THE WRECKED LINER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1839, 27 August 1913, Page 8

THE WRECKED LINER.

CREW LANDED.

RESCUERS' SEVERE TASK.

SCENES AT PENCARROW.

UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE ON THE HILLS.

The dawn of the grey morning at Pencarrow Head yesterday disclosed to the view a. wild,. tempestuous prospect. Overhead the great slaty clouds tore across the sky, pursued by the fierce Antarctic gale that howled and fumed across the Strait, and-drove before it great mountainous seas, boiling with turbulent fury. The flying spnme made a driving mist along tho face of the seas, while a stinging sleet sharpened the bitterness of the wind. It was almost impossible to stand! upright anywhere on tho headland, and clambering down the cliff sides for short cuts from

that had fouled a rock; Eight in tho path of the line were threo high flatnosed rocks like three brothers, and between the first and second of these was a span which was beyond a man's jump, but which had to be negotiated somehow befcJre the lino could bo lifted over tho obstaole. The problem was solved by placing a long plank from the ono to tlio other, and across this frail bridge a man crawled, monkeyfashion, to tho other side.

Filially all was ready, and Captain Johnston (the Harbour Master), whose nhvsical endurance and energy never seemed to tire, marshalled his forces in readiness for the rescuing of tho Devon's men from their uncomfortable

the. lighthousa to the. "beach below was a precarious business.

THE HAPLESS DEVON. Right in the foreground of this wild scene lay tho wrecked Devon, wedged in tho grip of tho black .rocks, upon which t!ho great breakers- spent their, fury. She lay inert, dead.' No smoke curled from her funnel, and tho only sign of life about her was the group of seamen clustered on the fo'c'sleliead. All wore lifebelts, and froirtf general appearances —they were only ■ about two hundred yards away —had had a very, long and anxious night, waiting for the dawn. The Devon's bow rose high, with several feet of-her water-line showing,, and here tho men were quite safe and dry. The lie of the Ship projected her stem right into the maw of the hungry seas, which smashed against it with frightful force, tlie great waves breaking right'over tho after-hold and flying forward as far as the bridge; Tho stern also had an ominous "set," as if the bottom of tlie after-part of tlio" ship had been ripped off, and had it not been fqr the vice-like grip of the black teeth that held tho bow, there is veTy 'little doubt, it was considered by the watchers on the shore, but that she would have wallowed about and rapidly broken up. The last word from tho vessel the night before was that an early attempt was to be 1 made to get a lino ashore, and shortly after 6 o'plock, when tho day hitd fairly broken, the-first rocket was fired. It fell short, caught up by the wind and blown, to leeward, where it sank with a splutter into tho boiling breakers. A second, and third, and yet more, wero fired, with a like result. A few minutes before 7 o'clook came tho first successful shot, the rocket flying into the shallow water among the rocks near tho beach, whexe it was promptly captured and fished out. By this timo ship's lines floated about in all directions, in front of the Devon's bow, looking like so much sea-wrack, and as was inevitable many of these fouled on the jagged pinnacles of the rocks, so that oven when they eventually floated ashore on tlie flood tide tho heaving of tho.-n'to the shore was a desperately strenuous task. It was nearly three hours by the clock before the tangle was unravelled, and direct touch established hotween tho ship and tho shore. Everybody ■ was soaked to the skin, for thoso who escaped a ducking in tho various sorties that were made to capture the vagrant lines were drenched by the sleety squalls. On shore a great firo .of driftwood was kindled near a big rock, and during every lull in the bustle of preparationsthcro was a rush for its hospitable blaze. A big billy of tea and a tin of biscuits < wero also near at hand,--for very few of tlio men on tho beach had stopped to tako any breakfast.. CETTINC THE, LINE OVER. Tlie greatest trouble was experienced in getting the captured lino clear of tho rocks, which stood up .everywhere in front of tho ship. The idea was to install a lino from half-wiiy up the foremast of the steamer to a high rock on the beach, so as to' givo', a .clear run to tlie men as the.v came .ashore, and somo very risky deeds wero attempted, and don't!. Ono. man plunged in almost, up . to his neck in a pot-hole in a zealous and successful.endeavour to cloar a lino

plight. A g/eat hawser stretched from tho mast to the beach, and from this was suspended a basket, large enough to hold a man, with running-gear, enabling the carriage to be hauled shoreward and vice versa. SAVING THE CREW. Every able-bodied man on shore was enlisted for the rescue work—pressmen and photographers too—and manned tho life-line. Presently a flag "wagged"

on the fo'c'sle head of the Devon, an answering flutter on shoro acknowledged tho signal, and With a "Haul away, boys!" a swaying basket glided down the big hawser—first man off tlio ship. As ho neared the "sag" of tho hawser a big comber came curling towards him, swirled round him and drenched liim to tho waist. Another haul on tho shore, and tho dripping mariner was extricated from his basket and helped ashore. Ho was not alono. Shivering in his arms was a small kitten, which mewed plaintively when put down beside t-lio fire. Its owner's name was Jolmston—the ship's quartermaster— and ho was mightily pleased to placo his feet on terra finna again.

