THE TAINUI COLLISION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15822, 22 July 1913, Page 8

THE TAINUI COLLISION.

■ AN ORDERLY RESCUE. PASSENGERS ARRIVE IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.} LONDON, May 31. Though there is nothing funny in a collision in dense fog at sea, the passengers by the Tainui have really very little to complain of, and practically nothing in regard to delay. They all reached London on Friday morning from Plymouth, and most of them, according to the anecdotal press, are fully equipped even to their tooth brushes.

It was about £0 miles off the northwestern corner of Spain, in a dense fog on Sunday morning, that the accidents occurred. Of course,, the vessel was going slowly, It was about 6 a.m., and the only passengers on deck were the early few who were anxious to get a possible glimpse of the high land of Spain. It was scarcely possible to see the length of the ship ahead, and as this is a beaten track much frequented, by vessels from all parts of the world the Tainui took no risks, but worked along slowly with her foghorn going, constantly. The apparition of" the Inca was as sudden as these things usually are. As she struck the Tainui full on the port bow some of those on the forecastle of the New Zealand liner got a good glimpse of her. They were able to read her name and to see the extent of the damage she received herself. Her own bows were stove in and the anchor was driven into the bow plates. She at once drifted clear,' and as she disappeared in the fog again those on the Tainui could see halfclad figures hastenhif! up from below and rushing the boat tackle.

Before she got too far away the Tainui learned by voice that the Inca was badly damaged, and as she drifted astern her foghorn soon stopped blowing, and the Tainui was left in doubt as to what had happened. This doubt was not cleared up until a day or two later when, the Tainui having arrived in Cornnna, it was ascertained" that the damaged Inca was making for the neighbouring Spanish port of Vigo. ORDER ON THE TAINUI. All acounts agree that the most complete order prevailed on the New Zealand liner. Captain Moffntt gave his orders m the most matter-of-fact manner, and as the damage was surveyed the boats were quietly got ready for launching and lowered to the promenade deck. There was no question from the first that the damage was serious, and Captain Moffat at once sent out a wireless message, which was picked up first and almost immediately by the Union Castle liner Garth Castle, 40 miles distant. Captain Cruise, of the Union liner, said he was coming at once, and he turned his vessel round and covered the distance as quickly as the dense fog would permit him. The P. and 0. liner Nvanza and the Pacific steamer Galieia also replied and came to the Tainui's assistance.

Though the vessel was slowly sinking by the head the sea .was calm, and as the rescuers came up the Tainui shaped her course for Corunna. There was no uneasiness, and breakfast was.served at the right time as. if nothing, had occurred. All the time the syrens of passing vessels could be heard, but most of them, of course, would be cargo boats, without wireless and utterly ignorant of the possible tragedy so close to them. When a few hours later the fog lifted for a moment, the Garth Castle was seen groping her way quite close to the Tainui. The grey curtain fell again almost as suddenly as it had arisen, but the ves?sls now had their bearings, and before long the rescuer had worked her way to within three-quarters of a mile of the cripple. LIMPING HOME. Throughout Sufnday the Tainui made her war slowly towards the haven cf Corunna, the Garth Castle and the Galieia standing by. It was slow work, for now the vessel's head had sunk considerably, and the propeller was partly out of water. Still, there seemed to be no real danger.

