WRECK AT THE HEADS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 5

WRECK AT THE HEADS

LINER DEVON ASHORE. " ON THE ROCKS UNDER PENCARROW. BEGINNING TO BREAK UP. POSITION REPORTED TO BE HOPELESS. CREW UNABLE TO LAND. I (From Our Special Reporter,} (By Telephone,).

During the southerly galo last ovening tho ocean linor Devon, bound from Auckland to Wellington, was driven on tho rocks on the eastern headland of tho harbour entrance, right und<v Pencarrow Lighthouso. At latest advices she was lying hard and fast on the rocks about 100 yards from tho beach, to all appearances a hopeless wreck, with tho seas breaking over the greater part of her. Tho crow were then still on board, and with little liopo of making tho. shore until daylight. Their position is safo so long as tho vessel holds together, but it is impossiblo to tell exactly liow they aro situated, as efforts to communicate with tlioso on board have not so far been productive of intelligible results. THE FIRST NEWS. Tho first news of tlio wreck was received by telephone from tho lighthousekeeper at Pencarrow. He reported that he first saw tho ship at 8.40 p.m. She was right on tho rocks, hard and fast, lying bow on. So far as ho could see the ship had a yellow funnel (tho Devon's funnel is red), and ho thought sho might bo a steamer of 6omo five thousand tons. Having- few lights along her sides, sho was easily identified as a cargo vessel. Tho Lyttolton ferry-boat (tho Wahine) was at the timo standing closo inshore, and appeared to be communicating with tho wrock by signals. At 9 p.m. Itlie ilighthouseHlteopor's wifo said that tho two steamers had been signalling with lamps, and the Wahino was then disappearing in tho distance. On tlio wrecked steamer attempt's were being mado to signal tho lighthouse by means of tho Morse lamp. Tho signals could not bo distinguished, but tho message appeared to bo that they would attempt to get a lino ashoro. Tho seas wero breaking right ovor tho steamer as 6he lay on tho rocks.

"A HOPELESS WRECK." ' BREAKING UP AT THE STERN. At 0.40 a.m. the lighthouse-keeper at Pencarrow reported that the Devon appeared to bo a hopeless wreck, but that the men aboard wero probably in no imhiediato danger. Tlio after part of tho vessel seemed to bo breaking up; some wreckage was coming ashoro. Tho bow of the steamer, however, was high and dry and to all appearaiico firmly fixed on the rocks. The electric lights seemed to' have failed, but tho masthead lights and a fowl others were showing. Thrco or four attempts, the light-liousc-keeper stated, had Dcen mado to get lines ashoro, but the lines had all fallen short. In his opinion tlio crew could como ashoro in boats. Thero was no sheltered water, but a boat might live while a lino sent ashoro would have to pass over sharp pinnacle rocks. In any caso tho mon could take refuge on the forepart of tho vessel. A "howling galo" was tho description given of tho weather. Seas wore breaking over tho after end of tho vessel, but the forepart was dry. SIGNALS EXCHANCED. The only signal successfully dispatch: ed from the lighthouse to the ship (up to 0.40 a.m.) was: "Aro you going to send boats ashoro?" Tho answer was: "No." Other signals from the ship seemed to indicate a request that something should be dono asliore, but tho full meaning of tlie signals could Dot bo made out. AT THE SCENE. A GALE RAGING.

