THE TAVIUNI COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14806, 9 October 1911, Page 5

THE TAVIUNI COLLISION.

RACE FOR THE WHARF.

A COOL MAN ON THE BRIDGE.'

[from our special correspondent. ] Sydney, October 4. i The sinking of the Union Company a steamer Taviuni right at Sydney's front door provided a substantial thrill for the Eight Hours' holiday, and a thrill that was, fortunately, not. accentuated by loss of life. The exact causes of the collision between the Taviuni and the French mail steamer Nera, and' l the apportionment of the blame, are matters for the marine inquiry; the statements, as usual, do not exactly tally. For instance, the Nera people affirm, and the Taviuni people deny, that the Nera sounded a warning whistle; and there is a similar conflict as to whether the French boat had way on at the time of the collision, and on other points. These questions will, of course, be sifted by the Court. All accounts agree, however, as to the skill and coolness shown in the hour of crisis by Captain Beighton of the Taviuni, a native of Dunedin, who is only 33 years of age, but showed all the resource of a veteran. It is only six months since he obtained his command.

William Houghton, the assistant steward of the Taviuni, who was on deck near the starboard quarter when the collision occurred, said that before he would discuss the collision he would like to make a statement regarding the "coolest officer that ever trod a bridge." Houghton has had a remarkable career. He was on board the White Star steamer Cretic during her run from Liverpool to New York a couple of years ago when through a blanket smouldering in one of the cabins a fire scare started, and many of the Italians on board attempted to take charge of the boats, being held back by the captain with a revolver, and fought back by the crew. Next the same vessel went ashore at Boston, and Houghton shipped on board . the steamer Republic, which was rammed by the Florida, and the lives of over 300 passengers were saved by the wireless operator, Jack Binns, who summoned aid, from the steamer Baltic. Houghton expressed his admiration of the captain of the Taviuni, and while he was speaking the rest of the crew expressed their approbation. At the same time one of the chief officers of the Maheno also expressed admiration of the Taviuni master's conduct. He was, he said, " the coolest man I have ever seen He did the best thing possible in the best manner possible." »

Ripped Below Water-line. The Taviuni (1465 tons) was coming into Darling Harbour from Tonga, and the Nera (5538 tons) was being towed out from the new Messageries Maritimes Wharf by the tug Stormcock. According to Fred Long, an A.8., on the Taviuni: — When the. Frenchman was about 30yds off us the strain on the tug's hawser proved too great, and it parted. We heard no warning whistle from the mail steamer, and we were only crawling when she swung at us swiftly. Within a few seconds it was apparent' that a collision must occur,. as we had just enough way on to carry us into the track of the mail steamer. All those on deck rushed forward and round the wheelhouse. It then appeared that we would be struck amidships, near the boats, but the skipper had already ordered full speed ahead, and we got past the Frenchman's stern, until she struck us on the port quarter. When wo saw the collision would not take place amidships we returned to the quarter, and saw the actual collision. The Nera struck us heavily on the port quarter, well back. It was a remarkable sight. * The/ rails on that side, .which must have been exceptionally good ones, simply laid down on the deck. They were not smashed, but went flat down like a plant after a gale of wind. The Frenchman's counter then came right across our deck and swept everything off it near the point where it occurred. The ventilator was cut clean through, and then smashed up. After the collision occurred we had a look over the side, and there did not appear to be a great deal of damage done. What damage there was must have been done below the water-line, and it was either the rudder or propellers that caused it. Everything would depend on the position of the rudder at the time the impact occurred."

Wharf Reached in Time. After the collision the Taviuni immediately began to fill, and Captain Beighton at once took her along to the wharf at the foot of Margaret-street, and berthed her there, • the vessel slowly settling down meanwhile. Every few minutes showed the water-mark rising, and it was obvious that she would sink. In an hour the decks were, awash, the after-part being completely submerged, all that was above water being the flagpole, from which the Australian flag drooped listlessly. . In an hour, and a-half the only part of the vessel above water was the bridge. She was lying almost on her port side, the strong ropes alone keeping her from going right over. The low water depth is about 28ft, high water 32ft. The underwriters on arrival found the Taviuni lying .in soft mud, almost on her beam ends, the two masts being over at a dangerous angle. Officers and men were busy during the day securing the vessel to the wharf bilts, so as to improve the steamer's position with the incoming tide, and facilitate floating operations.

The Grew and their Belongings. The Taviuni's crew showed little excitement when quitting the sinking steamer at the wharf. They saw that their boat was likely to sink at any moment, and they made all haste with the idea of saving their belongings. . One of the men took the precaution of closing the portholes when he heard , the crasli, and it was well that he did so, because it kept the water out, and probably saved the vessel from sinking in the fairway. In half an hour the wharf was strewn with the clothes of the men, very little of which, even at that early hour, had escaped saturation. There were several lady friends of the officers on the wharf, and they took a hand in straightening the effects. The water rose so quickly, however, that the men's quarters were soon flooded, and many things had to be abandoned. The ship's papers were ' got ashore, and the ship's black cat, which was purring on the captain's bed, was also rescued. The officers and crew of the Taviuni are as follow: —J. Beighton (master), W. Lindsay (mate), H. Barber (second mate), W. F. Suckling (third mate). E. A. Menzier. (purser), P. J. Steen, J. Hood, J. Gahan, Thomas Ihms, L. Price, F. Long, (A.B.'s). O. Bingess (ordinary seaman), A. McGlendon (chief engineer), J. Rutherford (second engineer), J. Wheatley (third engineer), J. Pound, E. Scott, E. Lovelock (greasers). S. Grogan, J. Barrett, C. Holmes, H. H. Doughty, H. Colling ton, G. Hill (firemen), J. Murphy and J. Boston (trimmers), L. Anderson (chief steward), W. Houghton (assistant steward), G. Sutherland (chief cook), and Metin and John (cook's assistants).

NERA REPAIRED. .By a P--"P"" A»«oditlon Coprriffit (Received October 9. 1.5' a.m.) Sydney, October 8. The French mail steamer Nera, which collided with tho Taviuni in Sydney Harbour on October 2, has been repaired and resumed her voyage to-day.