IN A VERY BAD WAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3563, 1 July 1912, Page 5

IN A VERY BAD WAY.

- ■ —— STAB OF CANADA ON THE ROCKS IN THE CALE. ' GABLES THREATEN TO BREAK IN THE SEVERE BUFFETING. TERAWHITI AND STAR OF INDIA QUIT THE OPEN BAY. A WILD AND BOISTEROUS WEEK-END. HUNDREDS VIEW THE SCENE YESTERDAY. v- - FORE PART OF THE VESSEL SWAMPED BY TOWERING WAVES. TENDERING RIGHT OUT OF THE QUESTION. WHAT SATURDAY’S PUMPING YIELDED. UNITED PUMPING PLANT --IS IT EFFICIENT? AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO BACK THE VESSEL OFF. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THIS MORNING?

-After lying almost peacefully upon her papa bed on the Kaiti ledges for nearly a week, and when salvage operations were making a fair headway, the stranded Star of Canada was on Saturday and yesterday subjected to another very fierce gale, which may materially prejudice her chances of salvage, although Captain Rainey, the Tyser Co’s Marine Superintendent, and others concerned in the work of salvaging, are still confident of success. It was impossible for any boat or tug to make a trip to the vessel yesterday, but the Hipi, if the weather is favorable, will go off this morning with tackle and gear for the further prosecution of the pumping operations. More salvage gear, including extra pumps, lias been ordered from Auckland. If the weather is favorable, also, the lightering of cargo will -be resumed this morning. . V~'“ At an early hour this morning the weather had moderated very considerably, although there were still occasional heavy squalls, and reports from Kaiti indicate that the vessel still reports' "all well.”

BEFORE THE STORM BROKE.

AN ARDUOUS AND WELL-SPENT DAY ON SATURDAY.

STEAMER'S ENGINES USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK OFF.

Pumping operations were carried out Tn real earnest aboard the stranded Star of Canada, on Saturday morning. The tug Terawliiti was nioore;-. Upon the port or leeward side of the vessel about. 7 a.m. and preparations for the putting into operation of the tugs powerful pumps at once put in hand, the work occupying until well on in the afternoon. Tho mooring arrangements for the Terawliiti alone were a marvel of ingenuity. A spar was uncoupled from the Star of Canada and placed across t-lie tug’s stern to keep her well off from the big ship’s rolling side and the tug's moorings also demanded a good deal of manoeuvring so as to prevent the strain coming upon the pump pipes'. This work once completed, the holes previously cut in the Star of Canada s side were opened up .and the tug s pumps were inserted and soon a steady stream of water was being ejected from tlie stricken vessel’s holds. As on previous occasions when pumping has been carried cut tho discharged water was thick with papa mud and on one occasion a fairly large stone was brought to light. Pumping was kept up for some hours and there was a noticeable diminution in the water in the ship s holds.

Taking advantage then of a favorable opportunity Captain Hart rang “stand-by” to the engine-room. There was later a further clanging of the telegraph and the great engines churned at full-speed astern, but without avail. Tlie great- ship groaned and creaked while her engines worked nobly for a minute or two, and the pumps ‘forward never ceased in their outward pour of water, hut- the Star of Canada was fixed and soon the engines were stopped and the Terawliiti withdrew her pumps and left for her moorings out in tho hay. If on© may judge from-.expressions of opinion on board, the test was a satisfactory one and Captain Hart and others are quite confident that they will bo able to hold their own with tlie w ater until such time as collision