At 10 o'clock at night the passengers were informed that they micht safely retire to bed, and the majority of them did so, though some remained in their clothes ;n the smoking rooms and lounges. It was an hour or two after midnight when word was sent round that the pa?seugers were to bo transferred to the Garth Castle, . r .:id that they must put on their lifebelts. Tlie transfer was made in the Tainui's own boats, and as the Garth Castle was not a full ship, there was sufficient room '>r all. The sea was calm, and there was no danger at all in making the transfer. The only difficulty was due to the fog. Tho ships weTe lying three-quarters of a mile apart; but thev could not see each other, so the Garth Castle lowered all her own boats and strunrr them out on each beam, connected by lines, so as to afford a wide front for the Tainui'c boats to steer for. The Tamil's boats, on the other hand, were lowered from each side, and were strung together bow and stem. To some of the passengers the spectacle was rather reminiscent of certain regattas ihey had seen. They could riot take their luggage, but it is quite an exaggeration to suggest that all many of them were able to take was a tooth-brush. By this time the Tainui had such a tilt forward that the deck was like a hillside. The actiiaJ sl\ock was not severe. The impact was just forward of the collision bulkhead, and the fore-hold made water very quickly. MAKING FOR HOME. The Garth Castle then turned for Plymouth, while the Galicia stocd by the Tainui on her voyage to Corunna in case further help should be needed. The captain -of the Garth Castle sent on through Ushant the following wireless message: — Am proceeding to Plymouth with all passengers from steamship Tainui. The steamship Galicia, P.S.X. Co., escorting Tainui to Corunna; dense fog prevailing. Last wire from Tainui reports all well; proceeding towards Corunna. The Tainui collided with steamship Inca 7 a.m. Sunday in dense fog. Passengers all well. Weather continues thick. As a matter of fact, the fog continued right through the Bay of Biscay and into English waters, and the Garth Castle herself nearly met trouble when about to enter Plymouth Sound. Suddenly out of he fog emerged the clumsy form of a cargo tramp, and it was only by going full speed astern that the Union liner escaped being holed as the Tainui kd been. As the 200 rescued passengers left the Garth Castle in the G.W.R. tender at Plymouth they raised hearty cheers for tho officers and crew of the Union steamer, which then turned on her heo] and steamed out for Ixmdon. The passengers came up to town by special train. WITNESSES' STORIES. Mr IT. W. Forsicr, of Broadstairs, is one of the few passengers who really saw anything of the mishap. Awakened by the foghorn, he jumped out of bed, and looking through the porthole saw the Inca strike and recoil, and felt the Tainui heel over » little. Then he saw the Inca's bows drifted' astern, badly crumpled for a distance of 10ft, and overheard the officers, in reply to the Tainui's inquiry whether they required help, state that thev were going astern. Mr Charles Fair, of Palmerston North, also bears witness to the coolness on board. Nobody seemed to think for a moment that there was any danger, and the raptain and officers were careful not to communicate any anxiety to tho passengers. It was.quite apparent, however, that the vessel's bows wore lower in the water.

The order that went round after midnight on Sunday that the passengers were to put on their lifebelts was the first indica-

tion any of them had that there was any alarm for the safety of the vessel. "When they heard through the fog that the Garth Castle was at band there was a general feeling of relief. "Will you stand by us," shouted the captain through the "megaphone, "i'es, we will," was the reply. There was just a momentary fear, when the order to don lifebelts was given, that they were in danger, but the officers soon reassured them, and the transfer to the Garth Castle was carried through without any fuss or hitch. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE. Directly the High Commissioner heard of the accident be sent a marconigram to the captain of the Garth Castle asking him kindly to convey to the passengers of the Tainui his regrets at their misadventure and congratulations on their safety. A MARKET- COMMENT. "Fairplay" remarks on the accident: "These meat boats have been going very badly lately, and I shall not be surprised to hear that underwriters will want considerably more premium wllen negotiating contract's for 1914." THE CARGO AND MAILS. On calling at the offices of the Shaw Savil and Albion Company this morning the general manager told your representative that all the meat in" No. 1 hold is bad and will have to be destroyed. Some of the meat in the lower tiers of No. 2 lower hold will also be bad, because of tho water which got in there. The rest of the meat in this hold—the greater portion lie believed will bo found to be per. fectly good. All the remainder of the cargo, including the cheese and the butter, is reported to be safe and undamaged. The damage to the vessel is not great. A hole, not very large, was knocked into her in No. 1 hold, and some plates and rivets started. These are being temporarily repaired at Corunna, and the Tainui will leave that port for London this weekend. The baggage on board is quite safe, and will be brought to London in the steamer. Also, the mails are safe.