WARRIMOO AGROUND

Southland Times, Issue 17811, 19 November 1914, Page 5

WARRIMOO AGROUND

A HAWSER SNAPS. AN INTERRUPTED VOYAGE. NO APPREHENSION FEET. Tho well-known intercolonial trader, the s.s. Warrlmoo, ran aground in Bluff Harbour yesterday afternoon, under circumstances which rarely fall to the lot of masters these days. Tito Warrlmoo, with a large number of passengers, reached Bluff from Melbourne via Hobart on Tuesday afternoon, and was about to continue her voyage to Dunedin when the mishap ocurred. A terrific gale was blowing, one of the heaviest that have fallen to Bluff's hit for mouths, and the liarlumr was while. While the Warrlmoo was turning at the wharf a severe squall struck iter suddenly, and the hawser between ship and wharf parted like a gunshot. The vessel was left, broadside on. exposed to the fall force of tiie gale. Captain Alcßeth tried to manoeuvre his ship with his engines ia order to clear the G.s. I llacmoa. which occupied tho adjoining berth at the wharf, and also to give the Warrimoo sufficient way on to proceed down channel. Tho gale carried her too close to the middle bank buoys, and in trying to avoid them the Warrimoo passed over tiie middle hank and anehon’d oh Ido end of it in the north channel. Captain Alcßeth remained at. anchor for a few minut-s ami pulled it up again while In triui to turn round in Hie north channel. Owing to Ihe force ol' the wind and .sea the vessel would not come round ami ran aground on the north bank and to tin- north of tin- north channel. It was bad luck, because'another lew yards weald have completed tiie I uni and enabled tho Warrimoo to proceed to sea. The lag. with the harbourmaster (Captain Lovett i aboard, was quickly ott the scene, and she received a heavy "'lusting" from tin- elements. Captain Lovett ranged alongside ami look two hawsers aboard, and for nearly an hour the powerful little tug tried manfully to pull tliv how of the Union liner round. At first the Warrimoo gave a little, but the combined effect of wind and waves ultimately more than counterbalanced the efforts of the tug to shift the Warrimoo, which in the falling tide became hard and Cast. At :1.4D the tag gave up the task ami returned to the wharf. There are m> rm-ks near the position of the WaTTimoe. merely a sandy bank, and so no apprehension of any kind can be fell as to the vessel's safety. Site is making no water, and tin' only thing that can inconvenience the passengers is the heavy list of the vessel, a list, which site had when she left tin' wharf. Owing In the storm the passengers were till kept below. Il was too rough to take ihem off. As the Warrimoo went aground on Ihe tup of a soring tide it will be impossible to move her until the weather moderates. That may mean to-day. or even a day or two. The tug had steam np al midnight ready In make another attempt should the weather permit, but il is doubtful if any good van result until the gale blows itself out. The Warrimoo has a large Australian cargo aboard, including much fruit, of which she discharged nearly tou eases at Bluff. She loaded at HI aIT some Pl,non feet timber. Sat) sacks bran. 100 sacks cemetery 'gravel, 40 sacks frozen tongues, and 200 bales hides.