rockot apparatus at tho lighthouse, - Captain Johnston and his party had not arrived. Thoro seomod no clianoo of getting tho men ashore from tho wreck before daylight, but so far as could bo seen (tho men wore all right on board. Groat seas were running directly into tho stern and washing half-way nlong tho deck, but forward tlio ship wa9 dry. AN UGLY SPOT. MOUNTAIN WAVES AND ROCKY COAST-LINE. . r Whore tho vessol is stated to bolying is ono of tlio ugliest spots conceivablo with a heavy southerly, sea running. Tho beach thoro is fringed with a projection of jagged wave-thrashed rocks, over wlnioli in southerly weather hugo rollers curl and break and rush shoreward in swirling masses of white, foam. To tho southward lies tho open Pacific, stretoliiiig away to tlio Antarctic, and over this great stretch of water tho southerly swoll lias practically no obstaclo to break its forco xuitil it crashes on tho rocks lining the coast at tho southern end of tlio North Island. Even in comparatively calm weather, with, a southerly swell running, tlio sight along tho coast-lino at tlio harbouir entranco is a magnificent ono, as tlio long green swells roach tlio black rocks and climb up ajiul over and finally rush past an irresistiblo torrent of foam. In heavy weather tho wliolo coast-lino is deeply fringed with bubbling whit© foam, stretching hundreds of yards out from tlio shore. Tlio Devon, stranded offshore below the Pencarrow light, must have been getting tho full forco of tlicso torriblo seas. Tlio water, according to tho charts, runs fairly deep well in towards tho rooks. There aro from 5J fathoms within a'biscuit throw of the beach. Tho beach itself at this point is a narrow strip of gravel, flanked by a fairly tall and steep cliff, on top of wliich is tho main Pencarrow lighthouse. Tho low-lovel light is at tho beach level, and it id within a hundred yards of this latter light apparently that the steamer lies. No resetting vessel could hope to approach tho spot from seaward ilni such weather as prevailed last niglut, and no boat putting out from tho shore could live a miniuto in tho brealeors. Equally dangerous would' it be to attempt to launch a boat from tho strandr cd steamer, even if such a coiirso were possible with tho waves constantly breaking over lior. Tho only possibility of establishing coiunectioiD with tlio shore would bo to float a line to the beach. With tlio wind and sea to assist, this might bo done, and the line then earned up tlio cliff and a basket cr somo apparatus rigged by which the officers and orow might bo got ashoro. TH" WAHINE'S REPORT* UNABLE TO READ SIGNALS. Tho following wireless message was received at the wireless station at 10.50 p.m., from tlio captain of tlio Wahino: '.'Unable to read tho distressed ship's Morso lamps, blinded by rockets. Says slio lias boats. Captain considers it impossible to render assistance, so is continuing his voyago." PORT ENTRANCE. THE LIGHTING AND FAIRWAY. In connoction with .tho navigation of Wellington entrance' it may bo of interest to mention that tho light on Pencarrow Head is a fixed whito light of tho second order, placed at an elevation of 322 feet above high water, ana in ordinary weather should bo visible at a distance of 25 miles. A beacon light at an elevation of about 32 feet abovo 6ea-lovel at high water has been erected at tho foot of Poncarrow Head, It shows whito sectors up tho harbour and seawards and a read sector over tho foul ground, as follows: —White seolors in fairway between S. 18deg. E. and S. 9dcg. E., leading clear of all buoys, and seaward between tlio bearings of N. Gsdeg. E. and N. 20 dog. W. cutting soven cables ofE Sinclair Head and soven cables off Baring Head respectively. Tho light is cut off between tho bearings of S. !) deg. E. and N. 20deg. W.' Tho light should be visible in clcar weather at a distance of 10 miles. Fog Signal—From a signal-houso 128 yards S.W. of Poncarrow Lighthouse, an explosive signal will give ono report every fivo minutes when tlio land is likoly to be obscured at a distanco of about 3 miles from seaward by eitlior fog, mist, falling snow, or continuous train.

A Dominion reporter arrivod at tho scene of tho wreck at 1.15 a.m., and found a storm raging with tho utmost fury ait Pencarrcw Head. Hie locality of tho wreck is immediately under tho hut tlio night was so dark and the spindrift so thick that it was impossible to see anything of tho steamier except her headlights, although s'ho was closo in shore —a stone's throw from the rocks. _ Shortly after 1.30 o'clock this morning tho searchlight from Fort Dorset round tho steamer, and raider its light sho was to he soon piled right up on the rocks—a large two-masted cargo steamer with a mod fhwuiel, black at tho top.

