STRANDED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 28, 7 June 1913, Page 5

STRANDED.

THE INDRABARAH.

EXPERTS STILL HOPEFUL

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, June 6

Captain Watchlin, of the.Terawhiti, sent the following pigeon wire to-day: "Got towline on board the Indrabarah yesterday, and held the ship; in position until the tide fell. Then laid No. 4 mushroom anchor well out to sea. During last night's tide, the ship turned head to sea. By shifting the wire from aft to forward, the Indrabarah is now hanging to Nos. 3 and 4 mushrooms, with her bow to westward, in a 1 splendid position for re-launching. The weather at present is not very favourable, there being a freshening westerly wind, with increasing sea. Given favourable conditions, a towline will be passed on board at the first opportunity. In a smooth sea the Terawhiti ca» now get close alongside the Indrabarah.— Watchlin."

Lloyds' agents have received from Captain Plunkett, their representative now on the Indrabarah, a message despatched last night, stating that the weather was favourable. Captain Plunkett added: "Got good heaves on yesterday. The ship was shifted about a quarter of a mile north. The present position is now practically half a-mile from the beach."

MIXED OPINIONS

Palmerston N., June 6

The latest news appears to indicate the beginning of a new stage in the Indrabarah's efforts. It will be remembered that in her quiescence, she was lying almost broadside on to the shore, in such a position that it was obviously impossible for her to pull herself straight out to sea. However bravely she might answer to her helm on the high seas, she certainly could not do so with her keel grooved in the sand. She consequently did the next best thing; she crawled away at a;tangent,"'gaining at least some balance ;of, profit from the operation. .During these movements the sea wa3 calm,' and there ( was comparatively mo. lifting of tlie" waves '* to assist* in' her "coaxing" work. Yesterday, however, heavier seas returned, and whether by good seamanship or by the unguided play of the waves, she turned her nose round straight out to sea. The importance of this swerving appears to be that the Indrabarah draws only 18 feet of water at her bows, and 21 feet at her stern. The expert view of the new position is not for the moment ascertainable. Some anxiety exists as to whether the big vessel has a good hold of an anchorage to keep her head out to sea against the gale if one develops. They calculate that the Indrabarah, by her own winches, drew Up to two of her anchors, arid thus exhausted their assistance, and * now has only two anchors to rely on. This,fact, it is held, accounts for her making no further progress seawards during the last tide or two. Rapid work is being done to re-lay the other two anchors, and also a big six ton anchor, but this work will probably take several days. With these in position, shoremen predict a resumption of efforts to creep seawards.

Among the less optimistic of the on-lookers is Mr Dalrymple, who owns the stretch of beach on which the vessel lies. , He states that the Indrabarah lies on a bar of sand shelf, which extends for half a mile from the shore. • Assuming that the vessel is half .way over this shelf, she still has a quarter of a mile to travel before she can drop into her natural element Over its edge. Others-are of opinion, that the vessel has drifted inshore-since the heavy weather returned.

Mr Dalrymple thinks that in any case three or four weeks will elapse before the vessel will be afloat.

COMING SHOREWARDS AGAIN

Wellington, Juno 6

The Secretary of the General Post Office this evening received the following telegram from the postmaster at Bulls: "The position of the Indrabarah this evening is much the same as at high tide yesterday morning, with the exception that the bow has swung round, and is now pointing seawards. To-day there has been a considerable sea, causing the Indrabarah to come slightly shorewards, but she remains a quarter of a mile off this evening. This makes communication so difficult that no one on land can say with dofiniteness what will happen next. Probably a day or two will be taken to relay the old anchor and get the latest ones into a good position." "HEADING WEST." Wellington, June 7. The Union Company is advised by Captain Watchlin, of the Terawhiti, that tho Indrabarah is in the same position as yesterday, heading west.