THE STEPS TAKEN TO RE-FLOAT HER.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1897, Page 5

THE STEPS TAKEN TO RE-FLOAT HER.

For some unexplained reason the Rupaehu was allowed to approach too close to the beach. She now lies within about a mile of high-water mark, having apparently grounded on a sandy ridge. When she struck the tide was nearly full, but as she went on when she was travelling about 13 knots she embedded her forefoot so firmly that it was found impossible to dislodge her when the tide made. The after-part of the vessel was found to he afloat, and it was hoped that, by lightening her forward, her forefoot would lift up sufficiently to enable her to be taken into deep water, Nearly 100 tons of cargo were shifted aft on Saturday, but without the desired effect. As soon as the vessel struok the engines were reversed, and for over half an hour they were kept going full speed astern, but not an inch did she budge. When the tide made again on Saturday morning another attempt was made -to steam her off, but she was found to be as fast forward as before, and for the remainder of the day the crew, assisted by a few of the passengers, busied .themselves in removing some of the cargo from the forehold to the after-part of the deck, On Saturday night Captain Stuart renewed the effort to get the steamer offjbut although she was much lighter forward than in the morning she could not be shifted, AN AYVTCWAHD SITUATION. To make the position worse, the westerly breeze had Increased during the day, with the result that the vessel's stern, being afloat, was ca.ntcd towards the shore, and she then lay almost parallel to the beach, making it more difficult to get her off. She remained on an even keel throughout, but occasionally she bumped somewhat heavily, and a rumour was afloat thai she had injured her bottom plates to such an extent as to cause her to leak. One passenger assured our reporter that the bumps were so savwe on Saturday night that the ship's barber was unable to continue hjs shaving operations for fear that the razor might slip and seriously injure his customers. Several other passengers ridicule the statement that she had bumped heavily, assuring our reporter that the bumping was so slight that it did not cause them any inconvenience whatever. Captain Hose stated that bo far as he could see the hull of the vessel had not received any damage while on the beach, and he added that he had been assured by Captain Stuart that she was not making any water. As a derrick was being rigged to enable some of the cargo to be taken out of the fore-hold on Saturday, the spar carried away, and coming down with a crash, bent a portion of the railing on the forecastle head. The sea was rolling on to the beach on Saturday with such force that it was found impossible to put a boat ashore, and consequently Captain Stuart was unable to send off for the company's telegrams which had b&3n brought down to the beach for him by a man from the Spit lighthouse. Even now he has not received them, although he has been informed of their contents since the arrival of the rescue steamers. The vessel was in such a position that the lives of those on board were really never in danger, and the passengers, realising that fact, showed no anxiety about their safety, although naturally they chafed at the delay in getting to their destination. STEAMERS TO THE RESCUE. The B.s. Hesketh, coal-laden, and bound from the West Coast to Wellington, arrived opposite the Ruapebu on Saturday afternoon, and stood by in case she should be able to render assistance. At Captain Stuart's request she went up to Farewell Spit and sent ashore a telegram to the office of iho New Zealand Shipping Co. in Wellington, afterwards returning to the scene of the stranding, where she remained until 11 o'clock yesterday morning. About 1 a.m. yesterday the Mawbera, whioh Was on her way from Wellington to the West Coast, put in an appearance, and "although a gale was blowing Captain AL'Leau rent off a boat to the Ruapehu to ask if he could do anything. Captain Stuart, not knowing that the Corinna was to be sent from Wellington for the purpoie, arranged that the Mawhera should take off his passengers at daylight and bring them to this port. • By daylight the Wainui (bound for Wellington from the West Coast), the Talune (en route for Sydney) , and the Waverley (with Mr Heaps, Collector of Customs at Nelson, on board) also came to an anchorage close to the Ruapehu, and shortly ' afterwards the Omapere, from the West Coast, and the Corinna also arrived. ABHIVAIi OF THE COKINNA. The Corinna, Captain Nordstrum, had left Wellington at 2.15 on Saturday afternoon, with Captain Hose (local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company), Captain Bendall (Marine Surveyor to Lloyd's), Messrs. Carter and Jackman (of the Customs), Mr. Peter Brown (stevedore of the New Zealand Shipping Company) and a gang of men, Mr. C. Hayes (of the Government Insurance Department), and press representatives on board. She experienced very dirty weather on the run down to the Ruapehu, which she did not reach until 6 o'clock yesterday morning. A SCENE OF ACTIVITY. j The scene which presented itself when