Notihing could bo found at tho spot ais to tho exact identity of tho vessel, but somo onlookers thought that instead of being tho steamer Devon it mirfit bo the Deccan. Frequently signals had been exchanged between tho ship ,tnd tho lipflithouso, but it ihadl been impossible to read these.

All that could be made out was that a huge sea was pounding on tho vessel's stem, wdiidli part of her seemed to be breaking up fast. Tho crew woro all forward, and appeared to be quite safe. Tho vessel was hard and fast on tho shoro by tho bow, and quite upright. When tho searchlight found tlie steamer, which was only at rare intervals, tremendous seas could bo scon sweeping right over the after-part, hut forward sho appeared to bo dry and as steady as a rock, tlie steamer being permanently imbedded by tho hoad.

Our special reporters got to Eastbo urno after a quick passage by motorcar. There, horses and a guide were scoured, and tho dash for tho Heads continued by tho aid of the motor headlight. Tho journey was a difficult ono over tho extremely rougfc and rocky track which leads round to tho lighthouse, via tho beach. . This portion of tho distaneo was about 8 or !) miles. Tho party loft Rona Bay about 11 p.m., and some distaneo behind them, on tho hill track, wero Captain Johnston (harbourmaster) and a wreck party, who had' como oyer by s.s. Collar to Kastbourne. At 1.50 a.m. Captain Johnston and party wero in sight, approaching tho Lighthouse. The two Dominion reporters reached Peiicanw at 1.15 a.m.

Harbour Lights.—Within tho port, on tlio south sido of Somes Island, midway between tho southern and south-western points, is a white cylindrical tower, from which, at an elevation of 95ft. above tho level of high water, is exhibited a fixed light of the second order, showing a whito segment in the fairway between tho bearings of N. sdcg. W. and N. Bdeg. W., 41 red segmont on tho western and ,a green segment oil tho eastern shore, and whito on tho western sido over Lambton Harbour and Evans Bay, ovor an aro of 80dog. botween Gordon Point and Ngahauranga. COURSE: AT NIGHT. From about 3.J- cables off Poncanw Head steer into tho port with- S'omes Island light bearing between N. 4-J deg. W. and N. 74(leg. W., in which sector the light is whito, not changing tho light to red on tho western sido of tho channel; or, after passing Pencarrow Point, on which tho town love! light is situated, a course may l>o taken by keeping ill the blending of tho whito and green lights of Soinoa Island lightliouso N. Bdeg: W. This course loads tlirough the deepest water on tho main channel, with -ample room on each sido. A PREVIOUS MISADVENTURE. "In Brisbarfo during September, 1912, an inquiry was held regarding an incident which occurred on tho 'Dtavom while she was off tho African coast somotimo previously,. Captain Robertson stated that he loft Durban on July 29, 1912, and mot a rough sea. Twenty-two minutes later, just after leaving tho bridge, ho folt a heavy jolt. Ho dad not know that tiho vessol had struck. Thero was nothing showing abovo water. Next day tho saloon doors _wero found to bo all out of true position, and tlio pillars of tho 'tween decks buckled. Ho reckoned tho steamer was in 20 fathoms of water when tho incident happoncd,.

