The morning call., 1894-01-17
THE MIOWERA.

found that where the vessel lay the reef
sioped gently down 70 the westward, and
that comparatively near her in that direc-
tlon the water was sufficiently deep 10
hoat her, 1t was very clear that Nc
Dowell had never sounded around the
vessel and had been the whole time trying
to drag the ship up bill instead of down,
and seeing that he had not the slightest
chance of floating the steamer Metcalfe
decided not to extend the time of the con-
tract but to take hold OF the work himself.
The plan adopted was simple but effec-
tual. Three anchors were laid out at diff
ferent angles on the starboard side of the
ship to heave her head round until her
bow pointed down the slope. 1t took
some DAYS to complete these preparations,
for deep holes had to be blasted into the
coral with dynamite before the anchors
would hold. Heavy chain cables were
then stretched from the anchors to the
vessel. but instead of being taken directly
to the bow. or up through the bawsrr
pipes. they were connected by fOurfold
tackles to other chains that were led righ I
under the vessels keel and well secured
on the port side, the effect of which was
that instead of the steamer being hove or
bound down by the strain, she was lifted
and turned at the same time: in fact, "par-
buckled" round, as sailors term II, until her
bow pointed down the reef. Eight parts of
steel wire rope tested to "a tons tension we're
iOFo III OuCH tdChtCs WDiCn WAS leu 10 LD6
steam wlnches ana wlndlaSs, and some
idea OF the enormous strain required to
move the Mlowera may be formed from
the fact that the estimated strain on each
anchor was no less than 100 tons, and tn e
massive cast iron half-rounds. over which
the cable chains wers passed inboards,
were literally crushed to pieces by the
enormous pressure.
The first day the big steamer was moved
56 feet. on the second 66 feet were gained
and the next heave was so successful that
the Miowera was safely at anchor outside
the reef, on which she had rested for forty
one days, before o'clock on the third
morning. and all this was accomplished
without the assistance of single steam
tug.
Towboats were then requisitioned for
the steamer required to be handled very
singerly in the narrow channel as her rud-
der and stern frame were broken. but
there was not the slightest hitch in the
proceedings, and the Miowera was soon
mo0red of the Honolulu wharf.
The next ste0 was how To repair her.
there being no drydock in Honolulu, only
marine railway, which was suitable for
small vessels only, and Captain Metcalfe
thought the risk too great to trust even
the stern of he NJ Miowera on it, and as the
divers had examined the ship's bottom and
found although the plates were dented
and the rivels were much strained and
shorn there were no holes ana the vessel
was making no water. he decided to build
cofferdam to repair the broken stern
frame and rudder. The cofferdam was
put together on the slip. 1t was so feet
long by 20 feet broad and Is feet deep,
constructed Of four-iDch plank. the upper
corner pieces being 10x10 inch timber, the
frames 8x8 inch and the flooring Of stout
12x12 inch ribs laid 8 feet apart. 1t took
fourteen days to build, ana it was then
launched, ballasted. foated out and sunk
round the stern of the vessel. the after
end being square while the tore end was
modelled V shape to fit the contour of the
vessel. Once placed in position the extern
pOrary dock was pumped out, found to be
water-tight, and the work of getting the
broken stern frame detached and taken
ashore for scraping WAS commenced.
This stern frame is Q heavy steel cast