WHEN THE PROGRESS WAS LOST

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 201, 22 May 1931, Page 10

WHEN THE PROGRESS WAS LOST

Fifty Vital Minutes as Storm Increased

PARTING OF THE MESSENGER LINE Rescue Efforts of the Tug Toia Described Fifty vital minutes passed while the tug Toia gathered in the wire cable that was to have towed the steamer Progress to safety. A length of 120 fathoms had been paid out when the messenger, line broke. The story of the arrival of the tug near the disabled steamer, the efforts to get another line to her as the storm gained in strength, and the final decision to return to port, were yesterday told by Captain Campbell, master of the Tola, at the marine court of inquiry. Captain John Spence, acting harbourmaster, gave evidence of the earlier preparations and of the second trip of the Toia, with himself in command, to the vicinity of the wreck. Captain P. S. Peterson, the harbourmaster’s next in command, gave evidence also.

When Captain Campbell had reached the point in his evidence where he told of his early morning decision to return to Wellington, his counsel, Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, suggested to the president of the court, Mr. E. Page, S.M., that as the time was 5.12 p.m. and the inquiry had already lasted four days, during which there had been a strain on all concerned, the court might take the adjournment. This Mr. Page agreed to do. Mr. J. Prendeville, representing the Marine Department, will continue his examination of the tug-master this morning, and at its conclusion other counsel will have the opportunity of examination.

At present it Is unlikely that the inquiry will conclude to-day, as there remains both the end of tire evidence and the addresses of counsel. Mr. Page agreed yesterday afternoon that if the inquiry were not finished to-day the court would at all events not sit to-morrow.

With Mr. Page as nautical assessors were Captains L. C. H. Worrall and E. Cartner, and as engineering assessor Mr. F. W. Grainger. Mr. J. Prendeville represented the Marine Department; Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie appeared for Captain Copland, of the Progress; Mr. G. G. Watson for the owners, Holm and Co.; Mr. S. J. Castle, with him Mr. H. J. V. James for the Wellington Harbour Board; Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell for the master of the tug Toia: Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb for the Marine Engineers’ Institute and the widow' of the chief engineer, Mr. T. M. Simpson. Mr.- E. P. Hay was instructed by the Seamen’s Union to appear for the seamen and firemen of the Progress, and in the interests of the deeeased and injured seamen. Mr. F. P. Walsh, general president of the union, also appeared.

Master of Terawhiti Again.

When the Court resumed yesterday morning Captain Willson went again into the witness-box.

Mr. Mazengarb: You said yesterday that your judgment was not affected m nny way by the Toia’s return?—“That is so.”

Or by anything he said to you?—“That is so.”

Before leaving the wharf did you have ample time and opportunity of getting the information necessary to you?—“No. I don’t think so."

Well, why did you ask him about the weather?—“l wanted to know what the conditions were.” Is your tug as good a sea-going vessel as the Toia in rough weather? —“No. I iiave never been on the Toia; it’s just guesswork. I’m going on her build. She has a raised'bow.” Is a raised bow good in a heavy sea? — “Good for going through head seas, but not. for manoeuvring.” Which of the two tugs had the better opportunity of doing something effective for the Progress in that sea? —“If I may. answer that in my own way. I would say that the hour bad struck for tug work. With the ship a mile off shore it was certainly a job for lifeboats.” At wiiat hour had the ‘hour struck’ for tug work? —“'Well, it had certainly struck when I reached Seatoun.” "Why did you go into Seatoun wharf? — “I wanted to find out, not if the weather had changed, but if the position of the Progress had changed.” Mr. Page: Mr. Mazengarb, I don t think your questions are carrying the subject much further. There was an interval of an hour in which anything might have happened. The vessel might have foundered. Rightly or wrongly, he went into Seatoun to see if the position of the vessel bad changed, and I don’t think you will carry the question any further by pursuing it.” Is it usual for it to take two hours to get a crew ready and get the Terawhiti fitted for the outside sea? —“It all depends on the weather conditions.” In bad weather it takes two hours?— “About that. I should say.” And another hour to reach the Heads? —“I wouldn’t like to say that. It all depends.” Decidedly Tempestuous.

