THE STRANDED LINER

Southland Times, Issue 17348, 20 May 1913, Page 5

THE STRANDED LINER

STORMBIRD’S CAPTAIN PESSIMISTie.-- " - THE E.VCIRCLINT, S.V.NTIS. ’ " J _ THOSE OX BOARD HOPEFUL. (Per United Press Association.) IVELLIXGTQX., ,M :iy 19. J( is the opinion of Captain .1. Grotty, master of the Stormbird. that there Is practically no chance of ever getting the Indrabarah off.. Captain Grotty .speaks with the experience of over twenty years on' ’that coast, and says' that In ail that time he has never yet seen a boat beached on the stretch of coast on which the Indrabarah is lying get off. Even a very much smaller craft, an ths Fusilier, once on the Rangitekei beach has remained ever since. The Terewhiti and Stormbird, it «u , reported, had got alongside the stranded steamer, but this is incorrect. The Stormbird was always at least some 300 yards off, and Captain Grotty says.that she had then only some 1C feet of water beneath her. In his opinion it would be unsafe for small boats to go much farther in. as it was very. probable they would find the sand if they did. The Indrabarah is firmly embedded in - the sand. Once the hard crust on the b«j*ch is broken through the sand below be- • comes alive. The Tyser boat, though still well out of the water, is borrowing deeper every day, and every day the encircling sand rises*about her hnn. "It is my private opinion that ne matter what money is spent in the attempt the Indrabarah will remain where she is. She may work a little farther up the beach. At the present time I should judge there is not 0 feet of water under Iter. Seen from well off with ben stacks smoking she presents an appearance of sailing up the coast, but I feel that there is no hope for thin big boat. If my craft could not get withC; say 200 yards of the shore safely, wuat chance is there for such a vessel as this." The Secretary of the General Poet Office to-night received the following telegram from the Postmaster at Bulla? “Weather conditions to-day were more -favourable for connecting the , Xndrabarah to an anchor, with a view to her pulling herself off the beach. She was moved round a little last night, and tha experts on board are very hopeful of accomplishing: something to - morrow night.” THE PREPARATIONS. WANGANUI, May M, The tug Terawhiti arrived at Cast!#.cliff- to-night, and proposes to sail early to-morrow if weather permits. At tha present time the predicted gale is rising, and It is very likely that she will remain in port. The Terawhiti placed & big anchor on Saturday, "and yesterday placed the one which the Stormbird brought from Wellington. The ladra—barah is described as being alive at high, tide ' to-day, and the opinion was expressed tliat the coaxing operations tomorrow night. If the weather be favourable, should be fairly successful. ■- > WELLINGTON, May 13. The proposal to utilise the New Zeae land for towing has been ’ abandoned. Though Captain Halsey was willing to assist, the agents opdne that, the warship would be unable to get near enongh. to u render effective assistance. ■ Y - . •