DREDGE GAPSIZES.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1923, Page 5

DREDGE GAPSIZES.

ACCIDENT AT THE PORT. THE THOMAS KING OVERTURNS. DEATH OF THE ENGINEER. FOUR MEN SAVED. A sensational shipping accident occurred at the port of New Plymouth early yesterday afternoon, when the dredge Thomas King capsized, and one of the crew—Mr. John Brokenshire (the engineer)—was drowned. When the mishap occurred the dredge was depositing stone on the breakwater extension. The other four men on board had an exciting experience, but were all safely brought to shore, though in an exhausted condition. The men saved were: George Scott (captain), Paul Sorenson (fireman), William Watts and Robert Beaton (deck hands). Several boats were quickly on the scene, and all the men were landed on the ’beach inside the breakwater. Mr. Brokenshire, however, failed to rally on artificial respiration being applied, although Dr. Home arrived.very soon af ter the accident. The other men were taken to their homes by motor-car, none of them being seriously incapaci tated, although suffering slightly from shock. The dredge itself now lies on a fairly even keel at a distance of abou'; 100 yards from the end of the breakwater and slightly to the left. High tide yesterday was at 8.27 a.m. and 8.52 p.m., and after the accident ail that was visible of the Thomas King was the top of one funnel and a portion of the jib crane. As the tide rose these, too, were slowly submerged. THE CAPTAIN’S STORY. The skipper of the Thomas King (Captain George Scott) was in bed when interviewed by a Daily News representative, but he expects to be about again soon. “The accident occurred at 12.45 p.m.,” he said. “We had had lunch and had on board a load of stone from the quarry. We proceeded out from the wharf at 12.35 to dump the stone on tiie breakwater extension. Having arrived at the spot, I gave the order to heave up the doors, but the starboard door failed to come up, and the ship took a list to port, turning heavily on her side. “She did not turn right over, but immediately began to fill with water. We were all on top at the time cf the accident, except Jack (Mr. Brokenshire), who was down below attending to his engines. The two deck hands and the j fireman jumped into the water. I immediately looked round the boat for Uic engineer, but shortly after saw himflin the sea with his head bent down and under the water. I swam out to him and held him up. T spoke to him. but he made no answer, so I concluded that he must have been struck by something. I kept hold of him and started to swim towards the breakwater with him, but Mr. Walter Smith, a fisherman, came along in his dingy and picked us up after wo had been in the water about twenty minutes.” BOATS TO THE RESCUE. “There is generally a swell on the breakwater extension, and there was a bit of a ‘break’ there at the time o( the accident, although the weather was calm,” continued the captain. “The only chance seemed for the men to strike out for their lives. JJeaton and Sorenson swam to the end of the breakwater, where they were assisted by Harbor Board employees. Several boats cam* 1 out to oijr rescue, including one from .'the dredge Paritutn under Captain Mej Mahon, ope under Mr. Haines, a stevojdore, one rowed by Mr. F. Andrews, a i fisherman, and another from the liner lOpawa, which, owing to the distance, i did not arrive till we were all ashore. Watts hung on to the wreckage after the accident and was picked up in an exhausted condition by the Paritutu’s boat.” The Thomas King is the property of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and was purchased in England and put together at New Plymouth over forty years ago. For many years she has been utilised as a suction dredge, but of re cent years has been employed as a barge to dump stone on the breakwater extension in connection with the harbor development scheme. It is recalled thae some years ago the vessel sank at the wharf, bilt was successfully raised. Sh•* is a flat bottomed vessel, 65 fpot in length, 18 feet beam and 6 feet draught. Her tonnage is over 100 tons. SALVAGE OPERATIONS. Salvaging operations wore commence'! yesterday afternoon, the first efforts being devoted to fixing twine ropes to prevent the vessel drifting into,the fairway. Owing to the swell on the breakwater the men in small boats found some difficulty in carrying out this work, but later the task was successfully accomplished. A diver subsequently examined ths vessel and secured the ropes. Efforts will be made this morning to raise the vessel sufficiently by means of tanks to allow of her being towed clear of ths breakwater extension and on to the beach within the breakwater, where sh*’ can be properly examined. Spring tides and exceptionally low water are expected to help materially .in the carrying out of this task. The dredge Paritutn is at present completing overhaul, so her men will be available for assisting in the operations. It is understood that there were on the vessel lifebelts for each man in ad dition to two lifebuoys. The late Mr. Brokenshire had been in the employ of the Harbor Board for over forty years. He was a steady, industrious man and greatly respected by his fellow workers. He was 68 years of age, and leaves a widow (daughter of the late Mr. James Bellringer) and ten children, for whom much sympathy will be felt. An inquest will be held to-day.