THE ACCIDENT TO THE S.S. TRIUMPH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3329, 3 December 1883, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT TO THE S.S. TRIUMPH.

[By Telegraph.]

Auckland, Doc. 1

The officers are very reticent as to the cause of the disaster. Captain Brotherton says they went ashore at 10.15 p.tn. The pilot had been discharged an hour before, having given the course. It must have been through some error or misunderstanding that the bungle occurred, for the captain states that he kept up to the Island light on Tiritiri to get a straight run to Cape Colville. Immediately she struck an attempt was made to back her off. As to who gave the order for this there are conflicting statements. The engineer says ho felt the ship strike, and ho reversed tho engines without orders ; tho second mate said she was being backed astern when she struck ; and tho captain says ho was going full speed ahead—that is, cloven knots an hour —and this seems the most likely story, from the fact of tho vessel having gone so far on the reef os to remain swinging just under her foremast, or probably more than 60ft from her bows. The captain apparently took most prompt action to got the ship off. Some 300 tons of balast wore pumped out of her forward compartments, and an anchor got out aft. Rockets wore sent up at frequent intervals and guns fired, but tho former were not soeu and the latter not heard until daybreak Meanwhile it had been found the ship was making water in tho forehohl, and tho crow wore sot to work to shift cargo and they worked well until worn out.

A largo quantity was saved, but the water rose to a height of lift in the compartment, although the engines were kept working, and the men were manifestly fagged out when the Stella arrived. 7,35 p.m. The Waitaki has returned from the Triumph. There is no change in the situation. The captain says the pilot told him to give the island a wide berth, but he stood up to the light for the purpose of making a straight course thence to Capo Colville. He saw the light all the time but did not think ho was so close in. When the look-out gave the alarm the land was only 150 yards distant. He gave orders for full speed astern, and kept the engines going all night,without avail. 9 p.m. There is no difference in the position of the Triumph, but her stern is lower than when the Stella went down yesterday. This is probably due to the fact that the tide is lower and the cargo is being shifted aft. Lighters are alongside taking in cargo, and men are busily engaged carrying the coal aft, where it is being stowed with the object of putting the steamer down by the stern. The wind is from the north, but there is no sea. Should the breeze freshen, there would be a good deal of back surf and her position would be a great deal more dangerous than it is at present. There is not the slightest doubt she is in a most dangerous position, and whilst it is trusted that she may come off all right, there are equal probabilities that she will be a total wreck. In order that a correct estimate of the damage sustained by the Triumph may be formed, the services of a diver have been engaged, and he left for the scene by the steamer Blanche this afternoon. Captain Brotherton statesthoTriumph is owned by Mclntyre Bros., of Newcastle and London. She had been in the Atlantic and China trades, and this was his second trip in her, the other being to China. The vessel is insured in the Mutual Lloyds, and other Companies, but the Captain does not know for what amount. She had 1200 tons of cargo in her when she struck. The Captain states he would not like to say whether the man on the look-out was sober or not, as he did not see him, but he supposed soma of the crew would bo “pretty jolly,” going down the Gulf. Dec. 2,

The "Waitabi, Glenelg and lona have returned from the Triumph at Tiritiri. At 7.30 this morning, the steamers named, with the Argyle which had been by the vessel all night, made a united effort to tow the big steamer off the reef, but after an hour’s trial the attempt had to be abandoned as unsuccessful. During the experiment some delay was caused owing to a strong tide rip which set off the steamers abreast of the Triumph, consequently the full benefit of their towing power was not obtained. Still there is no doubt that even if the full power had been obtained, she could not have been got off, as she is too firmly fixed on the reef, and her position was not in any way altered. It has now been decided to fill the after part of the vessel with ballast, and to take out all cargo, &0., from the fore part, and then make another effort to tow the vessel off. The glass, since Saturday, has been falling, and although it is at present blowing very fresh from the west which does not imperil the safety of the Triumph, there is every indication of it coming in from the N.E., in which case she will have to be abandoned, as no vessel could go alongside to render assistance. The captain of the Triumph has his boats slung out with life buoys, in case of a sudden change of wind. The Argyle remains in attendance. The officers and crew appear to take things quietly, apparently accepting the inevitable with a spirit of resignation. The score of Chinese firemen are most unconcerned of all. The Waitaki on Saturday took several hundred excursionists from Auckland to the scene of the disaster, and a number of photographers to take views of the scene.

The lighthouse-keeper states that shortly before the Triumph struck he observed a steamer coming towards the island, and took it to be the Stella coming with stores for the lighthouse, as he knew she was in Auckland. As she got closer he saw it was a much larger vessel, and went and roused his mate, who turned out to see the sight. They commenced joking together, saying the steamer was going to rush the lighthouse and jump their claim. As the steamer still stood on they felt sure something • serious was wrong. The officer on duty returned to his post at the lighthouse, and his mate went down the face of the cliff, calling as loudly as possible to the steamer, which warning was evidently not heard, as she still kept straight on for the shore. Shortly afterwards he heard the noise of the vessel grinding on a reef and a confused sound of voices on board. He then called out again : “You’re ashore," The reply was “Yes, Where are we?” The lighthouse-heeper replied—“On Tiritiri.” A voice called out —“ How far are we off?" and he responded—“ Don’t I tell you you are on Tiritiri itself. Is the vessel damaged ?” The reply was—- “ Don’t know ; am going to back off.” He called out again—“ You had better fire a rocket ashore with line,’’ and he struck a match to show them where to throw it. The rocket was not thrown, and no further information was vouchsafed from the steamer, so the lighthousekeeper returned to his quarters.