STRANDING OF THE MAPOURIKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11253, 25 October 1898, Page 7

STRANDING OF THE MAPOURIKA.

• ASHORE AT GREYMOUTE. ! IS LIKELY TO BE FLOATED OFF. s GREYMOUTH," October 1. The Mapourika left'Westport about 8 p.m., arrived, off (Jreymoutli shortly after midnight, and proceeded to take the bar, the; vessel coming on at half-speed. AVhen opposite the Up'head she was struck by an immense blind roller, her stern going completely out of the water, and her screw revolving in the air, currying the vessel along ou tho top of the wave. She refused to answer her helm, and was taken bodily over towards the north tip head, which she struck heavily. Captain M'Lean, finding it impossible to clear the wall, gave the order " Full speed astern," thereby preventing his vessel from going on the river side of the: wall and becoming a total wreck. The effect of this order wasto carry the Mapourika north of the training wall and to throw her up on the-beach, her iitc-ru furthest in towards land and about 200 ft from the beach and stone facing, her bow remaining close up to the rooks. In this position she remained. ■ ' At first there was a little alarm among the passengers, but this was speedily allayed by (Japtain M'Lean and the officers, who soon convinced all that there was no danger to be apprehended. immediately upon becoming fixed on the hard ground hawsers were run out and connected with the piles on the tip head, thereby keeping the vessel from canting over. Beats were lowered and the passengers all eafely landed, the ■ mails being sent ashore shortly afterwards, and no damage being done to either tho mails or cargo. /I'he damage to the ship, so far as at present has been ascertained, consists of a couple of holes near the bow and the twisting of the stem almost in a similar manner to that which befell the Waimii when she struck the Beef Barrels. A considerable quantity of water is in the lower portion of the vessel. In order to protect tho steamer when the tide again rose, strong steel hawsers were run out to the north beach and attached to tho bow of the vessel, with the intention of getting her broadside on to the sea and away from further damage on the rooks. . A PASSENGER'S NARRATIVE. A passenger gives tho following account of the accident: —Wo appeared to be gaining the entrance to the river in perfect safety, the steamer seemingly being under easy steam. \Vhen opposite the entrance a blind roller came with an immense sweep, the stern of the vessel tilting up in the air, and the ship herself appearing to strike. She took a sheer, aivl seemed to be carried right on top of the wave to the northern tip head,, which she struck, refusing evidently to answer her holm. Captain M'Lean then gave the order " Full speed astern," and 'she gradually slewed round on to the beach, where she now lies. Captain M'Lean and the officers were cool and collected, and although one or two of tho lady passengers were. a trifle frightened at first, their fears were soon soothed. WELLINGTON, October 3 The Post understands that Captain M'Lean when ho took command had explicit instruction from headquarters to take no.risks with the Mapourika, as she was a valuable boat and there were no insurances on her. If necessary it was better for him to err on the sido of ',over-caution. So far it H not intended to send the Wellington tug to assist tho stranded vessel, as plenty of towage power is available at Greymouth. Mr Daniels, tho Union Company's foreman, who is at tho scene of the accident, has sent the following report to the. company: — "About 6ft of water at dead 'low water at the bow and about 3ft at the stern. Damage: The stern is twisted from the 9ft mark downwards, very like the Wainui. The plates on tho port side are very badly holed from the stern to tho centre of the bottom of the ship. The fore hatch under the chain locker is knocked in altogether. There is one large hole just on the after side of the chain locker, breaking away the edge of the ballast tank. There is another largo hole just at the end of tho forecabin close to the edge of the ballast tank into the hold. There is another large hole just clear of the ballast tank into tho hold just opposite the centre of the foro hatch. All this damage is on the port side. All the frames for about 20ft under the fore cabin are bent and broken. I have taken up all the lining near the damage. The holes being 3ft or 4-ft under water at low water the heavy sea and shingle are rushing through into the hold. I have great fears of being able to stop the holes, even to float into the river. At high water there is 15ft of water in the fore hold. With the weight of water against the bulkhead it broke the flange of the water-tight doors, admitting the water into the engine room. lam strengthening tho door this tide, and hope to have it fin■ished by next tide and get up steam in the , engine room. 