THE WRECKED LAUDERDALE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1910, Page 6

THE WRECKED LAUDERDALE.

A SOHRY ON THE SOUTH BEACH. ALL HANDS RESCUED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. CAUSE OF DISASTER EXPLAINED.

Yesterday with its dull, leadened sky, | seemed a gloomily appropriate day for a wreck. During the morning a howling northerly gale sprang up and continued with unabated force till mid-day, when ?ts velocity began to lessen. The result of the blow, however, was to fan the sea into a disturbed mass, surging angrily home on the sandy beach. Fortunately this undesirable state of affairs began to undent) a change about mid-day, so tbat by 3 p.m. the fury of the gale had spent Wlilist the elements raged fiercely the anchor of the Lauderdale was paid out, so that the vessel came nearer to the shore. COMM UNICATION ESTABLISHED. All the morning arrangements were feverishly pushed ahead towards sending a lino to (lie ill-fated steamer. Mr ,1. D. Lynch, as soon as he found hat the local supply of rockets was ex M'rordinariiy limited, with _ commendable promptitude sent to Hokitika for sonic, those being sent up by a- special train, being subsequently carted to the beach. Early in the afternoon, the Harbour 'Lister (Captain J. Connor) had all the necessary appliances on shore ready to corn! the line across. At three o’clock a favorable chance presented itself, end tlic rocket was fired. With abated breath, the result- was awaited, and when it was seen that it had reached its billet to a nicety—had indeed hit a halyard rod bounced on to the deck —a hearty -■beer want up from the several hundred spectators assembled on the shore. HAUL, ASHORE! Wiling hands immediately lent assistand by 'a quarter to fours everything was in readiness to haul the first man ashore. This operation naturally created the utmost excitement amongst the spectators, ‘ho man's passage being watched with the keenest anxiety. The operation oc mnied hut a few minutes. With unfailing regularity the buov was smd 'jack and a man brought ashore, i!-,.. whole job occupying less than eight minutes. In this manner all the officers •ind ci'pw were got ashore in a little over ■wo hours. Beyond being drenched .o 'he skin, they were none the worse for ihe trying ordeal which they had gone through.

order “Hard aport,” but the vessel did not answer. The engines were then set full speed astern, but despite this the i .auderdale rushed on and grounded on the wreck ,o{ the Hawea for two or three minutes. Eventually che (SunmencfVl dp go astern, hut a heavy sea catching the vessel on the quarter, sent her hard on to the Hawea, bumping heavily just before the bridge. By this time the steamer was going full astern, which condition w„s maintained till the bridge was level with the extremity of the southern tiptoed. Captain Clark then called on l o lire officials on the tiphead to send him out a. tug at once, but the reply sent was to “keep her- going astern.” . STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC. It. was. however, inadvisable to follow -he latter course, so the vessel was sent lull ahead under the port helm, as this movement was necessary in order to obviate contact with the southern tip h.-Wl. i ince again the vessel commenced to reach over towards the north tiphead, so t “full astern” was again resorted to ,(•!■] die vessel rounded the southern ' i .'akwatcr. An examination was then made of the " 'll, when water was found in the fo ve■'nl, thus renderin'/ steering erratic, indeed the vessel had to be manoeuvred by going astern. THE VESSEL AT ANCHOR At 2.30 a.m. the lower fires were out, and seeing that tiie water was getting ahead of the pumps, the vessel preceded to the best anchorage which comd be found. Eventually the Lauderdale was anchored in seven fathoms of water, . nd veered out to sixty fathoms ot chain. <snee first striking signals of distress had ,aen shown constantly, whilst the whistle was touted frequently. At 4 a.m. the first rocket from the bore was fired, but fell short by about thirty to forty yards. Two other rockets i "d' wore equally ineffective. An attempt was made to establish communication with those on the beaMi ■mu) the vessel by means of Morse signalling, but this proved unavailing, as the apparatus on the beach was only a makeshift.

