THE STRANDING OF THE ALEXA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 999, 14 December 1910, Page 5

THE STRANDING OF THE ALEXA.

HOW' IT ' HAPPENED. (By- Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, December 13. The barquontine Alexa arrived off tho •T>ar yesterday morning from Sydney, and stood off to wait for the afternoon tide. The weather was then calm, but about midday a strong westerly gale sprang up, and increased in force during the ' afternoon. When she stood in for the entrance again at high water, the vessel came along in . fine stylo, and crossed the -lino of the bar without any trouble. Onco inside' tho bar, however, she was seen to "set" rapidly, and almost broadside on to tlje south, with, the result that instead of coming up on tho insido of the south mole she missed the entrance and drove "up on the outside, of the wall, finally taking tho ground in about !) feet of water, about midway along the length of tho mole.

The mishap is believed to be due to a strong southerly "set" created by the ■wpstcrly gale, and that this is the probable cause is shown by tho quickness with which, though still keeping her .way, the ship was carried away from the line of tho channel immediately she had crossed the bar. It all happened, in fact, in o few seconds. The Alexa brought up close alongside'the mole, and shortly afterwards her stern swung round towards tho river, and her counter bumped against the breakwater staging, displacing five pairs of piles, which will have to bo removed and re-driven. Apparently this was the only damage due to the mishap, for beyond a bent stanchion or two the vessel herself is uninjured, and frequent soundings of her well show that Bhe is not leaking. The vessel, which now lies parallel to tho breakwater and close against it, is in an easy position, and was fairly well sheltered from tho force of tho westerly gale •which blew all night. This nnSrning the wind greatly moderated, but had shifted to the south, and as the vessel had a Blight list putward she took an occasional wave on board. During tho morning, however, the wind continued to decrease, and there is apparently nothing to prevent the Alexa from being floated off ■without difficulty.. It was not intended to do anything in the way of lightening her to-day, and as tho tides , are now improving towards springs, the probabilities seem to bo that if the weather holds she 6hould be got off. .