IN HER WATERY GRAVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3765, 26 February 1913, Page 2

IN HER WATERY GRAVE.

• DECISION TO ABANDON THE STAR OF CANADA. MR EZRA SMITH EXPLAINS HIS WRECK-SAVING PATENT. SATISFIED THAT IT AVOULD HA VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. The abandonment of the negotiations for the refloating of the Star of Canada has given rise to considerate comment amongst local nautical men and marine engineers. The matter is being discussed from various standpoints, and among the plethora of opinoins and suggestions mooted, one must become befogged as to which would have been the proper course to pursue in endeavoring to raise the unfortunate vessel now lying in a watery grave; and whose remains will probably remain as a “landmark” and a memorial of that violent and never-to-be-forgotten night of June 22, when the whole community was aroused near midnight by the thrilling message of her rockets. The excitement engendered by the ; disaster was a “red letter” day for Gisborne—and also a gigantic advertisement—for the news flashed to every civilised centre of the earth within a few hours of the catastrophe. As nearly every resident of Poverty Bay flocked at the earliest opportunity to view the wreck, it is needless to go into further details. Amongst the many suggestions made for the refloating of the Star of Canada is that of an old and esteemed townsman of Gisborne —Mr Ezra Smith, and now that the abandonment of the refloating of the stranded vessel is officially announced a reporter from the “Gisborne Times” was granted an interview with Air Smith yesterday and gleaned from him some particulars regarding his patent for raising sunken vessels’, and his ideas of. the whole catastrophe. Our reporter was given an illustration by.Mr Smith of his patent by i miniature design attached to a kerosene tin full of water. A large hole made in the tin was blocked by

his patent, and not a drop of water emanated until a screw was released, when Witter flowed.

The patent., it may be said, has the merit of being simple and ingenious.

It will be remembered by old tesidents of Gisborne that Mr Smith some years ago patented an invention for ithe raising of sunken vessels that have been damaged below the water line. The patent consists of a disc of iron or steel, the concave form of which gives it great strength. Through the centre runs a strong toll with a]) bar of steel at the opposite end’, which is inserted from the cavity of the hull of the vessel and is by means of a powerful hand screw used so as to clamp the disc closely to the vessel’s side. Packing of india rubber or oakum is used to' make the repair perfectly water tight. The device is made so that the shield shall open from the inside or the outside or the vessel, and once it is securely fastened to the vessel it can safely proceed to sea. In the course of his interview Mr Smith said that he was satisfied if his invention Had been applied to the Star of Canada the boat would now he afloat and careering along the high seas.

With regard to bis previous experience of raising submerged vessels, Mr Smith stated that many years ago when lie was coming from the “diggihs” there was a small schooner on Rabbit Island, near Nelson. It waH getting coal from a wrecked boat. Tin's vessel got in difficulties on the sands, and the owner had two men trying to rectify matters. They were unsuccessful and he and another man were entrusted with getting the boat away. This they did successfully on the following morning, much to the gratification and delight of the owner. Thki-was the first practical experience he had of raising sunken vessels, and it was then that the idea of his patent occurred to him. Mr Smith said he has never had an opportunity to tost his patent on large wrecks. Many old residents will remember the Topu that was wrecked in Tauranga Harbor. Negotiations were almost concluded with Mr Smith to raise the vessel and place her in Auckland dock. At the last moment the owners decided on raising it themselves, and eventually succeeded after an expenditure of considerably more than Mr Smith asked. The rent in the hull was packed with canvas and sheepskins, which, of course, sagged when in the rought water, with the result that the boat filled and sank, and the tug cut adrift just in time, or otherwise she would be also lying at the bottom of the sea. In regard to the Otar of Canada Mr Smith was decidedly of opinion that no artificial power could raise it. If his invention had been used it would have stopped the water rushing in. In his opinion the way in which the efforts to raise the Star of Canada had been made were ridiculous. Mr Smith stated that he made a suggestion to the agents and produced his patent and plans to show exactly what should he done to rescue the ship. The agents passed the plans along to the authorities, who practically ignored them, or to use Mr Smith’s exact phrase, “they considered that as I could not write the magic letters M.I.C.E. and R.A.T.S. after my name I was nobody. However, Mr Smith concluded somewhat mournfully, that so much delay had been entailed in scientific methods that tli© problem of saving the i wrecked vessel was®now almost hope- i loss. I