ALL HOPE OF SAVING HER ABANDONED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2361, 25 May 1899, Page 18

ALL HOPE OF SAVING HER ABANDONED.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION.

May 17.

The tugs stood by the Tekapo throughout the night, the vessel bumping considerably all the time. Her condition is worse than yesterday.

The weather^ is still fine. Pumps are to be put aboard to-day, when another attempt will be made to tow her off.

A life line has been rigged from the ship to the rocks to enable the captain, officers, and a few of the crew, who are remaining on board, to expeditiously land in case of anything unforeseen happening.

If the water be sufficiently reduced an attempt will be made to tow the "Tekapo off at high tide this afternoon. Owing to continuous bumping her bottom is damaged from end to end. All hope of floating the Tekapo has been

abandoned, and she will be sold by auction" to-morrow.

A diver had a thrilling experience on the vessel to-day. He was examining the bottom,, when a roll of the vessel caused a gap to close, nipping his fingers. The succeeding roll opened the fissure and released him.

A Sydney telegram of the 16th inst. to the Melbourne Argus gives the following particulars of the wreck of the Tekapo : —

The fine steamer Tekapo, of 2439 tons, belonging to the fleet of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, went ashore this morning on a shallow reef, which extends seaward from Maroubra Bay, near Coogee, duringa dense fog. The steamer was in charge of Captain Sams, and, with only her crew on board, cleared Sydney Heads at half-past 2 a.m., at which time the fog had just begun to settle down over the harbour and along the coast. The vessel was bound for Port Kembla, on the south coast, where she was to replenish her coalbunkers, and return to Sydney, prior to making her regular fortnightly trip to Tasmania. It is asserted that the course taken ..ought' to. havo enabled the Tekapo to escape all dangers, and therefore, the fact that the fog was soon completely obscuring everything did not occasion alarm. Aa the fog deepened the ship -was kept at halfspeed, and men were stationed forward to keep a sharp look-out. These say it was impossible to discern any object 20 yards away from the bow, and neither they nor the officers had the slightest idea that the ship was not on her proper track until she struck the rocks..

The vessel first bumped twice amidships, and then, lifting on to the flat rocks which skirt the outer edge of the reef, brought up by her bow, smashing heavily against a projecting wall of rock. The fact that she was going at half-speed lessened the force of the impact, but the shock was sufficient to throw the watch almost off their fest. Captain Sams, who was on decJr, immediately ordered the boats out and gave instructions that the well should be sounded. > Fortunately, "there was neither wind nor high sea, and the carpenter having reported that there was no water in the well the engines were at once set going astern. The vessel, however, was immovable, and the next step taken, therefore, was to ascertain her whereaboute. Though it would have been an easy matter for those aboard to have almost jumped on to the rocks the clenseness of the fog prevented the crow from knowing that they were so closo in. Captain Sams therefore ordered the boats away from the ship to locate her position. One of these, in charge of the second mate, had hardly taken Half a dozen strokes when she ran into tho rocks. In the meantime rockets and the reports of tlie distress guns' gave warning to the people at Eandwick and Long Bay that a shipping casualty had occurred on the rocky coa«t beneath them. The residents, however, were unable to locate" tho ship until fully two hours after she had struck. Then the -\oice of one of the residents was heard hailing those aboard, and, guided by him. a boat's ciew was able to land the second officer, Air A. IT. Fisk, who made bis way to Coogee, and telephoned for aspistance. Tlie pilot steamer Captain Cook o^d the tugs Vigilant, Newburgh, ,and Commodore at once proceeded to the scene. By the time they reached the vessel the fog had lifted, and some idea could be gained of the position of the vessel and the damage done to the hull. „

Looking over the forecastle head two ylalv? could be observed completely twisted and ripped open. The vessel, it appears, had struck at dead low tide, arid as the tide be^an to rise an occasional roller came in, and, lifting the vessel, bumped her heavily upon the rocks. By 10 o'clock it was evident that the vessel's" position was very serious.' The tug? and the Captain Cook had previously fastened their hawsers on the steamer to keep her as steady as possible, and when, as the tide rose, the Tekapo began to make water fast, it was decided to make an effort to tug her off. This tlttein.pt, however, was unsuccessful, as the ship's bows were jammed on the ledge in v^ry shallow water. The water kept gaining as tho day wore on, though the pumps were kept hard at work, and long before noon it was evident that it was a hopeless task to attempt to copo with the inru&h. The fore and main holds were soon filled to the 'tween decks, and early in the afternoon the water had reached tho furnace doors. The wind anrl sea rose slightly during the afternoon, causing tlie_ ship to strain and smash against 'the rock with a force which fractured many of her plates, and compelled the belief that even if she ware towed off she would rapidly fill and sink in deep water.

The Tekapo lies with her head S.S.E. and broadside to the dcean, and had the weather not been exceptionally fine she must have become a wreck within a very short time. Shortly after noon a slight sea running tore a portion of, tlie forerigging away, and those on. the vessel were warned thai they must not remain in that part of the ship, as it was feared tliat the mast might go at any moment. The steamer appeal's to bo hanging by the bows, but has a rock right under her sternpost. Tho fore and main holds are full, and the engine room is awash. Captain Sams and the" officers, with a portion of the crew, are standing by tho vessel. The remainder of the men and four boats have been sent to Sydney. The spot where tbe Tekapo struck is just eight miles south of South Head. It appears that afler rounding the latter point it was still clear, and Captain Sams, having laid a course, turned in, but was called just before the ship struck. The vessel was 200 yards inshoie out of her usual courgfe when she hit the rocks.

The lekapo was built in 1881 at Greenoek by R. Steel and Co., and was originally named Cape Clear. She was bought by the Union Company in 1884-, and employed for some years in the Calcutta trade. She was one of tho largest vessels in the fleet, being of 2439 tons, 1500 horse power, and could carry some 2500 tons of cargo. In 1896 she received a thorough overhaul, and her passenger accommodation was somewhat reduced, but still she has, room, for 32 saloon and 51 steerage. She was then placed in the trade between Sydney and Launcestou, under the command of Captain (iunin, and on that route, in carrying coal and produce, has been found to be very useful. Only two months ago she was fitted with the electric light.

The head office of the Union Company received the folknring cable from their Sydney office: — "The Tekapo, while proceeding to Kembla, v. ent ashore about four miles south of Coogee, at 4- o'clock this morning in a thick fog. The weather is fine and the sea smooth ; deep water aft, making little water forward. Tugs have gone to her assistance, and it is hoped that she will come off at high water about noon. The Tarawera is getting ready to proceed to the Tekapo's assistance at to-night's tide, in case ahe is not off by mid«*q.v."