Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Thursday 11 July 1935, page 7


MAHENO LOCATED AGROUND AT

FRASER ISLAND

PLANE FLIES OVER

CREW REACH SHORE SAFELY

Remote Chance Of Salvaging Stranded

Vessel

BRISBANE, July 10.

The Maheno was located aground at Fraser Island today by New England Airways plane piloted by Keith Virtue. The vessel is resting on a sandy bottom and it is considered there is no danger of her breaking up. The crew reached shore safely.

The vessel is lying broadside on within a few yards of the sandy shore.

When the Japanese saw the plane they waved frantically and the occupants of the plane waved in return. An anchor had been thrown out from the ship in an effort to steady her during the storm. She appears undamaged.

Surf was breaking heavily against the side when the plane

circled overhead. The plane returned to Maryborough and told of the discovery, and on its second visit to the Maheno there was no sign of the crew, but a punt was on the beach, indicating that the men had gone ashore in search of a settlement.

As soon as the news of the finding reached Brisbane, Messrs Macdonald, Hamilton Ltd wirelessed the captain of the Carlock to proceed to the scene immediately, but although at 6 o'clock the tug was within an hour of the Maheno, a message received at 7.10 o'clock stated that owing to bad weather it was making for shelter in Hervey Bay.

The Oonah was also advised of the Maheno's position and a reply was received that she would endeavour to reach the stranded vessel by 5 p.m.

Giving his story of the finding of the stranded vessel, Pilot Virtue stated to-night that conditions were not bad for flying when he left Brisbane, although it was squally, with intermittent rain.

"Leaving Brisbane at 9.15 a.m., he said, "we covered thc distance, 165 miles, to where we found the Maheno in 1hr. 20 min. When we saw the Maheno she was almost broadside on and well in on the beach. The nose was closer in than the stern and she seemed hard and fast. We flew low for some of the crew came on deck and waved to

us. Then we flew to Maryborough and reported the discovery.

"We returned to the Maheno at 12.10 p.m. On this occasion we could not see a man. Apparently the crew had gone in search of a settlement. We

saw the smoke of a vessel far out to

This map shows the position of the Maheno when the message from the Oonah asking for assistance was

sent.

sea and flew out to it. It was the Atsutu Maru, about 20 miles too far out for those on board to see the Maheno. We flew around Sandy Cape, but could not see the Oonah or the Carlock. We returned to Maryborough and then flew back to Brisbane, arriv-ing at 4.15 p.m."

SALVAGE PROSPECTS.

The consensus of expert opinion in Brisbane tonight was that there was only a remote chance of salvaging the

Maheno.

Captain R. Taylor, surveyor for the British Corporation, said that the vessel was definitely not insured. The Japa-nese apparently had decided not to pay the high premium asked for such an adventurous undertaking as a tow to Japan. The cost of the Carlock's ser-vices was about £12 an hour and soon the value of the ship would be eaten up. The Carlock would doubtless try to get a line aboard to tow the vessel off, but if the salvage proved a difficult

task the cost would become a question for the owners to consider. With the

ship broadside on the sand would mount up and if the wind continued

from the east it would make the task all the more difficult. The hull might also be damaged and the bottom of the ship filled with water.

The Harbour Master (Captain T. Robertson) said it would be difficult to estimate the chances of salvage with-out knowing all the facts. The Maheno might be another addition to the stranded ships along the coast.

"AN EASY JOB."

"Very comfortable. Like sitting in an armchair," was how Captain R. Wallon, Marine Superintendent of the Union Steamship Company today de-scribed life on a towed vessel.

"I have been on towed vessels on numerous occasions in my career. Actually it is a very easy job in normal conditions. One sits down most of the time with nothing to do. Of course there is a man at the wheel. There is no

throb of engines; the ship just glides along. Sometimes the ship that is being towed will drift much quicker than the one ahead of her, so the two vessels may be almost abreast of each other.

AT DISCRETION OF CAPTAIN.

The agents for the Maheno said to- night that any decision on the salvage question would be left to the discretion of Captain Hashimoto. It was probable that if the Maheno was in an accessible

position and undamaged the captain would try to tow her off with the aid of the tug. It was intended after

reaching Brisbane that the vessels should be repaired and the long tow

continued.