AUCKLAND HARBOUR ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 20

AUCKLAND HARBOUR ACCIDENT

Tug Holed By Propeller Of Liner SINKS ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM SHORE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, August 11. Holed amidships by one of the propollers of the Federal liner Essex, the Auckland Harbour Board’s tug Te Awhina was so seriously damaged this morning that she sank off the western viaduct, about 200 yards from the shore. The vessel settled down after a desperate effort had been made to get her into shallow water. When she took her final plunge, the master, Captain D. Probert, and a deck hand, Mr. J. Davis, had to swim to a launch that was standing by. Plans for raising the vessel, part of which is showing above water, have not yet been decided upon, but it is understood that dredging will have to precede the attempt. Then it is likely that two scows will be laid one on either side and a number of small lines taken underneath her. How Accident Happened. The accident to the Te Awhina occurred shortly after 8 a.m. The Essex, a motor-ship of 11.0G2 tons, commanded by Captain Wyett, had been loading for London at southern ports. She arrived in Waitemata Harbour at 2.40 a.m., anchoring in the stream. Shortly before 7 a.m. the Auckland Harbour Board’s two tugs, William O. _ Daldy and Te Awhina, went out to bring the Essex to a berth on the western side of the central wharf. When the Essex was a short distance from her berth, those of the crew who were stationed aft suddenly saw the Te Awhina swing in under her counter. Next moment she was struck by one of the liner’s propellers and a hole driven in her hull just opposite the en-gine-room on the port side. One of the ventilators was stove in against the counter. She began to take water fast, and, realising her plight, Captain Probert had her cast off and made toward Queen’s Wharf. Captain Grover, master of the pilot launch Ferro, who was on Queen’s Wharf, immediately took out the Ferro and sent the line on board. The plight of the vessel was now fully realised. She was sinking fast and there was only one thing to do—to try to get her to the shallow water between the viaduct and the western wharf. The engineer of the tug, with the water making fast in the engine-rooms, shut off steam and took effective steps to prevent the boiler bursting. Dash for Shallow Water. Then the dash for shallow water began. with the Ferro towing the bigger craft. Off Queen’s Wharf the launch Presto went alongside, sent aboard another towline and took off four members of the crew of the Te Awhina. Captain Probert and Mr. Davis stayed on board. The two towing launches made all the speed they could with the heavy waterlogged vessel toward the shallow water, several hundred yards distant. As they came round the end of Prince’s Wharf the decks of the Te Awhina were already half awash. They got her past the newly-erected Hobson Wharf and were just over the edge of a shoal when the vessel settled down. To the last moment Captain Probert and Mr. Davis had stuck to their post. Now they were half-swept and half-jumped off,' with lifebelts on to assist them. They were necessary, for the chill of the water was such that they could not long have kept afloat in it. Mr. Davis was picked up by the Ferro and Mr. Probert'by the Presto. They were immediately taken to shore, where they were given attention.