vessel was making no water, that the sea was calm, and that the Monowai, bound from Napier to Wellington, in charge of Captain Drewetto, was standing by two miles off. As the Mararoa had a large number of passengers on board, this news served to allay anxiety. Inquirers at the Union Company's offices were assured that there was no cause for alarm, and that it was expected that the ship would be afloat again at high tide, about nine o'clock p.m. This expectation was realised, and the Mararoa was towed back to port by the tug Terawhiti, and anchored in' the stream about midnight. The Monowai, to which the ferry steamer's passengers had been transferred by means of boats, reached port at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening.

A Dense Fog. At the time of the stranding, the weather was very foggy, the fog bank being very dense along the coast, and for a considerable distance inside the Heads. The steamer was moving very slowly at the time and grounded gently but firmly on a shingle bottom about 40 yards from tlie shore. There she lay "like a steamer alongside a wharf," to quoto the words of one who saw her from, the shore. As; soon as the Union Company had word of the mishap, the No.tone was dispatched to the scene, while the Tera.whiti took on a quantity of salvage gear. and provisions, .and followed. The Kaituna, which was discharging coal at tho wharf, was held in readiness to go out also. She eventually left-at 4 p.m. in order to take the Monowai's place, in standing by, while that vessel brought her double complement of passengors to port. After landing them, the Monowai returned to her post in the offing, and when the Mararoa came' off the ibeach tho Kaituna arid Monowai wore both standing by, about two > miles out. The coast to the eastward of Pencarrow sweeps out in' a' rugged outline to Baring Head, beyond which is Fitzroy Bay, where the barque Affiance was jost in 1867, and the barque' Halcione in 1896. Beyond that is Turakirae Point, which' is the last bold headland which is visible from the shore at Breaker Bay, Seatoun. Mr. E. Riddifofd's homestead at Orongorongo is situated, a little to the westward of Turakirae, • and is quite close to the place where the Mararoa struck. The people on shore were able to converse with the passengers on the steamer. Turakirae is a bold headland when seen in the distance, .but on closer approach a- low point shows up, which runs out for a distance. Straggling reefs extend beyond that. To the eastward of Turakirae is Palliser Bay, which also has had its share of wrecks.

The Luck of the Weather. After the stranding, the breeze from the south began to freshen, and the vessel's exposed position caused fears as to her ultimate fate, if a heavy southerly came up. But the wind died away.' .At 2 p.m. the Natone, towing a string of boats, began to transfer passengers to the Monowai, and tEis work was completed beforo 5 p.m. , A message had been received at the Union Company's offices from Captain Eeid, of the Mararoa, that he expe.cted to get clear at half-tide, whicn was about 5 p.m. The tug Terawhiti had got one line on to the stranded steamer, but no effort .was made to heave her oft' till high tide was approaching. At the present phase of the moon the tides are "neaping," that is, they are not so high; as. in the case of ordinary and spring tides. The Mararoa's stern was in 27£- feet of .water, while, from her bows to her bridge her hull appeared to be well fast. She had steam up, and was able to use her engines, showing that the jar in striking had been so slight that no damage had been sustained by her machinery. As high tide approached everything was made ready. Tho Terawhiti had placed a large mushroom anchor some distance off-shore the cable of which was attached to her winch. The Monowai and Kaituna did not come close in, as it was felt that the Terawhiti and the Mararoa's own engines would be equal to the occasion.

The Long Pull That Wins. The word was given to pull. The powerful Tcrawhiti's engines begau to rumble and the hausers tightened. The winch turned heavily, hauling in the anchor. On the tug, the tremendous effort she was making was evident in tho thrill that went through her. The Mararoa's propeller churned tho water to foam in its steady revolutions. Presently the Mararoa's engines stopped. One of her own hawsers had fouled her propeller, and it was out of action. It was up to the Terawhiti now, and it is sufficient to say that that efficient craft won another star to wear on her escutcheon. But it was a. long, long pull, lasting nearly half an hour, with tho tide rising all the time. At last the Mararoa moved astern, faster and faster, and slewed out into deep water. There, the Terawhiti took a short hold of her, and brought her into port, as already stated.

Mararoa on the Film. Almost the first man to get out to the Mararoa at Orongorongo was a camera man with a kincma-iilm outfit. He got on boariJ a launch, and after taking a dizzying film of tho steamer from the launch got alongside the steamer in a dinghy, clambered on board, and was soon busy turning the handle of ■ his machine. Tho. result o. ins efforts actually appeared on the screen in some of the Wellington theatres tho same night, and will also bo on view during the week.

THE SET OF THE SOUTH-EASTER • It is known by those having an acquaintance with the humours of the waters of Cook Strait, that with or immediately preceding southerly weather, a south-easterly set into Palliser Bay takes place. This has been noticed by mariners timo without number., but being able to see the coast-lino they havo been ablo to make correct their course. In tho caso of an attempt to make tho course by dead reckoning in a foe: like that of Saturday morning, there would he notliiup; to correct by. It is assumed that nu this occasion a strong set carried the Mararoa, six miles south-east of tho Heads,