Advico received from our special reporters at tho sceno of tho wreck/at 2.45 a.m. was to tho effect that littlo chango had occurred in tho position. All attempts made to send lines ashoro from tho ship by means of rockots had failed. Tho wind wis so strong that ,t<ho linea woro blown out to goa, Theore is uo

THfi FOO RISK. HOW H' AFFECTS THE LIGHTS. •- Somo years ago a master marine? wrote 09 follows:—Tho height and configuration of tho laud from Sinclair Head to Capo Terawliiti onusos an. accumulation or cloud and: mist (when nortihorly, north-oast, easterly, and south-east galcß are blowing), whichi almost complotely, liidos t'ho lulls. Ab under tho same weather conditions, Pcncarsrow 'owing: to its high elevation, is frequently covered witTi cloud, its visibility is often limited a of between one and four miles, and is frequently not seen till closo to it, it is obvious that, at times when guiaanco is most wanted, tho wliolo coast from Terawhjti to far bo- - yond Turikirao Head (bordering Pallißer 1 I3ay), is reduced to an unlighted condi»' tion.

A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION A theory advanced by a well-known nautical m;m is ifchat tho Dovon waa riding light when a big wavo caught her and took her out of her course, audi unloss slio was going as fast as tha galo that would bring her in. Tho trade followed by incoming steamers of largo si&o ontoring tho harbour passes about four hundred yards away from Peucar--row to tho westward. Tho steamer must therefore havo been carried by ( ' somo moans for that distanco out of linr proper course to reach her present position 011 tho rocks under Pciicurrow/

SHIP DESCRIBED. DIMENSIONS k A RECENT TRIP.' Tho Dovton is a steel sorcw steamer of *6059 tons gross register. Her dimen-' sions aro: Length, 400 feet; breadth,i 54 feet; dentil, 28.7 feet. Slio is owncdll by tho Federal Steam Navigation Co:,, Ltd.. and was built at Newcnstlo (Eng-! land) in 1897 by Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., Ltd. Her port of regis- 1 try is London. Tho Devon has been ai frequent trader to Now Zealand parts, and on tlio present occasion she was bound to Wellington, from Mbntroal, and Australian ports, via Auckland. She is under charter for tho present trip to tho New Zealand! Shipping Company. Slio arrived at 1 Auckland on Friday afternoon last, audi' after landing .about 500 tons of mer-l cliandise at 'that port, she sailed oat Saturday afternoon for Wellington, Lyt-' telton, and Dunedin. , The Dovon had a rather eventful trip from Montreal. Slio left thero on May 31, arrived at St. Vincent on June > 14, and left tlio samo day for C.apo To mi, wliero tho ship's master, Cap- i tain Robertson, who was sulTeriiia. from typhoid fever, was landed, and' sent to a hospital. .Tho chief officor, j Captain A. 11. Caunce, assumed com-' mand, and brought tho vessol on to Aiustralia and New Zealand. Tho' Dovon, oil leaving Capo Town, ed to Durban to coal. Tlio voyagot from Durban was resumed at 6 p.m. on July 11, tho steamer oxpcriencing at rough timo on tho run through tlid Southern. Ocean until arrival at Melbourne, at 2 a.m., on August 6. ■ Slionext jiroceeded to Sydney, a'nd left! that port at noon last Saturday week*, for Auckland. On tlio run across tha Tasman Sea tho Dovon encountered! strong easterly winds and heavy head I seas, which considerably retarded lien' progress.

PREVIOUS WRECKS. MOSTLY SAILING CRAFT. Something liko thirty vossols have aV difforent. times encountered moro •" or j less Borious ■ disaster at Wellington) Headsj but most of thorn havo been Bmall Bailing craft. From tho follow-' ing list it will bo soon that two vessels,.! tho scliooncr Maggie Paterson, ill 1881, and tho ketch Felicity, in 1910, havo ■ been lost in practically tho samo spot'as' the Devon:— Tyno, barquo, Blaok Hock, near Island Bay, July 4, 1845; lost. Sobraon, sailer, Wellington to Sjdney, Barrett's Rocf. 1848 (on board: were people leaving Wellington through big earthquake). 1 Cordelia, cuttor, Baring Head, August 2, 1807: lost. Alliance, barque, oollioir 340 tons, Fitzroy Bay, Novomber 5, 1867; lost. Supply, cutter, l'eaioarrow Hcadß, Docomber 6, 1870; lost. Tell, barque, 302 tons, Steeple Rock,. September 13, 1871; lost. Wellington, ship 696 tone, Happy Yel* . ley; March 7, 1874; lost. Cyrus, barquo, Wellington, to Now-, castlo, in ballast, Happy Valley, March' 7, 1874; lost. Earl of South Esk, barque, 336 tons,, Barrett's Reef, May 28, 1874; lost. Hunter, schooner, 22 tons, Barrett's' Roef, April ■S, 1876; lost. 1 Nile, schooner, Pencarrow Heads', Mayrf 18, 1876; lost. , ■ Shephordess, schooner, 38 tone, Bar-! rett's Reef, July 10, 1876; lost. | Carlotta, barque, collier, 310 tons,! Pencarrow Heads,' November 9, 1878; lost.

