PORT ELLIOT’S PLIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 18533, 16 January 1924, Page 6

PORT ELLIOT’S PLIGHT

EXPERIENCES OF THE CREW. REFLOATING CHANGES SLENDER. VESSEL REPORTED HOLED. [Per United Press Association.] WELLTNOTON, January 15. On tile arrival o.f fiiftv-nine m-ambers of film cre-w of the Port Elliot at Wedingten this morning ilt was quickly found that tliere was a decided unwillingness to supply any particulars at all of the happenings before or after the wreck occurred. To put the matter colloquially, the crew were as “close as oysters," and comments on the weather conditions at .the time or any matters relating to the use made of East Cepe lighthouse were absolutely barred bv those who did give any ini.omotion, amd these mantel's will not be cleared ■up until the Nautical Court makes ts official inquiry into the circumstances' of the wreck. Previous reports by telegraph mentioned that the weather was thick, with a. lowlying fog and a smooth sea, find, if any” thing, a light north-easterly wind. As has been previously mentioned, the general direction of the sea current in this locality is als from the north-east STORY OF THE CREW.

A member of the crew was intervwed and from his story it appears that littie or no chance of the Port Elliot being refloated, and salvage work will be difficult. Ho said the vessel left Auckland, bound for Wellington, on Friday. She was carrying 2,500 tons of cargo, largely consisting of motor oars. The vessel struck at about 11.30 on the following night. The impact was fairly severe, and it was a surprise for everyone. As soon ns the bottom wos touched the engines were put full speed astern, but there was no movement of the vessel Putting the engines full speed astern was ■tried three times ot intervals, but there was no response. In the meantime the anew had been signalled to their places at the boats, and about 12.45 a.m. the order was given for the ship to be abandoned By this time she had made some Silt or 4f,t of water all over.' The bulkhead between the engine room and the boiler room at that time showed grave signs of collapsing, and the engines themselves appeared likely to break down, the engane bed having been affetited by the pressure from the .nock the ship was resting on. SOS signals had by this time been sent out. and had been answered by Auckland and .Wellington. There was a great fear that the ship would break in half at any minute. Three lifeboats were put down, and the whole of the crew left. There were no mishaps, and the man behaved themselves admirably. As the boots were pulled away the lights on the vessel were still burning, the boilers having _ sufficient steam to keep the dynamos running. The swell continued to increase. There was one heavy squall of rain, which drenched the crew, snd they had a very rough, oold, and miserable tame. At daybreak the ship was found Ito be still in the same position, and the whole of the orew returned. The electric light was still burning, but the dynamos ga.vb out at 6 a.m., and the wireless was carried on thereafter off the accumulators. * RESCUE WORK.

Advice was received that (the Porit Victor wah en route from Napier, Mid was expected to arrive about 4 p,m. Distress signals had been given, but it was after daybreak that the crew first saw signs of civilisation. The vessel was about a mile and a-quarter from the shore, and there were hundreds of rocks guarding Gtihe bench. Tho country behind was undulating sandhills, and there was one solitary tree to relievo the monotony, said the speaker. Two men were seen standing on the beach. They had apparently aroused the whole neighborhood, for by 8 a.m. there was a mounted party of about thirty on tho beach. By this time it was found that, though the ship was still on an c v en keel, the engines had collapsed and the cargo in No. 2 hold was afloat. The Tutaiiekai made her appearance about 6 a.m.. and anchored about two miles away, which was as close as it was thought advisable for her to come. After the masters of tho two vessels had been rn communication, the Tutanekai left, and the attention of the men was turned again to the people on the beech. “We wore in a. sort of bay,” said the sneaker, “.and waves wore breaking over the rocks. It would have been very diflicuft indeed for us- to have landed—m fact, it anneared almost impossible About 9 a..m. a successful attempt was made to signal the people on the bench, one of the East Coast, lighthouse beepers answering by semaphore. He made his flnfrs from sticks and a. couple of handkerchiefs. They did not make any use of (the blackboard. The people on shore could no nothing; but wffvat we wanted to find cut was whether there was a passage between the rooks. The people answered that there wos, and offered to mark it with two beroons in ease we had urgent, need to try to make it, Tt would fiiive been a last resource if the ship bad broken. We could see that the people on the beach were preparing shelter and food for us in cose of need. The horsemen wore centsmrally coming and going, apparently collecting anything that might be considered necessary.” THE TRANSFER.

Another mom,her of the orew who was interviewed said thnjt on board pre.pnrnHorn were mode for leaving. There was kMle e’se "Hhn.t could he done. The Tute.nekni. which hod been sheltering in Hicks Bay, returned about 2 p.m.—half mn hour after the Arnh-nra had appeared on the scene, and had been advised that her asisfance was not required. I* was not without a great deal of difficulty that (Iho crew were transferred to the Tufanekn,'. and on 1 the arrival of the Port Victor, which won de-Wed owning to the strong head wind, the men were transferred to that ve ; scl. It was dangerous and heavy work for a crew that was already nearimr exhaustion. The TufrunekaiV motor launch rendered miu-rh assistance. A party of about ten men, including the captain and the chief engineer, were left on board, and the_ others were gdt safely aboard the. Port Victor, whore accommodation was found for them, and they were nil soon asleep. SIGNS OF BREAKING. While standing by on the Pont Elliot waiting for the Port Victor to malm her appearance, a man stuw signs that the vessel was. breaking up. Creaking and breaking noises down below indicated that she was breaking inside. It appeared that she had _ struck the rook about No. 3 hold, which is a little forward of amidships. When the men left in the afternoon the after part fof the vessel wins practically out of the water, with the propellers showing. They learned afterward* that the Port Victor, which left on Sunday night and turned back ncain during the night, hod early yesterday morning seen the wreck apa.in, the Port Ell Hot being then in the same position. Those of the Port Elliot's crew who were on the Port Victor at this time were sleeping the sleep of exhaustion after their very trying experiences. The informant held out no hope whatever of the Port Elliot being refloated. When they left the vessel tho second time she had Bft or 9ft of water in the forward holds. The probability was that tho vessel was taking water from a huge rent made by the rocks in her bottom. From another son roe of information t was found that before tho engine room was actually deserted the bottom was smashed in by two large rocks. LOST HER BUOYANCY. [Pee United Press Association.] GISBORNE, January 15. ■ The latest advices from Te Aratm state that the Port Elliot^ appears to have lost her former buoyancy, and now has the listless roll of a waterlogged vessel. Since

hast night the disabled vessel, according to one' of the oirservers, appears to have drifted nearly 50yds nearer the shore. An unconfirmed re-port states that the vessel is now flooded throughout to a depth of 10ft. Attempts to send a ropa ashore have still proved futile- Salvage work has been interrupted by the rough seas, which have compelled _ the salvaging vessels to seek shelter in Hicks Bay. Rato to-night tho sea was again oalm, ■and the small craft are expected to reach the wreck at midnight. 1 STOWAWAY. WELLINGTON, January 15. Tho crow, as shipwrecked British-ors, automatically come under tho protection of the Government, and the Marine Department made arrangements for the accommodation and comfort of the party, numbering nine officers and forty-nine men. These include a stowaway named Garlic, who boarded the vessel at Auckland. Several men have expressed the opinion thot there is little hope of refloating the Port Elliot, as dhe shows signs of breaking up, and the gale In. the night and to-day decreases tho chances of saving her.