THE INDRABARAH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13980, 13 May 1913, Page 5

THE INDRABARAH.

STEAMER STILL CLOSER IN. ANOTHER GALLANT RESCUE. ADCOCK AGAIN THE HERO (Per United Press Association.) MARTON, May 12. Tic Indrabarah is - now in a ;more perilous position. To-'day she came in a good distance, and is now - within her own length of the shore. When the tide is out, and the-sea normal,: she' could he reached on horseback. At; high tide the 9ea'-is..'bre«kmgh.rifl'ht'. 6vdr-'4eii; and she is rolling considerably.;,,. The sea is not subsiding. The crew are still on hoard. The Terawhiti arrived about 9 a.m., but sailed away.. Tne chances of towing are doubtful. She still has' her’cargo on board. There is a strong undertow. FURTHER EXCITING INCIDENTS. ANOTHER BOAT ATTEMPTS TO LAND. ,■ MARTON, May 13. Information received here this morning states that the Indrabarah can now be reached on horseback at low tide. .The Terawhiti is standing near by. The sea. is rougher than it was yesterday, and a .strong westerly is blow-' ing. When a party from Bulls arrived on the beach this morning a boat was in trier water’ -alongside the steamer, " arid its crew were apparently trying to take a line ashore. Two attempts were made. In the‘.first , the boat nearly capsized. As the wash was down the coast, she was immediately driven out of the lee of the- steamer, and got into , .difficulties, and ‘.had : to. put back. The second attempt was equally unsuccessful. One of the boat’s crew then, jumped overboard with a line attached to his waist, and’ made an effort to swim ashore in the heavy, sea. However, he soon got into difficulties, and "after struggling some time.had. to sever the life-line as he was ‘nearly, exhausted. The second mate, Mr Adqock ; plunged in from the boat to the man’s assistance, and after a severe effort brought him to land. Adcock was also very exhaustedIt will be ’ remembered that Adcock previously pluckily rescued ' Andrew, Mouson. , A little later those aboard ■ the liner attached a length of sowing twine to a tin. which floated towards the shore, and. Adcock swam out and brought this •ashore. Thicker lines were successively ! attached to the twine and each . other, line. Eventually a IJ-inch rope, wks got . ashore. Constant communication’is now probable. THE CAPTAIN. Captain Hollingsworth has been employed on,the Tyser line as officer and captain for over 15 years. He has been in command of ’Vessels for about 12 years, r ahd is particularly well known round the. New Zealand ebast. For some time previous, to , coming ‘to Nfcw .Zealand Captain Rollings- , worth was ih‘.’ ; the ‘China trade for the same company; that., owns the Indrabarah. , Amongst; other; Well-known vessels of the Tyser fleet which have visited these shores; Captain- Hollingsworth has had command of-the Indraghiri; Indradevi, and now the Indrabarah. ' He.' is’'said' to he a careful navigator; and knows . the New Zealand coast well. , The* statement ’has been made that the . steamer went ashore on a neap tide), but this is .incorrect. . There- were spring tides on Friday, but at the time (4.30 a.m.‘ oh' Saturday) v thetide was more than half out. However, the prevailing gales on Saturday and Sunday naturally had the effect of driving the steamer further up, on the -beach when the tides were at their full, and in consequence she now lies as., high up as she would have gone ' had she run' aground at the top of-a spring tide. The tides are now taking off instead of making, and it will be some eight daysbefore the spring tides, are experienced again. In the chance of the vessel being, reflated, but preparations, will be made; doubtless, to have everything’in "readiness by the time the next spring tides come, to make the most of tho opportunity. In _ all prob-. ability, efforts will he -made to lighten the •vessel; either by jettisoning- some of the cargo, or into other boats, if it is possible- to, doythis, and rit should • he if the weather moderates." In.that case, too, anchors will; be put out, and when a favourable.: opportunity comes' the tug Terawhiti and a. couple of other- steamers will make an attempt to. tow her off. With such assistance arid hedging the big steamer may be hauled off, though the prospects are none too bright. AN EXPERT’S VIEWS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-Having a long experience of wrecks from an underwriting point of 'view, I. have read with interest your reports on the stranding of this" important vessel, and though I haye not had the opportunity of seeing her'as she no vr lies, I have an intimate knowledge of the locality and conditions, which lead me to • believe that she will not be to^ved'off. A vessel of such a size and weight, having come ashore with a high'tide and heavy sea, will burrow a hole for herself'with the high seas swingingi-iher-aboutj-,and-the currents and the wind will build up a sandbank to seaward of her ahd hold her fast. The light draught of watqr will prevent dredging operations to] cut a channel to tow her through, and Ti ain not aware, of any wreck-recovery appliances in New Zealand sufficiently to deal with such a vessel in her presealT position. The ;obiect of. my remarks ids to express- the 'opinion that -such-salvage' operations as rare ..practicable should be conducted from’ the shore as sooh as the weather, conditions permit, and that Ull' of towing , the vessel off be abandoned;—l am; etc.; - A. MAXWELL. Several masters of coastal steamers employed in the Wellington-Wanganni trade, interviewed in reference to the stranding of the • Indrabarah, all declared that tho whole thing; is i a’mystery to them. The general view is that there must have been a westerly strong set of the current into the rßangitikei Bight,-and that this, assisted by the- westerly wind, carried the liner out of her course. This is- exactly what the “Herald” -) representative who visited the scene on" Saturday suggested in his account of the stranding yesterday.