Mr. Treadwell: Would it be correct to describe the sea when you went out as tempestuous?—“Yes, decidedly. There was a fresh gale.” If there is a fresh gale and a heavy sea running would it be safe to manoeuvre your vessel within a mile of the shore in that vicinity?—“lt would be dangerous.” And it would be more dangerous by night than by day?—“Yes, much more.” I suppose the best person to know whether his vessel was in danger would be the master of that vessel? —“Yes.” The Toia is known as an ocean-going tug?—“Yes, she is a deep-sea tug.” Is she of the type used for towing vessels in mid-ocean ?“Yes; they were brought out during the war for the purpose of towing disabled vessels.”

Was such a tug as the Toia ever meant for manoeuvring in heavy weather in close waters?-—“No, I should say nor They have proved a failure wherever they have been tried.”

Do you know where they have been tried? —“Yes. they have quite a num her in New' South Wales and one at Van cotiver.” Have they made any alterations to them there? —“Yes. they caused so much trouble that they have cut down the hows of all but two of them. Those two are used purely for ocean-going work.”

Why did they cut them down?—“Because of their extreme awkwardness.” Why were they awkward? —“Because their high bow caught the wind and moved them a good deal.” Would such a tug take a lot of room turning round in a heavy wind?—“Yes. The engines must be kept going ahead because the moment she stops the wind turns her round.” The Toia is a single-screw ship?--“Yes.”

The modern tug for turning round in confined areas has twin screws?—“All modern high-power tugs have twin screws.” Do yon want more room to turn a ship with a single screw than one with twin screws? —“Yes, very much mor» room.” Have you in the course of your duties frequently to sail outside and along the coast where this casualty occurred?—“l have been out a number of times.”

All Experts Defeated.

Is it a fact that the tides act in strange -ways at times in that vicinity?— “Yes. The Cook Strait tides have defeated all the experts.” Would it have made manoeuvring difficult for the Toia? —“Yes. certainly.” Air. Walsh: I think you will admit that under the circumstances it was essential you should have capable and qualified seamen aboard? —“Assuredly.” Your ship is equipped with wireless, isn’t it?—“Yes. but I had no operator aboard. I didn’t wait for one.” Had you had nn operator on board would It have been necessary for you to call in at Seatoun? —“No. perhaps not.” Captain Worrall: Of course, captain, you realised the danger the ship and crew were in?—“Yes.”

But you didn’t think you could go?— "No. If there had been a ghost of a chance we would.” Don’t you think that it might have been better to go out to the ship, or were you quite satisfied you could do no good? —"ln mv opinion, captain, we could do ■othiug.”

Captain Cartner: You think it would

have been impossible if you got out to the Progress to manoeuvre in the water between the vessel and the shore?—“lt would not have been possible.” Mr. Page: I think you said yesterday that the main difficulty was the nearness of the Progress to the shore? —“Yes. that is so.” The distance from the shore was the main consideration? —“Yes.” Would it have been possible to stand a little to windward of her and either float down or pick up a line?—“l don’t think so. I wouldn’t have cared to go in to that locality.” If you had got hold of her would you have been able to get her in? —“It all depends on the gear holding.”

Extreme Care Needed.

