THE RINGAROOMA'S ACCIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6068, 29 September 1894, Page 3

THE RINGAROOMA'S ACCIDENT.

♦ (Pie Else/rio Tkkraph— GoF?RioHf .) (PSBP&BSI ASfiOOUSXOX.) Received 11,25 a.m., September 28th. Sydney, September 28. Particulars of the accident to the Ringarooma are to hand. The men appear to have behaved splendidly, the watertight doors being all closed and a collision mat fixed m an incredibly Bhort space of time and m perfect silence. During the ] first three or four days, while spring tides were flowing, the ship bumped heavily, and had she not been strongly built must have become a complete wreck. Constant attention to the cables, hawsers and anchors which were laid out,day'and night, greatly relieved the strain on the ship, and coupled with iron shoes which the crew bnilt under the fore-foot not only prevented the vessel moving further np tbe reef, but helped her off at high water. Thla was undoubtedly the reason she was saved. At every tide the hawsers and cables were hove taut. After several unsuccessful attempts to tow the ship off, it was found that owing to the strain of the cables she was gradually wriggling off the reef. At noon on September 12th she had slipped aft 13 feet, and thssame afternoon, by continual heaving on the cables, Bhe got free and was able to steam to Fort Sandwich. There is no doubt the safety of the steamer was entirely due to the unwearied exertions of all bands, night and day for 33 days without relaxation, and the fact that by continual rolling the ship had worn for herself a bed m the coral reef. Eeoeived 1 20 p.m., September 28th. fI.M.S. Ringarooma, under escort of the Orlando, passed Seal Rocks at 7 o'clock this morning. ' tfewiTOd 1 a.m., September 29th. H.M.S. Ringarooma armed here this evening. The captain attributes the safe floating of the vessel to the exceptionally fine weather experienced while on the reef. A court-martial will be held into the circumstances when H.M.S. Crescent Arrives with relief crewe.