'If possible, I will try to save the vessel in -her present condition, as she can be repaired as good as new. She lies well sheltered from the south-west, and all preparations are being made to protect her from the northward. If it is not possible by tonight's tide to stop the holes in the bottom with tho prospect of taking her out to sea, I will use every means possible to lio broadside on the beach, with the prospect of eventually launching her." October 7. Mr Daniels has wired that a diver examined the Mapourika this morning, and found her very much .knocked about in the fore part. Thero is a largo hole underneath the fore hatch, which it is impossible to get at from the outside. He intends fixing a temporary bulkhead, with the view of displacing the greater part of tho water, and allowing the vessel to float. There is now about 6ft of water in the hold at low water. The latest weather report from Greymouth states that a fresh n6rth-west breeze is blowing, with considerable sea on the bar, and a slight fresh in the river. In her present position the Mapourika is fully exposed to tho wind and sea from this direction, and if particularly violent she must incur great damage. Her position now is a serious one. THE INQUIRY. ' GREYMOUTH, October 11. The inquiry into the stranding of the Mapourika was.begun here to-day. Captain M'Lean, in giving evidence, said that he came in at half-sueed in a good lino with the lights. When "three ships' length from the southern tin-head the vessel was struck by a heavy blind roller. The helm refused to answer, the propeller was out of the water, and the vessel sagged and struck. He pave orders ta go full speed ahead, but the ship became unmanageable, a fresh sea striking her and carrying her towards the north tip. The order was then given " Full speed astern," his endeavour being •to escape going on to tho wall. She struck shortly afterwards on the north tip. The steamer was kept full speed astern, and gradually worked on to the north beach. At the mid-day adjournment Captain M'Lean's evidence was unfinished. _ Captain M'Lean's examination was continued in the afternoon, when he said: The reason I wired the draught of the Mapourika to :Captain Connor was to make him aware of what^ she was drawing. I was placing myself in his hands. Any information received from i the U.S.S. Company's agents did not influence me in taking the bar. ■ The depth of water was not signalled, as it was night time. The only thing that would have prevented me entering wa3 an adverse signal. This is a free port, and any shipmaster ma.y enter it if he choose. I could not possibly gauge the sea, on the bar from my position, and had to place myseli entirely in the hands of the harbour authorities, as those on shore could tell whether it was dangerous or not. The sea that carried the boat was a blind roller. When it caught her it broke about midships, the helm being out of the water as well as the propeller. The boat did not hang for-more than a.minute. Striking the ground prevented the ship from recovering her stewing, and she became unmanageable. Had she been a shorter vessel she would not have boon so liable to strike the bottom. A boatsinan would have been of r.o service. Mr J. S. Liddcl, chief officer, corroborated everything Captain M'Lean said as far as reaching Westport. Tho captain informed him that the hour of leaving Westport was changed with j the intention of working the G-reymouth bar. on that night's tide. They struck tho Westport bar heavily in crossing.. There was considerable sea on1 it at the time. All the way from Westport to Greymouth the sea was a heavy swell. At 12.20 a.m. the vossel turned for tho harbour. She' was ' then going about 4 knots. A few minutes after tho speed was increased When about two or three lengths from the south tip the vessel shipped a sea ait, and struck the bottom. The sea then took command of her, and she struck tho north wall heavily. He could not say if the boat -would hava recovered had 3Jbe not touched the bottom. The signals to take the bar were up, and wore correctly token. From the action of the ship ha judged that both tho rudder and propeller were out of the water. The rest of this witness's evidence was corroborative ot Captain M'Lean's. The boat was in the best possible trim. The propeller went down within an inch of the keel. The propeller was 18in out of the water when she touched. About 3f of tho rudder would be out of the water. He did not think it advisable to ha.ye tho whole of the rudder and propeller in tho water. It was not possible to put'the vessel more down forward, but he could have put her down more aft, only she would not steer so well. The evidence of all the officers was entirely corroborative of Captain M'Lean's in all the partfculars. The cross-examination elicited nothing material or calculated to upset the captain's1 statement. The principal evidence this afternoon wa= thit of Signalman Collins, and Captain O'Connor, harbourmaster. The. former said Captair Connor woke hikn up at 12.45 a.m., and said the Ha|<ourika was ashore, and told him to get the life-saving apparatus ready and go over to the north head as soon as possible. Captain O'Connor said he was getting a boat ready. When witness went down to the south tip head it was;a bright moonlight night. Thero was a moderate sea, which means that the swells wero not breaking, aid there was very little force in them. The Knells would not be more Lthsm. 2ft in height on the 'bar, and, wars much...