With normal luck you would be able to tow a vessel of that size in that sea? — “With extreme care veu might get her UP-” Raymond Ernest Osborn, in charge of Beacon Hill signal station, said that he went on duty on May 1 from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Statements made by Puddick and Mackay were then read in court, following witness’s own account of the events of the morning and the messages which the Toia had sent up to daybreak. As far as witness could see. from 2 a.m. to. 6 a.m., the Progress would be about a mile and a half off shore. They had a good glass at the station, and the Progress stayed in the same position during the period. They would not actually see the closest shore, perhaps, but witness estimated it as a mile and a half. It would be further from Sinclair Head than from the land immediately north of her. To Mr. James, witness said that at the signal station they were not in a good position to judge the distance of the 1 rogress from the shore. Captain Worrall: In southerly leather isn’t the sea often worse at the Heads than further out? —“We can’t see very well, but there's always, a break at the Heads. I suppose it might be.” Could the Terawhiti have got out that morning?—“l don’t know—l wasn’t on watch then.” Did you see the Futurist go out. — “Yes, she was making heavy weather of it. She just got out.”

Harbourmaster’s Evidence.

Captain John Spence, acting-harbour-master at Wellington, said he first got word that the Progress was in trouble when lie came out of a theatre. It was thrown on the screen that he was required —just prior to the main picture comiug on. When he came out he rang the wharf and was told that the Progress had lost her propeller, that Captain Peterson had been notified and had notified Holm and Co. Thereupon, at about 9 o'clock, he rang Beacon Hill. He asked the position and was told that she was a mile or so to the southward of Sinclair Head. They told him that the wind had just changed to the south-south-east, light to moderate, with a slight southerly swell. He told them lie was going home.

At 9.10 Captain Peterson got into touch with witness and said he had been speaking to Captain Ness. Captain Peterson wanted to know if they should send a tug—Captain Ness had not wanted to take the responsibility of sending the tug. Orders had been given for steam to be raised. Witness gave them half an hour’s grace and rang Beacon Hill again. They told him the wind .and sea were increasing, so witness took steps to send the tug out. This was at about 9.40 p.m., and he ordered the tug out without consulting Captain Holm. He had rung Captain Campbell, of the -Toia earlier and had told him to stand by.

As Soon as Possible.

He told the watch foreman to get the tug away as soon as possible, and that it was to proceed to sea for the Progress. He was advised by telephone that the tug got away at 10.43 p.m.—just an hour after he had given instructions. ..This was a reasonable time.

Mr. Preudeville: Was there any discussion up to then with regard to pay ment for the Toia’s services?—“None whatever.” He had not been in touch with Captains Holm or Ness and there had been no bargaining whatever about the terms.

After you had taken steps to get the tug out I take it that your responsibility ended ?—“By no means.” But you could do nothing further — “No.” Mr. Prendeville; That’s what I meant. Did you communicate later in the night—“ Yes.”

Did you get any message from the Toia—“Yes. at 3.30 n.m. I got a message from Beacon Hill saying that the Toia htt’d signalled that the Progress was dragging and that she could nor get a line aboard.” As far as he could recollect the tug had said the line-throw ing gun had been used. Mr. Page: Did you order the Toia to come back, or did she come back on her own initiative?—“On her own initiative.”

At 4 o’clock he got into touch with Captain Peterson, and told him to get the rocket apparatus out and proceed to Island Bay. He also rang Captain Holm and told him the position. Cmtain Holm said he would try to get the Terawhiti out. Witness took a taxi, picked up a constable, and they went as far down the bench at Ohiro Bay as possible, finally turning the headlights on the Progress. Witness took bearings, and found the Progress was not drifting. At daybreak the Progress was making very heavy weather of it.

Estimate of Position.

Mr. Page: What was her position at that time?—“About a mile out. I should say. South-south-east of Rod Rocks, and about a mile from them. Of course, sir. that’s only a rough estimate.” The Toia was ahead of the Progress, and further ont to sea. Eventually he noticed her proceed in, but in the meantime witness had noticed that the Ternwhiti was on the way out. It —as after the Matangi had passed that the distress signal was hoisted. To Mr. Page, he said he had arrived at the office again at 9 o’clock, and ordered the Toia out again immediately. Mr. Prendeville: So that from your observations from the shore you thought the Toia could do something still?—“lt. was a ticklish job.”