mats can be adjusted over any particularly large holes which may be discovered in the vessel’s bottom. To this end collision mats have been ordered from Wellington and may be expected to come to hand to-day. About 6 o’clock on Saturday the sea was rather choppy and a visit to the boat disclosed: the fact that at the bow the water was lapping perilously close to the port holes. On the port side of the vessel the seamen’s ouarters aro partly uiider water, as a result of the subsidence of the vessel into the papa bed upon which she lies and an inspection of this part of the ship reveals a particularly dreary picture. As already _ reported the men have evacuated this part of the ship and quarters have now been provided for them in the ’tween decks of No. 5 hold. The starboard side of the fo’cle is still in occupation. It is stated that most of th; water in this part of the vessel is duo to the opening of a storm valve. Lightering- operations were rc-com-mcneed on Saturday, and the work was continued until 1.30 a-m. on Sunday, general cargo being removed and with it some of the Gisborne mutton. This was found to he in fairly good condition. The wharfmen worked at transfering the mutton from the lighters to the freezing works until noon yesterday, the travelling platform 'being reversed. Mr George Lloyd, the diver, made another descent on the leeward side of the vessel on Saturday morning and examined the point at which the vessel first comes in contact- with the reef. As far as it was -possible for him to ascertain there was no damage to be found at this point, even though the upward rise of the stern would have permitted him to walk right under the vessel. This, then, was the position late on Saturday evening when our representative left the steamer. The trial w:\js considered as satisfactory. Itproved that the engines were undamaged and also that the pumps in united operation could cope with the water in the holds.

" HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

ANOTHER STARTLING CALE ,

SPRINGS UP

SCENE OF WILD CHAOS YESTERDAY MORNINGThe weather continued calm on Saturday evening until about 9 o’clock, when a heavy rain set in, accompanied by a strong wind out of the southeast. The wind gradually* gathered strength until about 4 o’clock yesterday morning it had developed into a strong gale which increased as dawn broke until the wind swept into the bay with hurricane force, lashing the waters into fury and dashing them with a wild roar high upon the beach. As day broke many residents who had spent a sleepless night listening to the howling of the gale, hurried down to the beach anxious to see how the stranded vessel was faring. It was a scene of wild desolation which greeted them- The great- seas were pacing madly across the bay and. breaking in showers over the fore part of the distressed liner while she swayed and shook beneath each succeeding onslaught, straining at her five stout anchor lines until these threatened to break and to allow the vessel to be precipitated upon the rocks, lying gaunt and hungry, their black noses peeping above the swirl of foam further up the beach. The morning air was chill and bitter, but this fact notwithstanding many hundreds of people put in an appearance, their numbers increasing as the bitter day wore oil. In the harbor there was gloomy talk among the men who were engaged in unloading from the lighters the cargo which had been brought from the Star of Canada on the previous evening. There was scarcely a hopeful word. ‘‘That- finishes her,” said one, a brawny man, defying the elements in a complete suit of oilskins. "She never had 'much of a chance and I reckon that this’ll see her finish.” And speaking generally, this was the prevalent opinion. A cart arrived with several e-dd-look-ing pieces of mechanism intended, it was stated, for lowering the pumps further into the holds. The carter approached Captain Palmer, of the Hipi, which was lying moored under steam, and made the request that the gear should be plac ed aboard. "I reckon Captain’s mad if he takes that lot on: in this sea,” said a member of his crew. "We had quite enough last Sunday, and this is just about as bad!” .After a consultation with Captain Rainey it was decided not to make the trip until afternoon, and when afternoon came and the weather had not abated, the trip was abandoned until this morning. It was soon noticed by visitors to the beach that the Canada’s. sister ship, Star of India, which put- in on Saturday to take transferance of the stranded vessel’s cargo, had put out to sea to avoid the weather, while the Terawhiti was also missing, evidently having up-ancliored and left the bay. Under the lee of Young Nick's Head one vessel, and later, two, could he seen through the driving gale attempting to shelter. One was the steamer Ihumata due from Newcastle with coal, and the other was the tug Terawhiti. *

ANGRY WEATHER.

THE MORNING ON THE BEACH.