alike as far as ho could see. There was no sea. coming over tho north tip. There must bo. a considerable sea beioro it splashes over. the planks at tlio end of the tip. There was si great deal of. sea on at tho north tip, as there always is with a westerly sea; but that fact does not make the. bar unnavigable. It could not be possible for a sea- to be 4ft high, much less 12ft. . He had never seen a wave 12ft high on tho ..bar. The tide gauge on tho 30th September showed lift at high water, which would givo 24ft on tho bar. There was too much sea to work tho boat to take the passengers off directly, but that sea did not affect tho safety of working tho bar. The sea. ■ wjia very much worso on Monday, Octobor 3, than it was on the Ist October. There was a considerable sea on the bar the previous trip of" tho Mapourika, and tho tide was much lower, there being only Bft 4in on, tho gaugo. Tho sea on tho 23rd September was much worse than on the Ist Octobor, a.ud the Mapourika steered excellently. He did not like to hear of tho propeller so far out of the witter. Captain Connor said: I generally corroborate the evidence with regard to Captain M'Lean, and also with regard to communicating wHh Mr Collins by telephone. There was considerable sea in the morning, ana in the evening,■ before dark,' it was moderate. The weather was fino. Tho sea was fai'ing mpidly. The Kennedy and Herald went out that evening. The captain of the Kennedy and myself watched the Herald go out. She got out all right, and turned sharp round just as she cleared the bar. It was a ueautiful moonlight night, and there was very little sea on at that time, there being very little oiuside swell. I could see the bar distinctly. There was no break on t\w bar. On a night like that there would bo no break on the bar without mo seeing it. I - gave Mr M'Phorson orders to look out for the Mapourika, anu to keep the lights out as long as he could for the Pareora. This was at 9.30 p.m. There was more danger for the Herald going out tnan thero was for the Mapourika coming in. The Mapourika is not a fine,vessel, she is a stumpy vessel, and there is not much difference between her and the Herald. I was called at 12.15 a.m., and was informed tho Mapourika was on the north beach. I had a look at the sea, and could see nothing to stop a vessel coming into the channel, there being no break ou it. It was ridiculous to talk about waves being 12ft high there one hour before. The sea would increase as the tide fell. Tho sea at the north tip was breaking, but it did not hinder tho bar being worked. I consider the Mapourika was unsuitable to this trade because she drew so much water, and had so much of her propeller blades out of the water. Drawing 13ft her propellers would bo 2ft out of the water. In a moderate sea her stern would be lifted out, and her rudder would lose a good deal of its power'through the backwash from the propeller. I mentioned about the propeller to Captain M'Lean, and lie said it would increase tho power of the ship, but my opinion was the reverse. I think that the after tank being empty and the fore tank full would set the dea-d weight in the fore part of the ship, accounting for her lifting on the top of the sea the way she did. My instructions to my assistant are to take no risks if there is any break in the channel, and put the red light on the-' flagstaff, signifying ."Bar dangerous." There was far more Eea on the bar on the 23rd September than there was on the Ist October. GREYMOUTH, October 13. At the inquiry this forenoon, Mr M'Pherson, deputy harbourmaster, gave evidence that from what he could see from tho wharf the Mapourika did not come far enough to the south,in crossing the bar. Thero was only a moderate sea on. He cou'd not account for her takin-' the sheer to tho north. He denied seeing a | 12ft wave on tho bar. ■ All tho evidence except that of Captain Coulaqn, of the Herald, who went out the same I night as the Mapourika was wrecked, has been | taken. Captain Coulson's evidence will betaken I to-niorrow. Constable M'Xeefrey's evidence j to-day was to the effect that the Mapourika was I not in tho recognised channel, but too far north. Mr Fisher, the chief engineer, recalled, saiJ tho speed of the Mapourika taking the bar was about five knots, instead of 10 as had been previously stated. The boat was goin" at from slow to half speed, not full to half speed. The fact of the third engineer leaving his post did not imperil the ship. Several witness gave evidence that there was considerable swell on the bar and in tho river, and some said tho rollers were breaking. THE CAPTAIN EXONERATED. GREYMOUTH, OctoberlS. Judgment in the Mapourika case was given this morning It was to the effect that the ship was struck by a roller when about three ship lengths to the westward of tho. south tip, she then being in her proper channel and in line with the lights; tho roller caused the vessel to sheer, and her keel struck the ground, the vessel ' thereby becoming un- ! manageable, pnd was carried bodily by tho sea on to the north tip, which'sho struck violently, and swung round to her present position on the beach. The stipendiary magistrate found that Captain M'Lean rounded the ship a safe distance and in line with tho leading lights. The harbour staff were fully warranted