the Corinna put in an appearance will not soon be forgotten. Lying almost parallel to the beach, with her head townrds Cape Farewell, was the majestic ocean liner standing as upright as if she were on the stocks, and with a mile or so of water between her and the shore. Congregated on her starboard side were the seven steamers whose names we have* just mentioned, with «everal of their boats dodging about. The speotacle reminded one of a regatta, with the Ruapehu as flagship, more than anything else. Captains Rose and Bendall lost no time in going over to the Ruapehu, being taken across to her by the Waverley, whose shallow draught enabled her to go alongside the big liner, and it was agreed that an effort should be made by the' Talune, an the most Powerful boat of the attendant fleet, to tow jo Ruapehu's stern out seaward when the tide made. A steel hawser was accordingly run out from the Ruapehu to the Talune, but as it was found to be a trifle short some delay took place in splicing a piece on to it. THE HUAFEHU ALMOST OFF. The tide was at its highest at half-past 9, and on a signal being given by the Ruapehu the Talune steamed half-speed ahead, and a strain was put on tho line. It was kept up for some time without any apparent result, the big Bteamer going full speed astern in the meanwhile, but at last everyone was gratified to notice that the stranded vessel was moving, her stern canting seaward slowly but surely. When the strain was at its greatest the hawser broke. But for this there is little doubt that the steamer would have got off. The tide by that time had fallen somewhat, and it was impossible to get another line between the two vessels in sufficient time to enable another tug to be made before the water fell too far. THE COBINNA BEINGS ON THE PASSENQEBS. Captain Ros« gave instructions that the Ruapehu's passengers were to be transferred to the Corinna and taken on to Wellington, and that those on board the Mawhera should also return to this port by the same vessel, so as to enable the Mawhera to remain and assist in bringing on some of the cargo in the Ruapehu's forehold. The work of taking off the Ruapehu's passengers was attended with no little difficulty and danger, owing to the heavy swell. The Corinna, in consequence of her draught, was prevented from getting alongside the stranded vessel, and it was fouud necessary to use the- Mawhera as a tender. Nearly an hour was lost in getting the latter boat alongside the Corinna, and the experience of the passengers in going from one boat to the other was the reverse of pleasant. The operation, however, was accomplished without accident, and the officers were equally successful in transferring the Mawhera's passengers, who had left Wellington on New Year's night, to the Corinna, which vessel left for the return trip to Wellington at 11 a.m. yesterday. Mr. W. Turner, the chief steward (to whom our reporter was indebted for numerous little courtesies), and his staff, assisted by Mr. Heslin, one of the Ruapehu's stewards, had n very busy time on the trip up. The Bteamer was packed with people, and her accommodation was severely taxed. In addition to her own crew of 35, there were 22*1 passengers from the Ruapehu and 70 from the Mawhera. Excellent arrangements, however, were made, and no one was neglected. The trip was a smooth one, and was apparently enjoyed by everybody. The steamer reached port a few minutes before midnight. It was understood by those on board that the Corinna Mould lie out in the stream until the morning, so as to enable the Health Officer (Dr. Henry, who was acting in this capacity in lieu of Dr. James) to make his examination of the Ruapehu's passengers by daylight, and accordingly the chief, steward of the vessel arranged shake-downs for all those for whom he was unable to apportion berths. Beds were made up in the forehold and on the main deck. All the children were put to sleep soon after dark, and many of the adults also turned in at an early hour. For some time before the Corinna reached the harbour the spectacle on board was a strange one ; stretched on all parts of the deck, in the alley-ways, and in the forehold were people of all ages and' sizes covered with blankets and rugs, and looking in the dim light as if the vessel had been turned into a hospital. THE HEALTH QTFICEfi'S INSPECTION. ' The company's officials were desirous that prompt action should be taken for the jnspectjon of tho Ruapehu's passengers immediately on their arrival in Wellington. Accordingly, Mr. Hunt, the Acting-Mana-ger, sought an interview yesterday afternoon with the Premier, who is at present the only Minister in town, Mr. Hunt just missed the Premier by a hairbreadth, for as he went in one door of the Ministerial residence Mr, Seddon, who was going out for a drive to Ross's Gardens, made his exit by another way, and was bowling along in the Hutt direction before the shipping representative had a chance to speak to him. However, Mr. Seddon was communicated with later on, and, when informed of the circumstances, gave orders that the Ellen Ballance was to be placed at the disposal of the Health Officer immediately on the Coriuna's arrival. The Health Officer boarded the Corinna after midnight, and was received by Dr. Goode, the medical officer of the Ruapehu, who had come across for the purpose of assisting that gentleman. Although there had been a deal of sickness on the voyage out, none of it was of a serious description, and the passengers arrived in good health ; and Dr. Henry, having satisfied himself on that