Melilla 1910: Wreck of the "Orani"
by Juan Díez Sánchez
(Studies Association Melilla )
Over the years, the bay and port of Melilla have suffered from many storms, the most dangerous were those whose waves pushed by the wind coming from the area of \u200b\u200bhighest water line: Salerno and Marseille .
Sometimes the winds have reached up to eighty miles per hour, being authentic hurricane waves that have soared even higher than ten meters high and dragged concrete blocks of the breakwaters and eighty tons.
by Juan Díez Sánchez
(Studies Association Melilla )
Over the years, the bay and port of Melilla have suffered from many storms, the most dangerous were those whose waves pushed by the wind coming from the area of \u200b\u200bhighest water line: Salerno and Marseille .
Sometimes the winds have reached up to eighty miles per hour, being authentic hurricane waves that have soared even higher than ten meters high and dragged concrete blocks of the breakwaters and eighty tons.
Lasting from four to seven days and more frequently in the months of January and April, our city has experienced large storms in the years 1775, 1842, 1849, 1852, 1898, 1914, 1927 , 1938, 1949, 1956, 1965 and 1990. Being the years 1914 and 1927 those who survived in collective memory, having pushed to the admiring sea Titan crane that was used in the construction of the port, the first. And the second sunk a good number of boats of different sizes, among which was the legendary English ship "Collingdale", which ran aground in front of the Hippodrome and even Quarter said the help of seaplanes.
As mentioned, along with the great and memorable time, endure many other less intense but also left their mark on the history of our city. So now to coincide with its centenary evoke some aspects of the storm suffered in the first days of April 1910 and dragged the ship "Orani" to Racecourse Beach. An event held in suspense for a number of days to a population as Melilla, accustomed to strong emotions arising from the Rif campaign in the summer and fall of the previous year was developed at the gates of the city. Also recalling
the success of "Orani" pay tribute to three great journalists melillenses that well with his feathers and sacrifice remain forever tied to the history of French ship: Rafael Fernández de Castro and Pedrera, José Fernández and Constant Ferrin Mendiluce Miquelez. A splendid day
The first Friday of April 1910, Melilla awoke to a beautiful spring day. The calm sea, good temperature and a slight breeze never could presage a few hours later, about eleven o'clock a tremendous storm hit the city. Owing vessels in the harbor, it began building the port, to head the archipelago of the Chafarinas to find an appropriate shelter.
The gunboat General Concha "transportation war" Almirante Lobo "and mail ships" Sevilla "," Ciudad de Mahon "and" New Valencia "suddenly stopped loading and unloading carried out, increased their pressure boilers and left the waters of Melilla, the same does not strongly subject to a cistern, and the French steamer Orani, "which either by negligence of the captain or inability to weigh anchor to hook it to the submarine telegraph cable that linked our Chafarinas city. It was at the mercy of waves ended by dragging it to the beach near the headquarters of the Hippodrome. Where was stranded on the sand, while staff of the Board of Harbor Works, of the Society of Sea, vocal and orderlies from the Local Committee of the Red Cross and practical material disposed rescue a train that led to some delay to the vicinity of the wreck, lying in port and crossed by the strong waves.
While preparing rescue official actions, a few brave men of the Headquarters of the Hippodrome provided the first aid, were Lt. Joseph Segorbe Hunters Concas, musician Manuel Gonzalez and a third compatriot, the bartender said Hippodrome Sebastián Jiménez Arroyo. About the screams of "Au secour" issued by the crew from the bow, took the jacket caught with a thin cable released by them. Being the bartender who at great risk to his life jumped into the water and fighting the strong wave took place.
Thanks to the communication cable jacket, between ship and shore firm is able to rescue the crew, but before and coinciding with a time of prosperity, some sailors tried to push out a boat to bring new land ends . More when the boat was about to touch the water, falling into the sea bottom fell out sailors. Who were helped out of the water by generous hands of several military officers are also endangered. However, thanks to one of the new ropes are able to bind to the vessel with a strong hawser, subject to ground by a strong tripod.
this hawser was joined by a sliding ring attached to a lifeline by which crept up the beach the crew to full documentation "Orani. To convince the captain taking the ship leave him, because his presence there and it made no sense. It was a complex and delicate task that required effort on the ground about forty men to hold tight, with the help of cloth, the warp and slide the lifeline that carried one by one to twenty sailors from the crew. This heavy rain, soaked to the bone all present, from the Arizona general civil willful curiosity went up there.
successful in this task two men were highly experienced leadership of the Society of Sea, the master caulker Francisco Herrera and Sgt Cayetano Valverde. Other events
While the "Orani" wrecked in the bay of Melilla capsized by a gust of strong wind a boat loaded with wood Rif, three crew members were thrown overboard, surviving to be subjected to Bat candle in both were rescued by one of the boats that transported goods between vessels and small wharves in the city.