WANTED—A TUG. U 8 a.m. a Day Scout on the beach l .y means of flags secured the first comQiunication with the vessel. Crjutuin Clark than signalled that he was afloat md required the services of a tug. To this request a negative reply was sent >nd in response to the signal came the •me word “Thanks.’’ latter on Captain Robertson, of the Maoriland Steamship Company’s steamer ' r ol while, appeared on the scene and got into communication with those on the vessel. VESSEL DRIFTS ASHORE. At 11 a.m., the remaining or top fires went out on account of the. water coming through the bunkers. Later on Captain Clark asked for ados to letting the cable go. and in response was recommended to slack away the cable. This lie proceeded to do and at ? p.m.—just fourteen hours after the lv>t incident—the Lauderdale grounded for the first time. With the tide, the =teamer worked inshore, moving in about 120 fathoms from then till the last man left the ship. A LINE ASHORE. U 3.15 p.m. the first rocket fired during daylight succeeded in reaching the goal splendidly and, as those aboard and m the shore had plenty of gear ready, not much time was lost in establishing, communication with the vessel and shore. At ten minutes to four the first man—the enk—was sent ashore. The process contimed without intermission till 25 men, all, had been brought ashore from their unenviable position. True to tradiion, Captain Clark was the last to leave his ill-fated ch: irge, he being greeted with three hearty cheers as he landed. DAMAGE ALL FOREHEAD. When the Lauderdale was left yesterlay, there was no- water aft, all being in he forehead, which it is apparent has :nd considerable damage done to :t •hen when the officers left the vessel ate yesterday afternoon the Lauderdale was afloat aft. All the ship’s papers, log and chronometer were saved, being brought ashore •v the officers. HARBOUR HOARD ENQUIRY. At last night’s meeting of the Greymouth Harbour oHard the Chairman, Mr -Aix Campbell, made ”eference to the accident which had taken place that day o the Lauderdale. He said it was a after to be seriously regretted that, such a casualty should have happened, "t he was not in a position to say anything as to how it had taken place or whether anyone was to blame or who. Tut it would be the Hoard’s duty to hold a very strict and searching r.nairy into every circumstance surroundmg the accident and all they could do at the present time was to express their re- • ret that such a disaster had taken dace. Mr Keltic said he presumed the Hoard would get a full report on the whole mi* ter from its officers and till then they ■ould say nothing. Meanwhile it had been a most unfortunate* circumstance for the port and nothing further could ' * raid.

“TRUE BRITISHERS.” Tradition lavs it down that a captain ■d a British shin shall be the last man to loa.ve Ids vessel when in distress. Cantain Clark pbserved the rule with strict impartiality. Twenty-two officers and mon were sent oil* before be himself uot hi to the improvised cage and signalled instructions to draw him ashore. When lie did once again set foot on terra firm a w:is greeted with ronsimr cheers. In a wreck happily devoid of loss of life or even injury, there are not many •undents which require detailed elaboration. Suffice it to say that at no time was there anv disorder on the ship. All fvom the captain down displayed those enalities of calmness, resourcefulness and hiring which have alwavs been conspicuous in our mercantile marine. In the hackneyed saying, “all behaved like true Britishers.” “A FRIEND, INDEED.” Any reference to the wreck would he incomplete without mention of the in-, defal igable efforts of the .Maoriland Company’s° local manager, Mr J. I). Lynch, who was advised of the disaster _ as early as 2.30 o’clock on Monday morning. He immediately proceeded to the oleality and rematined there practically all day With characteristic energy he speedily had all possible arrangements made for the reception of the shipwrecked party. Tents were improvised on the beach, •creature comforts provided, and traps held in readiness to take the officers and men to lodging places in the town where they were provided with dry clothes, etc. ft, Is impossible to speak too highly of Mr Lynch’s action in this matter; he exhibited such foresight in making arrangements that not one detail was missing which would Help to relieve the .ot of”the unhappy officers and sailors. By his thoughtful and kindlv action, he not only earned for himself the thanks _ ot • hose whose sufferings he sought to minimise. hut the approbation of the '-eneral public. The a Ml ron and nurses of the Hospital ire also deserving of a meed of praise for their kindly action. It may he mentioned that those aboard the steamer lost everything. THE STRIKING—AND AFTER. Varying accounts have been circulated as to what exactly occurred at the time the Lauderdale attempted to enter the port and after, hit careful enquiries made I, v a “Star” reporter go to indicate that I he whole disaster may he correctly summarised in terms of the following: It appears thlit Captain Clark_ took charge of the Lauderdale at Nydia Bay on Friday last, relieving Captain Holm, who went on leave. The vessel got away from the Bay about 10 p.m. on Saturday, then having a cargo of 600,000 superficial feet, mostly white pine, on hoard. All went well till the Grcymouth roadstead was reached, some twenty six hours later. At 12.15 a.m. (Monday) the signals wore given for the Lauderdale to take tlie bar and by 12.20 a.m. she was st an dine rieht in. When the vessel was level with the extremity of the southern breakwater, she was seen to suddenly lose her steering way and to he rushing to ■ he northward. GROUNDED ON THE HA WE A. Recognising the danger of the sitna tion, Captain Clark immediately gave the

Mx- Murdoch pointed out that as they had nothing before them it was idle to discuss the matter. A marine enquiry would be held, when the fullest investi'a*'ion would be made. Mr Kettle said the Board would have ‘n be represented at the marine enquiry, therefore they should have full informahm before them as to the circumstances surrounding the accident. Mr Murdoch added that while - thev were enquiring they should ascertain everything relating to the signals, the rochet apparatus for -the Board’s own guidance, Mr Russell concurred m the fullest >nformation being obtained and placed be■'■re the Board. TH£ LATEST NEWS. To-d'>v f’e Lauderdale has come conably close rin shore. The local agents have telegraphed, recommending the abandonment ot the vessel to the underwriters. The Lauderdale’s carrro consists o' ry7.000 feet of white pine shipped at Nfvdia Bay by Messrs Reese Bros., of Christchurch and 200,000 feet of kauri shipped at Auckland bv Pierson, Ltd., Adelaide. It is uncertain whether there is any insurance.