CHATHAMS WRECK

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 146, 17 December 1924, Page 6

CHATHAMS WRECK

DETAILS OF RAMA MISHAP

PLACED BEFORE NAUTICAL

COURT

The official investigation of the wreck of the small steamer Bama at Chatham Islands on 17th November last was called before- the Nautical Court this morning. Mr. W. G. Kiddell, S.M., presided, and the assessors were Captains F. W. Barron and W. H. Smith.

Mr. J. Prendeville represented the Marine Department, Mr. S. Kirkcaldie represented Captain Cartner, of the Rama, and Mr. Whyte the owners.

On her ill-fated, trip the Rama, which belonged to the Chatham Islands Fishing Company, and made trips to the islands for fish, was leaving Kaingaroa, the principal port,' when' she lifted on a big swell, and, settling down again, struck on a pinnacle rock. The impact was not severe, but it was soon ascertained that the vessel had sustained serious damage. The steamer struck, just below the boilers, and as the water" made rapidly Captaiu Cartner decided to beach the ship. He accordingly made for. the Okawa Beach, the only one in the. vicinity, and there the steamer took ground about 400 yards from the shore. The vessel commenced grinding at high tide, and eventually settled down hard and fast. The stokehold, engine-room, and both holds filled with water. While the northerly weather continued there was no danger to those on board, but after the vessel had "been beached a southerly arose, and the seas breaking over the ship made it impossible to remain on board. - ■ THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE. Captain Edward Cartner, who was the first witness, said he sailed from. Westport on 13th November, and called at Kaingaroa. He had a cargo of coal, 224 tons in all. The vessel was insured for about £9500. He arrived at Kaingaroa just before noon on the 17th. There was a strong northerly wind and rough sea. The vessel was taken to the usual anchorage, the one he always used. Soundings were, taken going in, and showed from ten fathoms at the entrance to five fathoms at the anchorage. The tide was an hour on the ebb.'There was sufficient shelter to work the surfboats. Cargo, comprising 220 cas.es of fish,, about 10 to 12 tons, was taken. in. The draught, which was 12ft 7in to I3ft"llin, was affected about one inch. This was the usual draught. Loading was finished at 5 p.m., and he then started for Owenga, 23 miles away. A heavy sea outside caused a heavy roll in the harbour, making it imperative that he should get out. The anchorage was unsafe, with no lights to help in getting out at night time. He wanted to get away to shelter before dark. While the vessel was under a port helm swinging round to avoid a broken reef, when travelling half-speed, he felt a slight bump. He had moved threequarters of a mile from the anchoragp He put the vessel full-speed in case of the vessel sticking, and continued to sea. The bump was so slight he took no notice of it. About twenty' minutes later the chief engineer advised him he had better get back as the vessel was making water. "He instructed, that the pumps be got going, and intended to try and get to Okawa, where there was smqoth water. The weatherwas so bad it would have been dangerous to return to Kaingaroa Harbour.Off Temakara Point he saw the water up to the stokers' knees, and told the engine* to' give everything he could' to ' get to smooth water before the vessel foundered.. They anchored in four fathoms at Okawa somewhere after . 7 p.m. The pumps were keeping the water down at. times, but ashes and coal blocked them occasionally. He decided at I daylight to try for Whangaroa, on the 1 other side, of the island, the only safe harbour. . ' ■ ■ ' DECISION TO BEACH. The wind and sea increased, and the vessel appeared to open out more. Off I Owenga at 7 a.m. he got Lloyd's representative off in a boat and consulted with him. Owing to the conditions, lie decided not to go to Whangaroa, as he would have met a heavy head sea, with the possibility of the vessel going down in deep water;, and there was no landing on that coast. He then started back to Okawa, to beach the vessel if necessary on the sand. The water increased on the way back. An attempt was made to get tarpaulins \,nder the vessel to check the water, but without effect. Some woodwork came away, and, knowing the precarious position, he had the boats swung out. A hand pump was rigged. About 3 o'clock the next morning the engineer reported that he. could not keep the water back. The water was within, a foot of the fires, so he decided that he must beach the vessel, at once, or she would sink in deep water. The vessel was beached in 14 feet of water, 400 yards from the TißMch. Provisions and personal effects were landed by. noon.. There was then 12 feet cf water in the stokehold, and water was showing in No. 1 and No. 2 holds. Up to that time there had been no water in the holds. The fish were salvaged the following day when the fishing boats arrived. A southerly cams up that night, and the shin was abandoned. ■ She was then on the bottom.

The witness said he had been four years in the Chatham Island trade. He knew the coast well. He was on his usual course when the vessel struck. The only explanation he could givo for the mishap was that the. vessel lifted on a heavy swell, and must have touched some pinnacle on the drop down. He had often been out in a similar heavy swell, and always used the tame course. ONLY SURVEY DATED 1840. Witness said he had often sounded the harbour, and had his own records, on which he had worked during" the past' four years. He had been at sea, for 30 years. He knew the Chathams so well that He had been consulted before H.M.S. Chatham took Lord Jellicoe to the islands. His chart had been used. The only survey of Chatham Islands in.existence, said the witness, was made in 1840. Many points in it were false, showing rocks that did not exist, and rocks : pur : of place. There was recently. a very heavy tidal wave in the Chat-, hams. This did a great deal of damage, _ and at Kaingaroa burst a dam. Pumice was afterwards found on the island, washed up. for the first time. A submarine disturbance may have altered the soundings, but this was purely speculation. The vessel was equipped beyond the usual with pumps. Sho had recently been overhauled, and was in good condition in every way. EVIDENCE OF OFFICERS. Thomas Clarkson Sawyers, first mate, gave similar evidence, and said the shock was so light that no notice was taken of it at the time. Witness had traded in the Chathams for five jears. The vessel was on the usual course. The chief engineer . ,of the Rama, Thomas Mayne Swede, said he was in the engine-room on leaving Kaingaroa. T#o or three minutes after getting way on a slight bump was felt, under the stokehold. He had a look round to see if there was anything wrong, but saw

nothing, and no one reported water frr five or ten minutes. All hands were a ™" cd. down- and the pumps started. Ihe holes were discovered, but nothing could be done to stop them effectively. The rolling of the ship seemed to.be making it worse. Everything that could be done to stop the water was done, but it gained on them. The pumps were very large, capable of pumping, ten ' toils of" wafer,'a." minute,' but the water gained all the time. The vessel had- a steel hull lined with 4-inch tealC- , „-. :

T!}9 ..only .other witness called by: the Department was-John Henry Adams;- a donkeyman employed on the' Rama. He said the bump was just like a ship bumping on to a wharf. He went on deck to see what was wrong, but-saw nofKihg "unusual.""The libles"in the ship were under the boilers. Everything possible was done to stop the holes, but the effect was not marked. Bags were wedged under the boilers, and seemed to have some effect.

The captain, recalled, said the total crew was 21. He. considered life first and property next. . All hands were put ashore safely.

Mr. Prendeville said no suggestion. of blame'was made.'"' " ' "... .

Mr. Kirkcaldie said the soundings showed a clearance of 10 feet whei'e the vessel struck. ■

- The- insurance policy on the •-vessel was put in, and showed £9250 on the vessel. .... . ;

The Court announced that it would give a decision at 3 p.m.