Risks and Experience.

But yon thought something might be done?—“Well, you must remember that I’m an older man than Captain Campbell, head of the department at the present

time, and would probably take more risks than Captain Campbell.” . The rocket apparatus had arrived on the beach at 7 o’clock, prior to which witness had been several times in communication with the .city by telephone. Witness went out on the Toia the second time himself. . ■ , Mr Kirkcaldie: No discussion took place between Captain Holm and you about towage or salvage?—“None whatThe Toia still belongs to the Admiralty?—“Yes, as far as I know.” She is a powerful tug?—“Yes.” And I don’t think you have a great deal of difficulty in getting her out of the heads? —“No.” . , Did you nurse her going out? — J\o. She was goinjj full speed as far as I ;Il Wlien yon rang up the signal station at 12.30 a.m. they told you the tug was alongside?—“Yes. I got a favourable reply. And after that you went to bed. — “Yes.” And had no other communication with the signal staliou until they rang you?— his evidence when the Court resumed in the afternoon, Captain Spence told Mr. 'Watson that the Toia was a very awkward vessel to manoeuvre in h°avv weather. This was on account of the 'high bow—if the vessel were not loaded down. . „ , r, > Do you suggest that the Harbour Board tug is inefficient for manoeuvring in heavy weather in Cook Strait? Well I hardly like to answer that. If it is close to land it still has to have room to manoeuvre.” Is she efficient for manoeuvring a mile and a half from shore? —“Yes, I should say she is.” Assuming it to be a heavy weather and a heavy sea, which of the two vessels, the Terawhiti or the Toia, is more, efficient for manoeuvring?—“Well, its a difficult question. When in the vicinity of the Progress I would prefer to be handling the Terawhiti.” In your opinion were the weather conditions such as to prevent the Terawhiti going out?—“I don’t think there was anything to stop her going out.” ■ After you had satisfied yourself in the evening that the Toia was leaving, or had left, you didn’t expect any trouble, did you?—“None whatever.” You felt certain the Torn could pick her up?—“l felt certain.” . „ , My advice is that Captain Peterson asked authority of Cantain Ness, of the Holm Company, to,, raise steam?— 1 can’t speak of that.” If the tug were sent by the Harbour Board would an account be sent’ to the Holm Company?—“l couldn't say. Steam was raised as far as he was aware under Captain Peterson’s instructions. At 3.30 in the morning, when rung up by Beacon Hill, witness told them to ask the Toia whether they had tried their line-throwing gun. He expected it would be tried as a last expedient. Wliat distance would it throw?— The range is supposed to be 1000 feet. An ordinary throw would be 500 feet. Witness had been led to believe that a reply had come to the effect that the gun had been tried.

Grave Risk Involved.

At 4.30 a.m., when you arrived on shore, do you consider the Progress was in such a position that the tug could run to leeward of her?—“There would have been a grave risk, but I suppose it could have been done.” Would you have done it?—“l think I would have.” Could you see anything that would cause the Toia to leave for port.—“ Personally I couldn’t. But there might have been reasons I did not know of.” Shortly before 9 o’clock you had a conversation with Captain Holm. I think, he being at Seatoun wharf? —“I did.” Did he tell you the Terewhiti had refused to go to sea? —“He did.” You told him that you yourself would take the Toia out?—“That I intended to take it out.’’ You subsequently went out, m charge of that tug yourself?—“l did.”. And by arrangement you picked up Captain Holm?—“I did.”

“Where There’s Life There’s Hope.”