A PITIFUL SIGHT,

Before daylight a peep through the ram and darkness disclosed the masthead lights of the Star of Canada, the for’ard one being perceptibly lower than that on the stern. Cream-crest-ed rollers could be detected, lashing themselves about- the swaying ship and the roar of an angry sea did not help to buoy up tho hopes of the cheeriest optimists. Grave fears were felt for the Canada’s safety. . Thq fury of the sea had abated somewhat by the break of day, but as the curtain of night was drawn even more distinctly could the peril of tho stranded liner ibe perceived. It was plain that she had gouged out for herself a deeper bed in the papa-, and that the persistent swing of the lightened stern must be shaking and straining the hull. "With the weight of the

swell she was tugging and hauling on her anchor lines, and it seemed that they must snap, but the strong steel ropes proved l themselves. As the squall would temporarily subside, she would swing to starboard 03 though to gain .relief, and the following swell would make the ropes taught and rigid- Ominous, too, was the can? to port and it seemed from certain angles, that the unfortunate ship was bellied-out amidships. By 8 a.m. there were hundreds of sightseers on the beach, and a perpetual traffic on the miia-ccated road, leading to the'''scene. The tide was low andi the sight of the rock-held steamer was a pitiful one. Her plight was parlous, and it seemed each moment that she must break away from the anchors or smash in_ halves. i The crowd was a mixed one and found the morning on the beach not devoid of its entertaining incidents. It was amusing, for instance, to watch people strugglig against the forceful southerly sq/ualjH Not a S’ew were blown backwards and hats flew about like so mucli chaff. The click of the camera could fee heard on- all sides and! even the irrepressible moving-pic-ture man was present with his machine. A good many people ventured out on the papa till within a hundred yards of the steamer. Those who had the good sense to bring binoculars were able to sweep the decks and discern the smallest object aboard. • It i was -easy to see the seamen resting about the decks, all with an apparent j disregard for what was going on, and j a seeming sickness of the whole affair.

All this time the- waves were iasiiing and breakiiig about the quivering hull and an occasional one would leap over the bow. It was, indeed, a sorry sight, and opinions as to the steamer s chances of safety were pessimistic. Her nose was dipped deep into tiio water, until little more than six feet could be seen, and a keen look through the- glasses detected a stream of water apparently trickling from fee- . tween two of her foremost plates. Whether it was the distance deceiving even the powerful binoculars is difficult to say, but there was a. perpetual flow down the steamer’s side. For a time, it appeared that the ship’s pulsometer pump was being worked. for steam eculd be seen in the vicinity of the forward bold. The nose of the steamer was as close to j the sea now—at low tide —as at high tide previously COMMUNICATION WITH THE SHIP WATER !N TME HOLDS DEEPER. MORE PUMPS WANTEDThe tempestuous seas ran so high that it was impossible for any craft to venture cut. At least the Hipi was ready to brave the storm later in the day, but it was decided that she should not go. No' direct communication could be got with the shore, therefore, except per medium of the semaphore. AH the morning the arms waved out messages, and l iter, for some reason they were discarded and flags put,into ] use. The signals were sent ’ to the special station on the fare of the Haiti Hill and numerous important messages were transmitted. From a good distance out on the papa rocks a “Times” reporter was i’.b.e to get within signalling distance of the Canada’s decks and learned something from an amateur signaller .vt:.nding astern. “There’s 30 feet of water in the holds,” he wagged, and relied, good-humoredly, “we’re packing up, it’s time to leave.” Last evening a reporter learnt that the pumping power in use on Saturday was scarcely sufficient, for extra salvage plant is coming to hand from Auckland and elsewhere as soon as possible. The steamer signalled yesterday, for instance, inquiring for a pulsonieter pump and two either lOin or 15in. centrifugal pumps from the Auckland Harbor Board, if possible. Mention was also made of the need of some further plant. On foot, and by every manner of means, several hundred people journeyed to the Haiti beach in the afternoon and the spectacle which met their eyes was an awe-inspiring one. The squall had gained in fury, and, there being a good half-tide, the decks of the Canada were continually awash. The bow was seldom uncovered, wave after wave sweeping over and filling the .decks. The increased list shorewards was very noticeable, and some of those present supply the information that, at the foremast, there was a noticeable drop in the deck, indicating a sag beneath. To illustrate his print, one informant said that it could be plainly seen that there was a marked difference in the angle of the masts.

Su' a statement, of course, carries no weight whatever, but it was clear even -to the layman that tlis Canada was far from being at her ease, as compared with the past few days. GOOLO THE CANADA BE HALVED?