day. A dripping regiment, literally speaking, invaded lior homo _ on tho headland, and at her invitation, driod their clothes and warmed and refreshed their tired eolvos. THE NEWS IN TOWN. DISPATCHES FROM THE CITY. CUSTOMS INTERESTS. At 2 p.m. yesterday an officer of the Customs Department was dispatched to the wreck to supervise tho interests of the Department "in regard to tho cargo. If tho ship is abandoned, ho will act as receiver. COOD FOR THE CARS. One result of the wreck was good business for tho trains. In the city it was early ascertained that a good view of tho stranded steamer could bo obtained from Breaker Bay, Seatoun, and this fact was announced by posters at tho Royal Oak corner and other places. Tho public (said tho iiotice) were dircct- \ ed to "take Seatoun car." THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK. Throughout tho day tho Marino Department maintained touch with tho Harbourmaster's party at Poncarrow, and tlio Department's secretary (Mr. Geo. Ajlport) received progress reports as tho work of rcscuo wont, on. Early in tho morning Mr. Allport was asked to dispatch a relief party to Pencarrow to lighten tho work of tho resellers, some of whom were feeling tho strain. Six moro men were at onco sent by tho Terawhiti to Bona Bay, and thonco by horso to the lighthouse. Ample provisions were also sent for tho rescuo party.

"I thought that wo were never going to get off," ho said. Ho was given a hearty welcome, ushered up to the fire, and handed a cup of hot tea and something to eat. His heart was not in the repast, however, for presently ho went down to the life-lino and took up the duties of "flag-wagger." '

The next to arrive was the pantryman, who, despite his sousing _in tho breakers, beamed a broad smile upon his rescuers, and producing a tin from his pocket, dispersed tobacco and cigarettes. And so the procession went on. After tho first two or three 'trips, which suggested simplifications and improvements in tho running gear, everything went well, and tho wholo of the ship's company were brought ashoro without a single mishap within tho next four hours, the captain, with his papers, being the last to leave.

Tho main questions that ,roso to tho lips of the watchers on tho beach, as the men came ashore, were: "How did it all happen?" "What sort of a time did you havo • last night P", With regard to tho first of these questions members of the ship's company were reticent. It seems to be generally agreed, however, that the thick weather was the cause of the wreck. Tlio low-level light at Pencarrow Head had no sooner been opened up than the ship touched. There

LLOYDS' ACENTS. Mr. A. Walker, surveyor to Lloyd's Register, was instructed by tho local agents (Dalgety and Co., Ltd.) to proceed to tho wreck on 'Monday night. ITo left by tlio Karaka for Bona Bay, and

was a grinding, tearing sound, and then tho steamer stuck hard and fast. Another two cables' length would liavo cleared her, and slio would have made the entranco. Naturally everybody on board was'in a high state of excitement and alarm, and no rest was thought of that night. Tho greatest courtesy to all concerned was shown by Mrs. R ay nor, wife of tlio lighthouse-keeper at Pencarrow, on tho night of tho disaster and during yester-

reached the sceno in the early hours oi yesterday morning. His first report was that the case for the ship looked very had.

The latest report was that the vessel was in a bad position full fore and aft—and likely to become a total wreck. The starboard boilers had risen about 3 feet. Mr. Walker will make a complete survey when tlio weather moderates. FOOD FOR MEN. By direction of Mr. AYallis, manager of the No.v Zealand and African Steamship Company (agents for the Devon), two motor-cars loaded with provisions were sent off from the city as soon as possible yesterday. They 'left town at 10.30 a.m., and got through safely to Muritai, where the provisions were transferred to paclt horses —the only practicable means of transport along tho last stage of the journey. It was tho prompt action of Mr. Wallis that saved tho situation in this respect, for very soon after his two cars got through a heavy slip occurred on tlio road, and another car which was proceeding to Day's Bay had tc return to town. Stimulants wore also sent out. The Harbourmaster sent word to tho shipping company that a few bottles of whisKy might bo of service, but beforo tho message arrived Mr. Wallis had forwarded three oases of spirits. BOTTOM PLATES RIPPED OUT. From reports which came to the city early yesterday, the general opinion gained ground among shipping men that the vessel's bottom had been ripped out.