point, allowed the steamer to go alongside. THE DEBARKATION. Although tho hour was late, there was a large crowd on the wharf when the Corinna came alongside, and a cheer was given as she made fast. All the saloon passengers and a number of those who had come out in the second cabin went ashore at once, but the third-class passengers remained on board for the night. The mails were promptly lent up to the Post Offioe and sorted. AN ADVENTURE IN THE HABBOUB. At 10.40 lost night a telephone message was received from the Heads that the Corinna was in sight, and a small party consisting of nearly all the New Zealand Shipping Company's clerical staff, Mr. W. A, Kennedy, local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, Mr. J. Daniel, Superintendent of that company's local works, an Evening Post representative, and others went out with the Health Officer in the Government steam launch Ellen Ballance. The passage was a particularly lively one, and also sensational. Though reminded that the Corinna's lights could be seen bearing in <'i certain direction, the coxswain (H. M'Cauley) preferred to steer a course from his own observations, with the result that the launch came into contact with the man-of-war Lizard, which was anchored in the fairway. The engines were going full speed at the time, and the boat-boom of the warship was carried away, and washed up on to the deck of the launch. Most of the party were stationed in the bow at the time, aud had to act promptly in getting out of the way. There was risk of the funnel, to which was affixed the head light, carrying away, and to escape this danger the members of the party leapt over ropes, and threw themselves prone on the deck. Luckily, no further damage was done. After getting clear of the warship, though, the wheel refused to work properly, and dismay was aroused by the prospect of having to drift helplessly about tho harbour. The skill of Mr. Daniel came in useful at this junoture, and after a delay of several minutes the trip was resumed. The steering was now very erratic, and when it was found that the vessel's head was turned to

Oriental Bay several of those on board appealed to the acting-Health Officer to displace the helmsman. Dr. Henry at once insisted upon the steersman vacating his post and giving way to the second in charge. At last the launch got near to the Corinna, but here a long delay took place. Nearly an hour was spent in manoeuvring, and the unpleasantness to those on board was increased by the the fact that everybody seemed to be in charge, and orders flew about thick and fast without the slightest chance of any of them being obeyed. The coxswain — who at intervals attempted to resume possession of the wheel, but was forcibly put aside by others— told the engineer to pay attention to his orders, and when "easy astern " was given, interrupted with " easy ahead" — an order which had it been carried out would have made a collision unavoidable. Those on the launch eventually reached the deck of the Corinna, well satisfied that for, the return trip to shore they would have the deck of the big steamer beneath them Lieut.-Colonel Hume, of the Defence Department, who was on. board the Corinna, was an interested spectator of the scene on the launch. HOW THE VESSEL WAS LEFT. The position of the Buapehu when the Corinna left was one which, did not give rise to any apprehension that she would " leave her bones " in the vicinity of Cape Farewell. The effort wlrich was made yesterday morning showed that she could be moved with the assistance of a powerful steamer, and as a lot of the cargo, including some heavy iron girders, was to be taken out of her by the Mawhera, there was every reason to believe that she would be seen alongside the Queen's Wharf in a day or two. The work of transferring cargo to the Mawhera was to be expedited, so that that steamer might promptly discharge it in Wellington and return for another cargo if necessary, The Mana, in charge of Captain Butt?, was despatched from Wellington on Saturday afternoon, and met with exceedingly bad weather in the Straits. A galo was blowing, and the little vessel was buffeted about like a, cork, but she managed to reach the Buapehu early yesterday afternoon. She took a quantity of gear to assist in getting the stranded vessel off, and she was also to act as tender for any of the steamers Which were unable to get alongside the Buapehu. About a dozen able-bodied young men, who came out as passengers, remained on board the Buapehu to assist in getting out the cargo. THE OFFICEBS OF THE VESSEL. Captain Stnart, 8.N..8., has only been in command of the Buapehu for two voyages. He has always , been, very popular with the passengers, and much sympathy is felt for him on account of the stranding of the vessel. Before going on the Buapehu he was in command'of the British-India Co.'s steamer Deccan, which was wrecked in the Eed Sea when the chief officer was on watch. Mr. Cogan, the chief officer of the Buapehu, has been in the service of the N.Z. Shipping Company for several years. The second officer is Mr. T.B. Cornwall, a son of Capt. Cornwall, of Taranaki, and Mr. W. Burrill is third officer. Mr. E. Grubb : Forsyth, the fourth officer, is a son of the late Mr. John Gmbb, formerly Chief Postmaster at Napier, and up till the time of bis death Assistant inspector of Post Offices in New Zealand.