Ooukl the Canada, be halved, as was done with the .Suevic and the Milwaukee? was a question which a “Times” reporter put to several aboard. All were of opinion that the operation is anything hut an impossible one, but that it was impossible as she is resting on the rocks at Kaiti. In the first place there is not the necessary plant in New .Zealand, nor is there even this .side of Japan. Assuming, however, that she could or out asund-i, if it were found necessary, what could he done with the bow or stern? It is pretty well agreed that the for’afd part of the steamer, particularly after yesterday’s gale and resultant seas, is in danger. The stern, then, would have to *be taken from Poverty Bay. and the tewing operationwould be aw extremely dangerous one. It is highly probable that it could be towed safely as far as Auckland, but then a further journey would be a perilous one. It would mean, in short, the building and fitting of a new bow and the cost and risk of bringing the new half of the steamer from Home would not be worth while. j

It would, at the same time, provide an opportunity for enterprising New Zealanders, and optimists hold that a new bow could be built in the Dominion.

IF THE WEATHER CALMS. j The official intimation late last 1 evening was that there were nn new developments to) report, although the steamer, was admittedly in a' dangerous position. Yesterday was really chosen as the day for the attempt to refloat the steamer, but the-boisterous weather would not permit of anything being done. A quantity of extra. gear is being got, and it will be only a matter of a day or two, given good wo’l her, before a further attempt will be made to retsifsfctke Star of Canada from her vise. f

Mr. J.‘ Daniell, the well and favorably known salvage expert, was aboard the steamer all day yesterday, and also on Saturday. On Saturday evening he expressed himself as confident that the steamer would be refloated. A consultation- was held aboard durum the day, hut the result was private, so that the plan of operations is unknown. It is evident, however, from messages which came ashore yesterday, that Mr. Daniells is desirous • off having the pumping plant increased- - The tug Terawhiti found the sea too rough, and left the roadstead about 3 a.m. yesterday. Early this morning she was sheltering under Youiig-Nifck s Head. She will be alongside the Star of Canada again to-day, weather permitting. WILL NOT BE ABANDONED TO THE UNDERWRITERS. A “Times” reporter submitted the, query to these in authority as to whether the steamer was about to be handed over to the underwriters, as rumor had it. On alTsides the rumor wag denied, and it was stated that she was, as yet, far from being abandoned by her owners. DESTINED TO GO ASHORE. Strange to say, there are at least two of the ship's company who have previously had the unpleasant experience of going ashore and one of them in a sister steamer to the Star of Canada. The first officer (Mr Paterson) was second officer on the Tys&r liner Star of Japan when that fine steamer went aground on the west coast op Africa. This was some four years ago, and the unfortunate liner was lost. She is said to have made too close a cut in a time-saving trip and the steering of a fine course proved fatal to her. The fourth engineer, Mr Campbell, was steamer Milwaukee when she went ashore on the north of Scotland coast, in the vicinity of the Shetland Islands- A remarkable feat was performed in regard to- the Milwaukee, being something of a record in marine engineering. She was towed into the Tyne and there -actually - divided, forward of the engine room, the stern being floated on one pontoon -and the hew on another. Several months later the Milwaukee was again ready for the seas. She is still doing service, although as a- much smaller steamer than the original Milwaukee. NOTES AND NEWS. ' It is understood that a well-known Wellington solicitor will act as Counsel for Captain Hart, of the Star of Canada, in the nautical inquiry concerning .her stranding. Captain F. 3. Kearney, of the Star of India, was aboard his steamer’s stranded sister-ship on Saturday. _ The four apprentices carried by the Star of Canada will he transferred to the Star of India.

STORM WARNINGS. WIRELESS WEATHER SERVICE. A MEEI CAN SCIENTIST'S SCHEME. The plans of Professor Moore, Chief of the United Slates Weather Bureau, for the establishment of an international weather service in the North Atlantic, have been endorsed by the committee of the Radio-Telegraphic Congress. The professor’s proposal is that a meridian line should be established, and that airships pn either side of the line should ho compelled to make daily observations, which by means of relays, should then be transmitted to American and European stations. In this way weather charts could he prepared and storm warnings and other important information communicated to vessels at sea.