Gold River also experienced rapid flood waters dragging a child who was rescued by an employee of The Rif Telegram "with the help of another passer.
also had a hard a small motor boat that had gone to the Bocana, being stopped by a storm that weather could force the force of the engine. And some concrete blocks placed in Florentina as a breakwater in the port under construction, were overturned by the tremendous force of the waves.
The "Orani"
This vessel had reached the waters of Melilla on the morning of March 29 carrying a cargo of timber for the military administration, presumably in order to lift host barracks where men and lining materials , which had experienced a significant increase as a result of the recently completed Campaign Rif.
The "Orani, belonging to the firm" Sip Castagriar Freres, Oran (Algeria), represented by brothers Benhamou Melilla was commanded by Captain M. Bourdal and his first mate's name was Michaud.
salvage
Soon, local experts said the release of the vessel would be very difficult, because between the point where he was and the open sea was a large sand bank, overwhelmed by the "Orani" thanks to temporary and that most of the ship's cargo had already deposited in Melilla.
Also on the evening of Friday, the storm pushed further to the "Orani" was the beach.
The importance of this incident was such that the general Sotomayor reported it to the Minister of War and he informed the King Alfonso XIII, who along with the Government congratulated the military personnel who participated in the relief effort.
The next day was a tug from Gibraltar, in case they need your help. Offer that was refused by another tug to be on track owned by the same shipping company that the stricken vessel. And on the morning of day 4 anchored in the waters of Melilla two French warships, the "Du Chayla" and "Forbich", the first being a second class cruiser of 4,000 tons, launched in 1897. and the second notice of 1,850 tons. Navy Ship
gala after the usual greetings by salvos of artillery, the first thing I did was steam boats bounce paths personnel to carry out a survey in the area where he was stranded on "Orani. Appreciating that the storm had deposited more sand on the port side of the "Orani, having the lower hull on the beach about two meters. which added more difficulty to the rescue.
These ships remained in the harbor melillense few days, as convinced of the obvious impossibility of carrying out the rescue with the media until then employees headed to neighboring Algeria in the day on April 8.
In view of the hull of the "Orani" lie did not venture any of its bows, its crew returned on board the two days, before returning to make it an almost normal life.
One day after the departure of warships French began work on the rescue tug "Newa" with all speed to prevent a new temporary worsen the situation even more stricken vessel.
This tug on Saturday April 9 with its powerful propellers had already opened up a channel and is held together by "Orani" by a strong steel cable that served as a hub for dredging.
Then it seemed that the boat soon release French and commented that the enormous effort of constantly tug boilers and pressure cap had been worthwhile. Not in vain your daily boilers consumed about twenty tons of coal supplied from Gibraltar by the freighter "Gibel Tarik, which was about once a week to replenish the deposit of coal for the rescue.
Two weeks after the incident "The Rif Telegram" informed its readers that the tugs were two Germans who worked in the rescue operations. Stating this newspaper Melilla next day that had been released half helmet "Orani" being planned in the days following his rescue. More the appearance of a new temporary differences between the House and the vessel owner and the salvage company delayed the launching. Finally
"Orani" would happily rescued by two tugs Germans on April 25 after more than twenty days of hard work. Dragged by the tug "New" and escorted by the second was taken to the nearby port of Oran Algeria, where the ship would be reached as an agreement between the company's rescue and owner of popular "Orani.
Rafael Fernandez de Castro
In early salvage of shipwrecked vessel "Orani" decisively participated Rafael Fernandez de Castro and Pedrera, then a journalist and employee of construction company the port of Melilla, the company Transatlantic.
For his selfless and strong cooperation in the rescue of the crew of the French steamer, in November 1910 he was awarded Bronze Medal award and a diploma awarded by the English Society of Lifeboat, which was a member and that shortly after he served as secretary.
Journalists and the "Orani"
The spectacle of watching a great ship beached the Hippodrome, and the dredging of the tugs in their environment, aroused such interest among Melilla. Always had a good number of onlookers watched in amazement as interesting as free entertainment.
In a couple of times, "The Rif Telegram" sent specifically to their editors to report on the development of the rescue. And two of its journalists to the enormous depth of the story that was in suspense to the population of our city, even published two humorous works, the first dated April 12, was entitled "all work" and was in charge of "Don Seguis" Constant pseudonym Miquelez Mendiluce, military legal years later was appointed Director General of Prisons. Whoever said jokingly that since he began the rescue was always on the beach between 2,500 and 3,000 people witnessing progress of a bailout worth 95,000 pesetas. And so much interest that even some subscribers to the event planned to install a cabin on the beach not to miss the expected time of launching the "Orani.
