PLIGHT OF THE TYRONE.

Mataura Ensign, 29 September 1913, Page 2

PLIGHT OF THE TYRONE.

IMPALED ON THE ROCKS. ASSISTANCE FBOM DUNEBIN,. The first intimation of tile mishap r . > the Tyrone near Otago Heads was a telephone message at Port Chaline!s from the Heads at 5.80 a.m. _Deto:.ators had been heard from the direction of Wa'bine Point and rockets were afterwards discerned in the same direction. The pilot launch went off t and turning south discovered at some distance south of the Heads the Tyrone hard and fast about 2(H) yards from the cliff. 'J'lie launch was unable to go alongside owing to the choppy nature of the seas. It immediately turned back, and got into communication with the harbormaster at Port Chalmers. The- first step taken was the despatch of the tug Plucky at about eight a.m. for the scene of the mishap, to stand by in case of further developments. The Koputai also set out some time later. It was seen that the Tyrone was in a very bad way indeed. The steamer appeared to be pivoted amidships, broadside on to the rocky coast, and the 'heavy sea running sent the spray up funnel high. The Koputai left Port Chalmers at half past 10 a.m. with the harbormaster, MiTyson (representing the Houlder line), and Captain King (assistant marine superintendent of the Union Company) The polit launch had just returned from the stranded vessel, which to all appearances was in a heirless predicament. No. 3 hold was full of water. Tho vessel lay broadside across the entrance to a small cove. Rocks were showing ahead and astern, and the port propeller had jammed by coming into contact with rocks astern the boilers were being blown down. When the Koputai cleared Otago Heads, the Tyrone was plainly visible about two miles distant. She was down by the head, and bad a list to seaward. The northerly wind was freshening, and a heavy .swell was foaming white. Along the rocks the waves were pounding furiously against the side of tho Tyrone, and spray occasionally swishing over the navigating bridge. The Koputai approached nearer, but it was too plainly evident that the Tyrone was doomed. She was impaled on the rocks, and it seemed that at any mo- ' meni she might tumble over and expose I her decks; to the [heavy rollers which I threatened to engulf her. Her stem was 3' fast on the rocks, but at the stern , rocks were visible 20ft distant from the rudder. As the Koputai came abreast of the Tyrone, a huge wave rolled in and. lifted the stern portion of the vessel high from the rocks. As the wave subsided she came down with a terrific crash which shook her from stem to stern, and caused her to roll heavily. All hopes of salvage were out of the' question, and iho harbormaster sent the pilot launch to inquire from the captain of the Tyrone what steps he intended to take to ensure the safety of tho crew. The pilot launch returned and reported that the captain of the Tyrone was about to launch his lifeboat on the side of the ship nearest the shore, and no difficulty was anticipate " in landing the crew safely at a plac. where they could possibly scale the cliffs with little difficulty. The Koputai was then headed back to harbor, in order that the tug's hands might go round by lai, 1 to assist in the landing j of the crew.

The Koputai had not steamed very far, however, when she was recalled. Those on board saw a desperate effort i u'&s ti) be made to tninsfar the wrecked [crew to the Koputai. Lifeboats had been launched and ropes passed from her to the pilot launch. The water was practically smooth between the ship and the shore. Soon after a cheer broke from the settlers on' the cliff above, and in a few minutes some of the crew could be seen clambering up the rooks. A rope was securely fastened between the ship and the shore, by means of which, the lifeboat could be hauled backwards and forwards to land the balance of the crew. As. the tug could now render no further assistance slie steered round to the harbor, and a number of the men went over to the scene of the wreck to bring; the crew back over the liill to the tug to be conveyed to Port Chalmers. The Tyrone was one of four similar steamers which were purchased from lioulder Bros, by the Union Company about 18 months ago. She is a steel, twin-screw steamer of 6664 tons gross register. She was formerly the Drayton Grange, and was built in 1901 by Workman, Clark and Co., Belfast. The Tyrone is a comparatively modern steamer. Her dimensions are given in Lloyd's Register as—Length, 450 ft; breadth, 55ft; depth, 30ft. On -being purchased by the Union Company the j vessel passed under the reconstructed Federal Shire flag, and has been trading to the West of England. The Tyrone left Liverpool on July 5 for Australian and New Zealand ports. She left Lyttelton on Friday afternoon with 877 tons of cargo for Dunedm. This cargo consisted of whisky, iron, | and miscellaneous quantity of general. Her next port was to have been Bluff for final discharge. After that she was to have passed under the guidance of the Union Company lor loading. Cap- j tain McLauchlan, late of . the Moray- - shire, was in command; and he was on! the bridge when the steamer went: ashore. A few more yards to the north i the steamer would have been into aj wide sweep of rocks and sand bow_ on. | She would thus have missed a lot of the j force of the waves. As the Tyrone now j lies it appears as if she were held out! broi.dside on the end of a cla.w-like arm, to the full power of the sea. Every i inch of the hull is open to the waves, which all day on Saturday pounded her seaward side, and swept across the bridgo and decks in columns of spray. Practically every nautical man who has seen the wrecked ship emphatically j says that she is there to stay. Shortly' a:'tor mid-day a start was made in getting off the crew, live of whom were on. -J:-e Devon when she was wrecked at ■ Wellington. There were in all sonic 70 i :.....eu to be brought ashore. The hull of. the Tyrone made a barrier to the sea, i and a'small semi-circular Ixxly of water, was found between it and the shore. At' the bow end the cliff rose sheer up! 200 ft. There was no chance of the; men scaling the precipice that way. At ; ;he stern end the cliff was not so high.; A landing-place was, therefore, secured j on the shore nearly opposite the stern. ! A ladder 20ft long was obtained from: the vessel, then a leading line enabled ilie men to scramble up the rest of thej distance, some 20 or JiO yards, to level; ground. The lifeboat was worked on i pulley ropes over a span of 100 yards of; water. The work went, steadily on allthe afternoon, a large quantity of baggage being brought ashore. Only one •'(•cident occurred, Mr Aubrey Davis, an officer getting crushed between the '■oat and "the ship's hull, and having to he taken to the hospital. His injuries :re not definitely known, but apparntly .-.re confined to a broken rib or two. At 20 minutes to five Captain McLauchlan came ashore. He has been coming to Port Chalmers for the last 'ears or an, and is recognised as one of the most careful and. able seamen who | ever walked a bridge. A big quantity of luggage was brought ashore, tho men. saving practically all their effects.