So even at that late hour you thought the tug might be able to help the Progress?—“Where there’s life there’s hope. I wasn’t worrying about the ship—l was worrying about the men.” And you went full speed out of the entrance? —“Yes.” When you got down to the Progress she was then under sail, was she not?— “Yes.” But before you got to her she bad gone on to the rocks? —“Yes.” What was the nearest you got to her in the Toia at that time? —"We were never within a quarter of a mile of her. Had you to turn round at all? — “Once.” , How far were you from shore then. “Half a mile.” So you could turn round halt a mile from the shore? —“Yes.” To Mr. Mazengarb, who asked some questions about the dispatching of tugs, Captain Spence said that there had been no delay through having to get the engineer. He explained that all the master of a ship had to do if he required the services of a tug was to put ont two blue or white lights, horizontally, as far apart as possible. A tug would then undoubtedly be sent by the Harbour Board, provided the ship did not belong to the Union Company or its combine.

Master the Best Judge.

Mr. Treadwell: An attempt, has been made to draw from you, Captain Spence, answers detrimental to my client. You have said that you might have gone to leeward of the Progress. Captain, who is the best judge of whether a ship can manoeuvre in a certain way ?—“The master of that ship.” And you, with your great experience of the sea, would not consider yourself a better judge of whether help could be effected? —“No.” You have said you turned round half a mile from shore? —“Yes, but it was more open. It was in a sort of a bay. Did you attempt to get close to, the Progress when you went out? —“Yes. ’ . Did you get as close as you could with safety?—“Quite.” And that was about a quarter of a mile?—“Yes.” Mr. Page: When you got to her she was on the rocks? —“Yes.” Mr. Treadwell: The effect of navigating a vessel like the Toia under such, circumstances at night would be infinitely more difficult than in the daytime?—“Yes certainly.” To Mr. James, Captain Spence said that the tossing about of the Toia was one of the things that would make the firing of the line-throwing gun difficult. Captain Peter Stanley Peterson, acting deputy-harbourmaster, said he had first got word of the Progress at 8.40 p.m. from the watch foreman. He got . into touch with Captain Ness and asked if he knew of the Progress. He was told yes. Witness asked if he were sending the tug out, and Captain Ness said, be wanted to get into touch with Captain Holm first. Witness advised him to get a taxi. He rang Captain Campbell at 9 p.m., and told him to get steam on the Toia as soon as possible, and to notify the engineer. Captain Campbell was told not to go down until he got further instructions. No request for the tug had been received up till then. He rang Beacon Hill and told them to watch very carefully, and to see if any distress signals were put up. If they had, witness would have waited fo- no one, and sent the tug immediately. At 9.10 he got into touch with Captain Spence, gave him the position. and told him what had been done That was the last he did. that night. At 4 o’clock next morning he was rung by Captain Spence and told to get . the rocket apparatus out. Witness described what they had done with this on shore. To Mr. Mazengarb. Captain Peterson said that if distress signals or the usual "tug wanted” signal had been displayed, be would have sent the tug immediately. Mr. Page assured Mr. Kirkcaldie, who interposed a remark, that there was some difference between the transmission of a message to Captain Ilolin saying that the propeller was lost and the display of a distress or “tug wanted” signal.

Master of Toia in Box.

Captain William Henry Campbel), master of the Toia, said that the ship was fully equipped with both manila and steel hawsers for towing. Witness heard first of the Progress when he got a ring from Captain Peterson at 9.10 p.m. He lescribed all the steps he took to as

semble the crew and carry out the directions he had received. The vessel left the wharf at 10.43 and had eight on board all told, including Captain Ness, of the Holm Company. The draught would be lift. 6in. forward and 14ft. Bin. aft. They had all the gear and one month’s provisions for a full crew on board. They cleared the Heads at 11.40 p.m., and the wind was southeast, force seven to eight, with a rough sea. Visibility was good. He could not see the Progress, so he asked Beacon Hill to signal the Progress and tell her to burn a blue lamp. The Progress put up a blue light, and the Toia went straight for her, reaching her at 1 a.m. Mr. Prendeville: What would you say the position of the Progress was at that time?—“Well, I had no bearings, but I took it as about a mile south-south-east of Sinclair Head.” Was there any difference in the weather since you had left the Heads?—"Yes. the wind and sea had certainly increased.”

