THE INDRABARAH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 307, 20 May 1913, Page 5

THE INDRABARAH.

THE SALVAGE OPERATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. Late on Saturday evening the manager of the Union Company advised that the Terawliiti had been successful in laying a mushroom anchor on Saturday afternoon. Under these circumstances it is reasonable to assume that all four anchors are now laid. These will prevent the ship from being forced further up on the beach. If the report that the Terawliiti is alongside is true, the depth of water must be over thirteen feet, this being the draught of the tug, The vessel is to be "coaxed" off the beach, and not towed, and operations will be begun on the top of the spring tide. The proposal to utilise H.M.S. New Zealand for towing the vessel off has been abandoned, though Captain Halsey was willing to assist. The agents believe I that the warship would be unable to get i near enough to the Indrabarah to render effective assistance. • TOWING OPERATIONS. HINDERED BY ROUGH SEA. Wellington, Monday. The Secretary of the Post Office 'has received a wire from Bulls, stating that the position of the Indrabarah'was unchanged. The sea continued high, preventing progress in the towing .operations. The Stormbird and the Rawliiti are alongside. A PIGEON MAIL. Wellington, Monday. News by pigeon post has been received from the Indrabarah. which states: "The Stormbird reached the ship on Sunday. The wind is light and the weather fine. The Indrabarah is lying broadside on, and the weather prospects are good' for running lines to the ship, which, under present conditions, should be finished by 3 p.m. The Terawliiti has just arrived from Wanganui, and is assisting us to lay an anchor." J. Crotty, the master, in a later message, said that an anchor was'laid under his instructions at 12.20 p.m. on Sunday, and that at the present time he is sending wires to the Indrabarah. Die wind and sea showed a slight increase since morning. SUNDAY VISITORS. VESSEL FIRM IN THE SAND. Palmerston North, Monday. Large crowds from all round 'the country visited the Indrabarah yesterday. The sea has moderated, and the vessel has shifted considerably during' the week's heavy seas, and is now further north and higher up on the beach. At low tide the vessel appeared to be drawing about ten feet of water, and the top of one propellor is plainly' seen above the water. She is lying on an even keel, and an occasional big breaker striking her had no apparent effect on her indicating that she is firmly held by the sand. To the ordinary layman there seem to be small grounds for optimism. FAILURE OF TOWING ATTEMPTS. m, ~ Palmerston North, Monday. ■ lho lerawhiti and the Stormbird 'arc Doth on the scene, and two attempts are said to have been made to tow her off, but that they failed. Captain Rainev I (marine superintendent of the Tvser Lme), Captain Plunket (LlovaV 'surveyor), Mr. Daniels (Union Company's salvage expert), and Mr. Birkett (repair superintendent), aro all on board the Indrabarah. THE VESSEL DOOMED. NO CHANCE OF FLOTATION. rt •ii .Wellington, Last Ni«,Y. it is the opinion of Captain J. Urolmaster of the Stormbird, that the '„.' ilrauarah is doomed, and that thcr.- is practically no chance of ever <vettin»- hoion. _ Captain Crotty speaks with an experience of over twenty years on that '•oast, and says that in all that lime lie has never ye-, seen a boat l«.-u-!i-,l on the stretch „( coast on which thIndrabarah is lyi.,* PC i n ,r v \ very much smaller 'craft—the once on the Rangiiikr-i beat hl m ~,.. mamed there ever since. The Tcr.whUi and the Stormbird. it was reported h-d got alongside the stranded steamer )„"it this is incorrect. The Stormbird wa« always at least some three hundred yards off, and Captain Crotty sr,s sho had then only some sixteen feel, of water beneath her. I„ his opinion it won d be unsafe for small bouts to »,i much further in. as it is verv mob•«l>le they would find the sand if thev did. The Indrabarah k firniU- embedded' in the sand, and once, the hard enut on the beach is broken through, tiie sand below become* alive. The boat being tough, is still well out of the water, but is burrowing deeper evenday, and every dav the encircling sa-ul rises about her'-hnll.j! "ItJ.is liiy'private* opinion," he adled.ll"tbit no matter what money is bent-in the attempt the Tndrabarah will remain where she is She may work further up the ;<'aeh, but at the present time I should judge there is not three feet of water under her. Seen from well off, with her stacks smoking, she nresents the ■^piinn ranee of sailing up the const, but I feci that there is no hope for this bisr boat. If my craft' could not <jet within, Mir, t, VO| ), un dre.l vard= of the shore safely, what chance'is there for such a vessel, as' this." A MORE HOPEFUL PROSPECT. Wellington, Last Night. The Secretary of the General Post Office to-night received the following telegram from the postmaster at Bulls.— "The weather conditions to-day were more favorable for connecting the Indrabarah to anchors, with a view to her pullin? herself off the beach. She was moved round a little last night, and the experts on board are very hopeful of accomplishing something' to-morrow night."