THE FLOATING OF THE MIOWERA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 294, 14 December 1893, Page 2

THE FLOATING OF THE MIOWERA.

0 Honolulu papers received by the San Franoisoo mail give the following partioulars of the way in which the s.s. Miowera was floated off the reef on whioh she lately strnok at the entrance to Honolulu harbour : —The attempt made by Mr MoDowall to float the steamer by the use of what are termed Samson posts proved a failure. Capt, Metcalfe, the San Francisco representative of the London Salvage Association, arrived at Honolulu, on 27th October, having with him two experienced divers and a quantity of wrecking apparatus, including a 5-ton anchor, strong cables, and appliances for working with pontoonsi He decided to try a pull on anchors and cables first. Mr Rowell, Superintendent ofj Public Works, blasted a piece in the reef to give the big anchor a hold. It is well known that the Miowera was driven much higher on the shelf of coral than the position in which she lirst stuck. As the vessel was made lighter she rose higher on the reef, and swung round fully 45 degrees. Captain Metcalfe saw that the problem was that of getting the vessel dislodged from the crease she had finally made for herself on the reef, and then swinging her down hill pretty much the same way that she had ascended. On the 13th Oct mer it was seen from shore that the ship had been swung by the bow some distance seaward— from 50 to 60 feet it was afterwards definitely learned. On the morning of the 15th tha watchers on shore reported a jump of the steamer forward of 00 feet, and a few minuteß laterabout 8 o olook — repeated blasts of the Miowera 8 whißtle announced that she was olear of the reef and once more riding the main. She was at onoe secured in deep water against drifting bick on the reef, Ifc appears that, aB the last heave waa made on the cables, three heavy seas in succeeaion lifted the huge vessel, so that about all that remained was to guide her into Bafe depths, The Miowera was towed into the harbour, and the work of effecting temporary repairs to enable her to proceed to San Francisco was being | rapidly proceeded wiih at latest accounts. The report of the diver states tbat the only damage done to the hull is tbat some of the plates on both sides were dented by the hard bumping on tho reef, and the damage is not nearly so great as was expected.