ON SALAMANDER BANK. WITH A BIG LIST TO PORT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1911, Page 7

ON SALAMANDER BANK. WITH A BIG LIST TO PORT.

Australian papers to hand report that the eteamer Eastern left Pinkenba last Wednesday, at 1.30 p.m., for her final port, two days ahead of schedule time. The afternoon was dull and squally. Just about 4 o'clock the Bhip was making its way through the north channel, when she ran into a heavy rain squall with thick haze. It lasted only some seven or ( eight minutes, but there was disaster in every minute. The leading lights at Talgalooma and Cowan were obscured by tho haze, and the Junction buoy at Freeman's Channel was mistaken for No. 7 buoy. The ship consequently steered further to the west thk-n would have been the case but for the error. She bumped on the southern end of Salamander Bank, one of those shifting sandbanks which abound in the vicinity, and make it a spot for most careful navigation. It was the very irony of fate ' to come through the dangerous waters of the north and northeast coast, and then to pile up on a sandbank within three miles of open water. The point where the vessel took tha ground is about eight miles inside of Cape Moreton. When the ship bumped there was some little confusion amongst the passengers. An effort was at onc9 made to get the ship off the bank by the force of the engines, but they failed, and word of the mishap was then sent to Brisbane. It was about 8 o'clock when the news reached Brisbane. Arrangements were made at once to despatch the tug Beaver, but owing to a search for the crew, who had dispersed to their homes and places of amusement, it was not till midnight that the boat left Brisbane. When the Eastern was reached it was found she was lying with a big list to port. She had evidently run well up on the bank. Before the arrival of the Beaver the pilot boat Llewellyn had tried unsuccessfully to tow the ship off. The ship was drawing 18ft of water when she struck, and had a tug been available to aid her at an earlier hour the trouble would probably have been overcome at once. Several unavailing efforts were made to get the stranded steamer off, and it was then decided to jettison portion of the cargo of rice. Upwards of 30 tons of rice were sacrificed, until quite a little island of rice mats arose beside the vessel, and around it swarmed several large sharks. Several tanks of water were pumped out, in order to j lighten the ship as much as possible. Shortly before 1 p.m. the Beaver again essayed to tow the vessel off. Meanwhile the dumping of rice mats was resumed, until upwards of 70 tons was thrown overboard. Weather eonditionc I remained overcast, with frequent falls lof rain. The Beaver tugged in great style, but there was no apparent result from her efforts. During Wednesday night, the ship bumped a good deal, but during Thursday she settled on the sand without any movement. An anxious night was passed by tho passengers. On Friday morning it was decided to transfer the passengers to the Beaver for conveyance to Brisbane. As the passengers left the ship they each and all went to the captain, shaking his hand, and expressing sympathy. And, viewing the Eastern from the Beaver, it was plainly evident that, despite all efforts, she was further on the bank than on Thursday morning. Her list was also increased. With the v.-eatEer getting worse, the position of the ship was anything but satisfactory. The passengers were safely landed at Brisbane.