While the second journalist from "The Telegram from the Rif" referred to, was Ferrin Jose Fernandez, who also under a pseudonym, in this case of "P. Pillo" gave a gravel advertising in the edition of April 21
"Cositas
- What is the ship and ashore?
- Well as you have left:
looking toward the stern Levante
position that is intolerant,
and making tough spending countless
to the Rescue. "
As mentioned, along with the great and memorable time, endure many other less intense but also left their mark on the history of our city. So now to coincide with its centenary evoke some aspects of the storm suffered in the first days of April 1910 and dragged the ship "Orani" to Racecourse Beach. An event held in suspense for a number of days to a population as Melilla, accustomed to strong emotions arising from the Rif campaign in the summer and fall of the previous year was developed at the gates of the city. Also recalling
the success of "Orani" pay tribute to three great journalists melillenses that well with his feathers and sacrifice remain forever tied to the history of French ship: Rafael Fernández de Castro and Pedrera, José Fernández and Constant Ferrin Mendiluce Miquelez. A splendid day
The first Friday of April 1910, Melilla awoke to a beautiful spring day. The calm sea, good temperature and a slight breeze never could presage a few hours later, about eleven o'clock a tremendous storm hit the city. Owing vessels in the harbor, it began building the port, to head the archipelago of the Chafarinas to find an appropriate shelter.
The gunboat General Concha "transportation war" Almirante Lobo "and mail ships" Sevilla "," Ciudad de Mahon "and" New Valencia "suddenly stopped loading and unloading carried out, increased their pressure boilers and left the waters of Melilla, the same does not strongly subject to a cistern, and the French steamer Orani, "which either by negligence of the captain or inability to weigh anchor to hook it to the submarine telegraph cable that linked our Chafarinas city. It was at the mercy of waves ended by dragging it to the beach near the headquarters of the Hippodrome. Where was stranded on the sand, while staff of the Board of Harbor Works, of the Society of Sea, vocal and orderlies from the Local Committee of the Red Cross and practical material disposed rescue a train that led to some delay to the vicinity of the wreck, lying in port and crossed by the strong waves.
While preparing rescue official actions, a few brave men of the Headquarters of the Hippodrome provided the first aid, were Lt. Joseph Segorbe Hunters Concas, musician Manuel Gonzalez and a third compatriot, the bartender said Hippodrome Sebastián Jiménez Arroyo. About the screams of "Au secour" issued by the crew from the bow, took the jacket caught with a thin cable released by them. Being the bartender who at great risk to his life jumped into the water and fighting the strong wave took place.
Thanks to the communication cable jacket, between ship and shore firm is able to rescue the crew, but before and coinciding with a time of prosperity, some sailors tried to push out a boat to bring new land ends . More when the boat was about to touch the water, falling into the sea bottom fell out sailors. Who were helped out of the water by generous hands of several military officers are also endangered. However, thanks to one of the new ropes are able to bind to the vessel with a strong hawser, subject to ground by a strong tripod.
this hawser was joined by a sliding ring attached to a lifeline by which crept up the beach the crew to full documentation "Orani. To convince the captain taking the ship leave him, because his presence there and it made no sense. It was a complex and delicate task that required effort on the ground about forty men to hold tight, with the help of cloth, the warp and slide the lifeline that carried one by one to twenty sailors from the crew. This heavy rain, soaked to the bone all present, from the Arizona general civil willful curiosity went up there.
successful in this task two men were highly experienced leadership of the Society of Sea, the master caulker Francisco Herrera and Sgt Cayetano Valverde. Other events
While the "Orani" wrecked in the bay of Melilla capsized by a gust of strong wind a boat loaded with wood Rif, three crew members were thrown overboard, surviving to be subjected to Bat candle in both were rescued by one of the boats that transported goods between vessels and small wharves in the city.
Gold River also experienced rapid flood waters dragging a child who was rescued by an employee of The Rif Telegram "with the help of another passer.
also had a hard a small motor boat that had gone to the Bocana, being stopped by a storm that weather could force the force of the engine. And some concrete blocks placed in Florentina as a breakwater in the port under construction, were overturned by the tremendous force of the waves.
The "Orani"
This vessel had reached the waters of Melilla on the morning of March 29 carrying a cargo of timber for the military administration, presumably in order to lift host barracks where men and lining materials , which had experienced a significant increase as a result of the recently completed Campaign Rif.