in advising tho. Mapourika to come along at the time telegraphed. The evidence showed j i that Captain M'Lean displayed skill and judgment in navigating Kis vessel; that he was i on the bridge from Point Elizabeth till the vessel wbs stranded, and afterwards took precautions for tho safety' of the passengers. All the certificates were returned, the Crown being ordered to pay all costs. The decision was received with pronounced applause, which, however, was quickly checked. • ■• ■ ■ October 16. The Mapourika is now lying in a very good position for future operations. She is on a sandy bottom clear of the rocks. She was afloat at] high spring tide yeettiday. Thero now appears to be every prospect that she will be reWELLINGTON, October 18. A heavy thunderstorm at Greymouth last night and a very heavy S.W. sea on tho bar drove the Mapourika still further on to the beach. * Mr Daniels wired this morning: — " Further .investigation shows that tho vessel's stem is twisted; holes and dents, large and small, appear in various parts of the hull; and tho port rolling chocks are smashed for a distance of 60ft." He also gives details of other minor damages.' October 19. . Now that the idea of getting the Mapourika off seawards is found to be impracticable, steps will bo taken to launch her into the river. It is intended to push on tho work with al! possiblo speed. The Taupo, sailing for Greymouth this evening, will take down winches, haulage gear, and whatever material is required, and also a number of men. October 21. It is stated that it will be necessary to level down that part of the beach at Gieymouth over which tho Miipourika will have to be taken, a.iid also to remove from the breakwater huge blocks of concrete, some of which are 20 tons in weight. The Mapourika, whose gross register is 1203 tons, was built by tho well-known fimi of Denny Bros., Dumbarton, for the Union Steam Ship Company expressly for tho West Coast trade between Wellington, Greymouth, and Wostport. She arrived at Wellington under the command of Captain John Gray, it will be remembered on August 25, and .immediately en- | tercel upon the West Coast trade. Her dinien- | sioua are:—Length, 220 ft; beam, 33ft; depth, 16ft 3in. She is constructed of steel, with a straight stem and elliptical stern. She is provided with a promenade dock and top-gallant forecastle, and her bridge and bout decks form shelter promenades. She is schooner-rigged, and ha 3 a double bottom for water ballast, and hasSwatertight bulkheads. • Like most of the Union Company's steamers the Mapourika is well provided with appliances for handling cargo. There are three cargo hatches with steam winches and double derricks to each. Sho is also well provided with passenger i accommodation, and can take 150 first-class j and 34 second-class passengers. The first-class cabins are arranged in state rooms, with two and four berths, and most comfortably fitted up. The second-class compartment is forward ori the main lower deck, the sofa beds being •made to fold up during the daytime to leave the floor space olear. The officers and engineers haye their quarters in bridge sido houses. The captain's stateroom is on the bridge deck, and opens into the ohartroom. Tho navigating bridge is just above, and carries tho steering standard compass (Lord Kelvin's), telegraph, etc. The seamen and firemen have their quarters forward of the second cabin. The dining saloon is amidships and occupies the whole width of the ship, and is beautifully finished in sycamore and satin wood, relieved with pilasters and frieze cameo wood,. the cushion^ being upholstered in blue velvet, forming a pleasant contrast with the lightcoloured wood. Above the saloon is the social hall, also finished in a like gorgeous fashion. Tho smoking room is finished in oak and morocco leather, with comfortable sofas and chairs, and is lighted from a skylight. She is fitted with the electric light throughout, everything being up to date in every department. Alfred Lee, a wharf labourer, 35 years of age, and married, was killed on the Wellington wharf on Thursday. He was one of a gang unloading fruit from the Tarawera. On the first sling, containing eases of oranges, being hoisted, tha gin block by some means became detached from the ring of the derrick, and in falling struck deceased on the back of the skull, fracturing it and causing almost instantaneous death. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and added as a rider:—"That it is not safe to rely on wire seizing for hooks used for lifting cargo, and that a hook should be devisted which would be practically soffe from slipping off." The evidence showed that the same tackle had been used on the Tarawera before, and had lifted heavier weights. The second officer of the Tarawera said the gear of the gin was all right before operations were commenced, and some of the sailors gave similar evidence. .jj [ las been reckoned that if the whole ocean were dried up, all the water passing away as vapour, the amount of salt remaining would bo enough to cover 5,000,000 square miles with a layer one mile, thick. A German scientist claims that the memory is stronger in summer than in winter. He says that among tho worst foes of the memory are too muoh food, too much physical exorcise, and toomuch education. • i