Tuginaster’s Story.

“When we approached the Progress he had no navigation lights, but when we came up he switched them on,” said witness. “I asked what ship and he replied ‘Progress.’ We then went across his bows and windward of him and rounded up on a port helm on his weather side. I brought the tug along parallel to him, but with the weather prevailing I hardly thought it possible to throw a heaving line. I rounded up head to wind abreast of his bow. When we backed her down I suppose wo got to anything within 50 feet of him. As soon as we got down toward him the wind took the Toia’s bow and swung us round. I tried again two or three times, but on each occasion the Toia slewed right round. Then I tried to float a line down on a buoy, but this was unsuccessful ' because the buoy was drifting as fast as the Toia was.

“I told the crew on deck to get out the line-throwing gun,” said witness, “but at this stage I saw that the Pro-g'-nss had floated a lighted lifebuoy with a line. I told the crew -we’d drift down and pick the line up. During these operations the wind and sea were increasing all the time.

Fifty Feet Between.

“When we picked up the Progress’s messenger I steamed slowly out and parallel to the Progress until our port quarter was parallel with her starboard bow. The two ships were then ranging together, and at times I’m quite sure we must have been within 50 feet of each other, both ships being broadside to the sea. We had heaving lines the whole length of the ship on the port side so that wherever we picked up their messenger we’d bend on. We bent the end of two heaving lines bent together on to the messenger, and on to the heaving lines we attached our 2|in. messenger. The crew down on the deck could see that one end of our messenger was on board the Progress. and they then bent our steel towing wire to our end. When I thought they’d have one end of the wire I morsed them and asked whether they had it fast. We were moving slowly up as they were taking in the line. “I got a reply saying ‘Not yet.’ The next thing I knew was that 1 got a morse message from the Progress saying that the line had parted. During these operations we heard someone on the Progress shout out that his anchors were down.

Only One Tiling To Do.

"When I got that, signal that the line had broken,” he said, “there was only one thing for me to do—that is. to steam away. The whole lot of the wire rope—--120 fathoms —had been paid out. and I had to keep going ahead until I got the whole of this wire in. My impression was that the line had broken at 2 o’clock. By the time we got the towing wire aboard it was 2.50 a.m.

Damage to Vessel.

“While getting the wire in. the decks aft were continually awash. I personally went down on the deck and gave them a hand with the wire. The remains of the messenger came in on the end of the wire. By this time the wind had got up. and there were very heavy squalls. It was reported to me that the starboard engineroom skylight door had carried away, and that the tug was taking considerable water down below. , . “At that stage I had seen that the weather was so bad that it would be impossible to help the Progress. I called up Beacon Hill and told them to tell Captain Spence that the weather was too bad to do anything and that the Progress had both anchors down. Just then I received a morse message from the Progress to say that it was dragging. I reported this to Beacon Hill. A few minutes afterward I got a message from Beacon Hill to ask if we had tried the gun. I replied ‘Yes.’ Then I received a message saying that Captain Spence was coming round by road. Just before daybreak Beacon Hill told me the Terawhiti was coming round.

Why the Tug Returned.

“At daybreak the wind and sea, if anything, had increased. We shaped a course down for the Progress, and, looking at the Progress during the daylight, I considered that it would have been a most dangerous manoeuvre that would have imperilled my ship and endangered the lives on board to have attempted to pass to leeward of the Progress. As far as I could see the only assistance that could come to the Progress was by shore. I knew that Captain Spence had gone round on shore and I surmised that he would take a rocket apparatus? 1 got within about a quarter of a mile of her. “By this time my crew were exhausted, and, seeing that I had decided the Torn could not possibly help the Progress, I returned to port.” , ~ On the application of Mr. Treadwell who pointed out that they had had four long days and suggested that it was not in-the interests of the inquiry to sit any further that afternoon, the court adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-day.