STEAMER IN PERIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1928, Page 2

STEAMER IN PERIL

MANUKAU BAR INCIDENT S.S. ALEXANDER TO THE RESCUE STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN MAYLEN Further particulars of the exciting incident on the Mariukau bar on Thursday evening when the Anchor S.S. Company’s steamer Alexander got the Northern S.S. Company’s vessel out of extreme danger were given to a “Mail” reporter to-day by Captain Mnylen in the course of making a statement on the matter to the Anchor Company: “Just prior to leaving Onehunga wharf, bound lor Nelson on Thursday, 25th instant, at 10.30 a.m.,” he said, “I rang up the heads signalman, and in answer to my enquiry he stated that there was no chance of working the bar until half Hood (i.e., about 4 p.m.) at the earliest. I thereupon decided to proceed to the anchorage on liuia Bank near the signal station and await the bar being workable. The signalman also informed me that the Arapawa was anchored just inside the break on the outer bar, that she was evidently in trouble, and he requested me to inform the harbour master, which I did. Captain Hammond, general manager of the Northern S.S. Company, Ltd., sent me a message per telephone asking mo to render the Arapawa assistance if required. I left the wharf at 10.50 a.m. When I arrived in the vicinity of the anchorage (Huia Bank), I observed the signal Hying from the signal station “Boat coming to your assistance.”. Recognising that this was meant to inform the Arapawa that the Alexander was on the way to assist her, I continued on, and a little later observed the Arapawa just inside the outer bar in an apparently dangerous positionwith seas breaking over her fore and aft. There was a fresh westerly breeze blowing with a heavy break on the inner bar. A distress signal “‘ship in distress” was flying oh the s.s. Arapawa, # • - - “At 2 p.m., when abeam of the Arapawa, it was seen that she was in a very dangerous position, lying beam on to the sea with both anchors down, the vessel at that time having a list to starboard of about 15 degrees. Heavy sea's were breaking on either side and she was then about -J- mile to the southward of the line of beacons on Manakau Head. An endeavour was made to float a small line attached to a buoy, towards the distressed vessel, but without success. During this attempt the Alexander was to the southward of the line of beacons, and although head on to the sea, shipped two heavy seas in succession, making it useless’ to proceed with getting a line aboard. In my then position I did not deem it safe to turn in the heavy sea and despite the signal “bar dangerous” I decided to steam out clear of the outer bar, turn round and make a second attempt to pass a line aboard.

A DIFFICULT TASK

“At 2.50 p.m. at the change of the tide the Arapawa happened to swing head on to the sea, and advantage was taken to steam as near as possible to her and so pass a tovvline. AVilli difficulty this was accomplished. She then hove up both anchors. The Alexander turned short round and proceeded at dead slow speed with the disabled vessel in tow. At 3.30 p.m., when about a mile from Paratutai the towline parted, the disabled vessel drifting with the flood tide towards the middle Bank. It was observed that her anchors were again ready to let go blit fortunately were not-required as the Alexander was rounded up and the towline re-secured immediately. Manakau signal station was abeam at 4.10 p.m. and the flags R.D. “Anything wrong with the engines?” were seen flying. The Arapawa answered with AI.C.H. “Engines disabled,” followed with iAI.Q., “Engines completely disabled.” At 4.30 p.m., when abreast of Huia Bank, the towjine was let go and the Alexander brought up alongside the Arapawa towing her in that position to Oneliunga wharf, which was reached at 6.40 pan. “The Alexander experienced considerable buffetting on the bar, but no very serious damage. The crew, all hands, worked well,” added Captain Alaylen, “taking great interest in the endeavour to render assistance to the disabled vessel.” ON THE ARAPAWA With cargo from Wanganui the Arapawa arrived off the Manukau Bar just before 9 a.m., reports the “N.Z. Herald.” The wind was blowing lightly from Hie west and a heavy westerly swell was causing the sea to break heavily on the bar. Captain A. Pert, who, with the second mate, Mr 11. C. Gibson, was on the bridge, agreed that the crossing would not be unduly difficult and, on receiving signalled confirmation from the signal-station at the heads, essayed the crossing.

FLYING STEEL IN ENGINE-ROOM

“We went through the first set of breakers without trouble, although the Screw raced badly when the stern rose out of tire water,” said a member of the ship’s company who was on deck.

“The engines began to race again when we went over the next lot of breakers, and then, when the screw ploughed into the water again, the smash came. “A deafening sound of • splintering steel issued from the engine-room. i thought at first we had struck a sandbank, hut the noise continued like the crashing of broken glass and then 1 knew, the engines had gone.” The second engineer, Mr H. Budge, and a fireman, Kir 0. Lambden, Who. were in the engine-room when the accident occurred, had a narrow escape from death or injury by flying pieces of metal. It was the bottom bolt of the crank which came away and the piston, which continued working, smashed the cylinder to pieces atid hurtled jagged pieces of steel in all directions irr the engine-room, like the bursting of Si shrapnel shell. The 'two men miraculously came through tlie ordeal without a scratch.

ROUNDED BY THE BREAKERS

With her engines stopped, the vessel was at the mercy of the- breakers, which battered her with suejf force that the stern rails were twisted and the crew had to hold on, as they said, “by the skin of-their teeth.” The impetus which had forged the ship through the breakers carried her just over the bar, where'two anchors were put down just in time to save the ship from foundering. (The tide was on the ebb, causing the disabled vessel to drift back on to the breakers, which pounded her as she Jay broadside on. Great seas buried tlie decks every few minutes, flooded the engine-r'oom and the cook’s galley and loosened' the hatches which, however, were "quickly secured by order of the captain. ’ Signals of distress were hoisted and were seen by the signalman five miles away, but before help arrived tho crew put up a desperate fight to prevent disaster. Under the guidance of ‘ the chief engineer, Mr W. La Roche, ah' effort Was made to' get' the remaining -'tvio cylinders working, but water poured continually into the engine-room, arid the violent pitching of' the Ship threw the hien about like shuttlecocks. ’’ ‘'

ATTEMPT TO USE-SAILS

Fearing the anchors would not hold, Captain Pert and his chief officer, Mr It. Savage, decided to manoeuvre the vessel out of danger by using the favourable wind. A staysail, foresail and mainsail were rigged out of tarpaulins and the anchors were taken up, hut the wind was not strong enough, and tho powerful ebb which Was running carried the steamer further hack on to the breakers. Tlie anchors were hastily put down again and the shore signalled for help. After hours of tension, with the thunder of the breakers in their ears, expecting every moment to be tlie last, the men were at last relieved to see the approach of the Anchor Line steamer Alexander. It was only with the greatest difficulty and exercise of caution that tlie rescuing steamer could draw near, owing to the breaking seas. A s£in tow rope was made fast to the Arapawa’s bow, but the disabled steamer was tossing so .violently ■ that the line snapped,' !carrying away the forecastle end bits, through which it passed. A second line held securely and the'helpless vessel was rescued from her dangerous position about 3 p.m. With a ( list to starboard, caused by the flooding of her engine-room, tlie Arapawa, lathed to her reseller, was brought into Onehunga shortly 1 before seven o’clock. Repairs, which will bo put in hand this iriorhing, are expected to occupy nearly a week.