LOSS OF THE DEVON

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 8

LOSS OF THE DEVON

1 —. — SEA TEARS OFF HATCHES. HER HOLDS FULL OF WATER. UNWELCOME FLOTILLA. ' WATCH ON BOATS NEAR SHIP.

Yesterday hundreds of pcoplo journeyed out to Seatoun, Lyall Bay, and round tho shore on tho other side of the harbour to view the w;rcck of tho Devon. Tho Ferry Company's steamer Awaroa ran an excursion in tho afternoon, and over 300 people travelled by her. Tho sea had gone down considerably, but still thero was a southerly swell. Tho Devon seems to bo nrach as sho was when tho crew- left her on Tuesday, but everything movable has been washed out of the after part-. Tho hatches which covered Not 4 and 5. holds have disappeared and these and other holds ill tho ship are full of water. Tlio ferry steamer Karaka was chartered by the local agents for the Devon and steamed out to tho wreck ill the afternoon. She carried Mr. A. Walker, Lloyd's surveyor, Captain Hull, and members of tho Devon's crow. Uio object of tho trip made by Mr. Walker and Captain Hull was to estimate tho chances of salving the cargo. iOn reaching tho scene an attempt was made to land on tlio beach in tho vicinity, but the wash of the sea was sufficiently strong to prevent this, and after one or two trials tho Karaka's head was turned for, the harbour entrance and a landing was effected on this side of the lighthouse. The party then tramped to tho beach. Tho crow of the Devon had gone out for the purposo of securing personal effects, but in this thoy were unsuccessful. Another attempt "will bo made to-day. On reaching the lino which stretches from tlio Devon's foremast to the shore Mr. Woods, second officer, and tho chief steward wero hauled on board. The former secured the less important of tho ship's papers which had been left on board by Captain Caunce on Monday and the chief steward inspected the stores. Mr. Walker and Captain Hull will visit the wreck again to-day. :

Mr. Maurice, chief offider, ;who is standing by tho ship, reported that a number of fishermen's boats had been alongside yesterday, and that they, had been seen sailing about-in tho vicinity since morning. It appears that the crew aro concerned about those craft, and considering that thero is no one on board,,this turn in events, it is felt, will have to bo watched.

Unwelcome Boats Hovering Round. Mr.; Maurice had desired to go oil board yesterday and remain en .the wreck, all night ; but it was not thought advisable for him to do so, for, if anything should happen to the ship in the matter of position, it might prove extremely difficult for him to regain the shore, and, under the best circumstances, several men are needed to pull the life-basket from ship to shore. If anyone did stay on board, a gang of men would have to remain on the beach in case of emergency. The presenco <5f a small flotilla of boats near tho ship lias been reported t)o the police, and steps are to bo taken to warn people off, and meantime the lightkeopors at Pencarrow have been instructed to keep a sharp lookout for. nny oraft mpproalbliing the .ship. As all "fishing boats 'are licensed they bear a distinguishing number on their sails or sides, and tho light-keepers have been instructed to tako these numbers and 'report to the police.

Chances oi Salving the Cargo. ■> Tho Devon is full of water both foro and aft, and tho salving of tho cargo will certainly be difficult. If a vessel can get alongsido all will bo well, hut there aro many rocks at the spot, and dangerous ones at that. Besides this thoro is tho 'swell of the Pacific coming in all tho time, and it is, in fact, very seldom that ■ there is no swell at Wellington Heads. It has, however, been suggested that punts should bo taken out. These, no doubt, could lie filled up and then towed into Scatoun. but nothing definite is decided, and will not be, till Mr. Walker and Captain Hull make their inspection. It may also bo added that it is feared tho cargo has already been damaged past salving. Judging by what could be seen, there is little hopo for the cargo in the after holds. Big washes of the sea hit the stern with tremendous force, and a sound like tho firing of heavy guns in tho distance, can (or could) bo heard on *tli© heacli, Next instant a- column of water shoots up into tlio air, through tho open hatchways. That augurs ill for the goods in tho after holds. >osterday the beach to tho east and west of the wreck was strewn with wreckage, and amongst somo of it was cargo.

Kinematograph Busy. A report was received in town yesterday that a certain kinematograph picturo firm was busy securing moving pictures on tho beach early yesterday afternoon. On inquiries being made it was found that this firm's operators wero very energetic in getting a representation of the real tiling to put- beforo tho public. They liad carefully undone, the lashings which scoured the life basket and lino to tho rock, and when tho chief officer arrived 011 tho scsno members of tlio party wero industriously pullirig tho life basket containing a man up and down 111 front of tho camoia. "Naturally tho officer stopped this, but a moving picture had been taken all tho same. Relief For The Crew. Tho Shipwreck Relief Society Kre meeting all expenses in connection with tho crew's board and lodging. This society was responsible for sending food out to tho wrecked mariners on Tuesday afternoon. The Ina.ulry. At present nothing definite has been, arranged regarding t'ho inquiry. It is probable, however, that it will be held in Wellington next week.

THE HARBOURMASTER. TRIBUTE PAID TO HIS WORK! At tho meeting- of tho Harbour Board last evening tho chairman (Mr. 11 Fletcher), referring to tho wreck of the Devon, stated that ho was sure the board would join with him in regretting that a wreck had taken place at Pencarrow on Monday night. Some newspapers, he added, were very keen in showing tho number of wrecks which had happened, and quite a number were enumerated, some of which were miles and miles away. Captain Watson: One was at WcstP°rt. , c i Councillor Hindmarsh: A few, miles here and thero is nothing to a newspaper. The chairman, continuing, stated he was satisfied that there was .absolutely no difficulty in entering a port liko Wellington. He expressed his regret at the loss of the vessel and tho circumstances surroundings its loss. He also paid a high tribute to Captain Johnston and the ' relief party who wont out to the Heads, who did very valiant work. When they remembered that Captain Johnston, who was well up in years, left at. 8.30 on Monday night—i)iio of tho wildest nights they could have had—and trudged over those rooky part? with no path to hejp him, Liost his .way, in tho bush, and aid not

arrive until 4.30 next morning, thoy would agree that he did very meritorious service, ho being thero all day in the cold and wet, and being away 24 hours with very little food and drink. Ho was led to believe that Captain Johnston took command in a proper manner, ail'd nearly killed a camera fiend. He was very keen on taking a photograph of the first man who landed, and tho Captain knocked his camera over, and told 'him to get hold of the rope. Continuing, the chairman stated that he was glad to pay that tribute to the men who had saved so many lives. As })roof of Captain Johnston's assiduity, ' the chairman added that he rang iip the office that morning, and found Captain Johnston on duty. Ho told him ho ought to bo ill bod, but the Captain replied that ' lie was all right," and lie was told that he did not leave until five o'clock that night. Ho thought also- that tho rest of the staff did excellent work at be wreck. tho wreck. THE UNDERWRITERS' RISKS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright London, August 27. At Lloyd's, 90 per cent, is nominally quoted for tho reinsurance of tlio s.s. Devon, the hull of which is valued at £40,000. Only £18,000 of this amount, however, is payable in tho event of total loss.