Malee, barquo, Barrett's Reef, July,tj 25, 1880; got off. Hannah Broomficld, brigantino, 120 tons, Pencurrow Hoads, Ootober 4/ 1880; lost. . Maggie Patoraon, schoonor, 81 tons, l'encaxrow Heads, July 19, 1881 (prndtically samo spot as tlio Devon); lost. Napier, Baxrett's Reef, Dcccmber Br'8 r ' 1882; got off. J Tui, steamer, Chaffer's Passage, Nov-i ember 1, 188G; lost._ ] Sliag, 81 tons, Pinnaclo R-ock, NovUl ember 4, 1888; slightly damaged. ! Oroti, steamer, Steeple Rock, Januij ary 17, 1889; now hulk in .Wellington;! harbour. I Waitara, 15 tons, Pinnacle Rod:, Feb-'' ruary 20, 1889; slightly damaged. William M'Lean. barque, 53G tons, Niowcastlo to Wellington, with coaY, Steoplo Rock, October 5, 1889; sunk in. Worser Bay. ] Vinnie, Pcncarrow Hoads, May 13,-i 1892; lost. , J Hjilciono, barque, 843 tons, Fitzroyf Bav, January 1896; lost. Clansman, sehooncr, Barrett's Roof,' October 6, 1897; got off. La Bella, brigantino, Happy Valley, October 13, 1904; got off October 19. j Felicity, ketch, 23i tons, Pcncnrrow Heads, September 13, 1910; lost, sauioj spot as Dovon. Haupiri, steamer, Barrett's Reef, May. 17, 1912; put back to Wellington ana beached.

UNVACCINATED MEN LEFT IN SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Pices ABsooisuUon— OopyTfeMf(Rec. August 25, 9.10 p.m.) ! Sydney, August 25. i The Minister for Justice, in referring to tlio New Zoaland Seamen's Union protest in connection with tlio arrest of! four soanion on tlio Dovon- for to bo vacoinated, lias pointed out that/ tliroo out of the four aro undorgoins punishment for refusing duty in addi-t tion to a broach of tlio ship's articles] in .declining vxiccina.tion. j Tlio agonta of tho Uovo,n explain tlmfcj when tlio vessol left England a special a.groome«t was entered into be-; twoen t'lio master and eaeh individual' member of crow, and it was embodied in tlio ship's articles that tho men should bo vacciimtcd-if required. Whom tho timo camo for vaccination wily four refused, mid tho master endeavoured!to dischargo- them, biit tho Government Shipping Master declined to give a dischargo, on tlio ground that the men' had refused vaccmatiou. Tho regulations prohibited obtaining a cloaranoo until all the crow and passengers had been successfully vaccinated, and consequently four unvaccinatod men aboard meant indeJinito dolay. Thero was no option, therefore, but for tho master to prosccuto them' for refusing to carry out their agroo< ment. Tlioy woro prosecuted under the Mfircjhant Shipping A»t fok- refusing vaccination, and also, in tho case of three of thorn, for absenting themselves without leave. Four vaccinated. mon took their plaoos.