THE INDRABARAH SAVED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 583, 9 July 1913, Page 7

THE INDRABARAH SAVED.

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. • A GREAT PERFORMANCE. The Tyser steamer Indrabarah, convoyed by the tug Teiawhiti, arrived at Wellington at 9 o'clock on Monday morning under her own steam. The Indrabarah arrived in the harbour practically unannounced. The steamer, working her own screws, and with the aid of four cables, cut her way through the last sandbank at about 11.30 on Sunday night. There was a high spring tide, and the weather conditions were favourable. The story of the salvaging of the Indrabarah is a story uf skill and perseverance against very great odds. It is a month since the good work done at the first big attempt was lost in a heavy westerly gale, in which four cables snapped like twine and the steamer wa? swept further inshore. The next big opportunity came with last week's high spring tides. On Saturday and Sunday steady hauling on four cables attached to five anchors out to s»award began. The vessel's stern was slowly slewed round, the whole ship moved bodily seawards, the bow pointing inland The tides were twelve to sixteen inches higher than in the previous month.

On Saturday afternoon a southerly gale sprung up, and made matters ticklish, bo thit the tug Terawhiti was compelled to stand out to sea. By Sunday afternoon, however, the Indrabarah had pulled herself about a quarter mile out to sea, to a point where ehe had lain just a month before. The gale now moderated, and the swell of the sea, being offshore, was favourable. The propellers were kept going to clear away sand, but great care was necessary to prevent the cables fouling them. At half-past nine on Sunday night the vessel was Boating, but a sand-bar had still to be crossed. Two hours later she had surmounted the last obstacle. The delicate operation of slipping the cable was successfully carried out, and the Indrabarah was free after 58 days on the beach. Cheers were exchanged between the crews of the Indrabarah and Terawhiti and those on shore. Convoyed by the Terawhiti, the Indrabarah started for Wellington, and, averaging 11 knots with damaged propellers, arrived safely. As an inquiry is to be held, the officers are reticent regarding further details. Apparently the vessel has not suffered severe damage. Her frozen meat cargo is sound, and the refrigerating machinery has been working all the time the vessel was ashore.