The Daily bulletin., 1893-11-13
SAFE IN THE HARB0R
Captain MetCalfe Succeeds in
Floating the MioVeTa,
Released From Her Coral Berth the
Steamship Is Safely TOWed
ln'O Port.

was stirred by the report that the
steamship Miowera, which had been
aground ON the reef at the entrance
of the harbor since the night of
October 2, was cleared from her
perilous position. Crowds hocked
to the waterfront to view the ship,
the P. M. S. S. wharf being crowded
with curious observers. A few blasts
from the steamships whistle shortly
before 8 o'clock served to confirm
the genuineness of the rumor, and
give an impetus for the gathering
of larger multitudes of spectators.
Captain John Metcalfe, San Fran
cisco representative of the London
Salvage Association, arrived here
October ~ by the steamer Mariposa.
He was accompanied by the Lou
gee brothers, experienced divers,
and brought quantity of wrecking
apparatus. Captain Metcalfe await
ed the result of a contract to float
the vessel before he came, which
proved to be unsuccessful, and then
went about his preparations without
any undue fuss. He had five-ton
anchor, he had strong cables, and
he had appliances for working with
pontoons. An advertisement for
tenders to build pontoons made it
appear that Capt. Metcalfe was 60
ing to use that method of floating
the steamship. The results of an
inspection of the reef surrounding
the stranded vessel, however, led
him to defer submitting his specifi-
cations for pontOons to intending
contractors. There were conditions
that led him to try pull on
anchors and cables first. To
all inquiries he briefly answered
that he should try to pull the vessel
off, and if that method failed then
he should try pontoons.
Captain Metcalfe received all the
assistance he desired from the Gov
ernment. Mr.. Rowell, Superintend-
ent of Public Works, blasted place
in the reef to give the big anchor
hold, and was going to drive piles
for further purchases only the ship
was off before he could do SO. 1t is
we'll known that the Miowera was
driven much higher on the shelf OF
coral than the position in which she
first stuck. She was not moored
securely enough before being light
ened of cargo, coal and water ballast
To use nautical term, her anchors
"came home" ON her, and there were
not enough of them anyway. Hence
as the vessel was made lighter she
rose higher on the reef, and swung
round fully forty-fve degrees. Capt
Metcalfe saw from the report Of his
divers that the problem was that o.
getting the vessel dislodged from
the crease she had finally made fol
herself on the reef, and then swing
ing her down hill pretty much the
way she had assembled.
After twelve days occupied il
surveys and preparations, it became
known last Thursday that Captain
Metcalfe was about to test his frst
plan. The first indication of an at
tempt having been made to nov
the stranded steamship was early or
Friday morning, and it was full o
encouragement for success. 1t wa
seen from shore that the ship hat
been swung by the bow some dis
tance seaward, from fifty to sixt,
feet it was afterward definitely learn
, ed. Saturday morning the vessel
position was changed 80 much NOR
that surmises were rife as to tn
time she would be ahoat. Sunda
morning the watchers on shore re
: ported jump of the steamer fol
, ward of sixty feet, and few minute
later-about 8 o'clock-repeate
, blasts Of the Miowera's whistle an
! nounced that she was clear of tn
: reef and once more riding the mali
She was at once secured in dee
. water against drifting back on tn
> reef 1t appears that, as the las
. heave was made on the cables, thre
D heavy seas in succession lifted tn
huge vessel, SO that about all tha
remained was to guide her into saf
depths.
! At few minutes after 9 o'cloc
Captain Metcalfe came ashore froI
}. the Miowera, and in company wit
3 Mr.. F. M. SwanZy of the firm c
g Messrs. Theo HI. Davies & Co., in
: mediately made arrangements fc
: securing the assistance of severs
4 local steamers for the purpose c
bringing the Miowera into por
S The steamers Mikahala and 9.
! Bishop, of the l. |. S. n. Co.'s flee
and the Claudine, of the Wilde
Steamship Co.'S line, together wit
the tug Eleu, were secured for til
n purpose, and Immediately carriage
. we're flying in various directions t
t drum up their respective Officer
!. and crews.
2 At ii o'clock the steamers Mix;
a hala and G. r. Bishop were read
a for duty, but as it was approachin
/ the noon hour and no immedia,
Q necessity of hurrying the work al
o peared, the departure of these We
v sells for the scene was deferred unit
q one o'clock in order to allow I'll
II men time for luncheon.
AT few minutes before one, tn
Claudine steamed out to the el
d trance OF the harbor, where til
Miowera was riding the waves ,
staunch-looking as ever, followe
o closely by the G, II, Bishop and til
a Mikahala. On the Claudine's dec
u were noticed Capt. King, Ministe
@ OF the Interior, and Attorney Ger
J. eral w, o. Smith, together with
r few othars including an A1vartia,