The "Orani, belonging to the firm" Sip Castagriar Freres, Oran (Algeria), represented by brothers Benhamou Melilla was commanded by Captain M. Bourdal and his first mate's name was Michaud.
salvage Soon, local experts said the release of the vessel would be very difficult, because between the point where he was and the open sea was a large sand bank, overwhelmed by the "Orani" thanks to temporary and that most of the ship's cargo had already deposited in Melilla.
Also on the evening of Friday, the storm pushed further to the "Orani" was the beach.
The importance of this incident was such that the general Sotomayor reported it to the Minister of War and he informed the King Alfonso XIII, who along with the Government congratulated the military personnel who participated in the relief effort.
The next day was a tug from Gibraltar, in case they need your help. Offer that was refused by another tug to be on track owned by the same shipping company that the stricken vessel. And on the morning of day 4 anchored in the waters of Melilla two French warships, the "Du Chayla" and "Forbich", the first being a second class cruiser of 4,000 tons, launched in 1897. and the second notice of 1,850 tons. Navy Ship
gala after the usual greetings by salvos of artillery, the first thing I did was steam boats bounce paths personnel to carry out a survey in the area where he was stranded on "Orani. Appreciating that the storm had deposited more sand on the port side of the "Orani, having the lower hull on the beach about two meters. which added more difficulty to the rescue.
These ships remained in the harbor melillense few days, as convinced of the obvious impossibility of carrying out the rescue with the media until then employees headed to neighboring Algeria in the day on April 8.
In view of the hull of the "Orani" lie did not venture any of its bows, its crew returned on board the two days, before returning to make it an almost normal life.
One day after the departure of warships French began work on the rescue tug "Newa" with all speed to prevent a new temporary worsen the situation even more stricken vessel.
This tug on Saturday April 9 with its powerful propellers had already opened up a channel and is held together by "Orani" by a strong steel cable that served as a hub for dredging.
Then it seemed that the boat soon release French and commented that the enormous effort of constantly tug boilers and pressure cap had been worthwhile. Not in vain your daily boilers consumed about twenty tons of coal supplied from Gibraltar by the freighter "Gibel Tarik, which was about once a week to replenish the deposit of coal for the rescue.
Two weeks after the incident "The Rif Telegram" informed its readers that the tugs were two Germans who worked in the rescue operations. Stating this newspaper Melilla next day that had been released half helmet "Orani" being planned in the days following his rescue. More the appearance of a new temporary differences between the House and the vessel owner and the salvage company delayed the launching. Finally
"Orani" would happily rescued by two tugs Germans on April 25 after more than twenty days of hard work. Dragged by the tug "New" and escorted by the second was taken to the nearby port of Oran Algeria, where the ship would be reached as an agreement between the company's rescue and owner of popular "Orani.
Rafael Fernandez de Castro In early salvage of shipwrecked vessel "Orani" decisively participated Rafael Fernandez de Castro and Pedrera, then a journalist and employee of construction company the port of Melilla, the company Transatlantic.
For his selfless and strong cooperation in the rescue of the crew of the French steamer, in November 1910 he was awarded Bronze Medal award and a diploma awarded by the English Society of Lifeboat, which was a member and that shortly after he served as secretary.
Journalists and the "Orani"
The spectacle of watching a great ship beached the Hippodrome, and the dredging of the tugs in their environment, aroused such interest among Melilla. Always had a good number of onlookers watched in amazement as interesting as free entertainment.
In a couple of times, "The Rif Telegram" sent specifically to their editors to report on the development of the rescue. And two of its journalists to the enormous depth of the story that was in suspense to the population of our city, even published two humorous works, the first dated April 12, was entitled "all work" and was in charge of "Don Seguis" Constant pseudonym Miquelez Mendiluce, military legal years later was appointed Director General of Prisons. Whoever said jokingly that since he began the rescue was always on the beach between 2,500 and 3,000 people witnessing progress of a bailout worth 95,000 pesetas. And so much interest that even some subscribers to the event planned to install a cabin on the beach not to miss the expected time of launching the "Orani.
While the second journalist from "The Telegram from the Rif" referred to, was Ferrin Jose Fernandez, who also under a pseudonym, in this case of "P. Pillo" gave a gravel advertising in the edition of April 21
"Cositas
- What is the ship and ashore?
- Well as you have left:
looking toward the stern Levante
position that is intolerant,
and making tough spending countless
to the Rescue. "
Article published in The Voice newspaper Sunday supplement Melilla Today, June 13, 2010
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