THE GRACE HARWAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 13, 17 January 1901, Page 3

THE GRACE HARWAR.

arrived in port. A THRILLING EXPERIENCE. ONE OF THE CREW DROWNED. CAPTAIN HAS A NARROW ESCAPE. THE WORST SEA HE EVER SAW. The anxiety with regard to the ship Grace Harwar was relieved yesterday morning when the news was made public that the ship was coming Into the bay under sail from the direction of the Tuamotu Island, m tow of Messrs Richardson and Co.’s steamer Fanny. The latter was on her way from Napier when Captain Petersen sighted the missing vessel, and he at once changed the course of the steamer and went to her assistance. Captain Thompson, Harbormaster, was on the lookout at the flagstaff, and observing the Fanny hauling off he at once concluded the object of her mission and proceeded to get his boats crew together. The Fanny brought the Grace Harwar up to the anchorage, the Harbormaster boarding the vessel, when she was about seven miles out. . Captain Brisco, Who is in charge of the ship, acknowledged his thankfulness that he was onoe again in port, and stated that he had been anxiously looking for Poverty Bay for a long time, but had been unable to reach it. . Captain Brisco came ashore in the Harbormaster’s boat, which passed the Waihi as the latter was going to the ship with the Health Officer, Dr. Williams, and the company’s agent, Mr W. Bright, manager of tho Loan and Mercantile Co., on board. Upon arriving alongside the Grace Harwar the crew of the latter, twenty-seven in all, greeted those on board the Waihi, and expressed their thankfulness at being once again at anchor. “ Where is the Captain?” asked the Health Officer as the steamer drew alongside. “Ho has gone ashore with the pilot,” roplied the mate. “ And what does the Captain mean by going ashore before the Health Officer boards the vessel?” asked Dr Williams; to which question the mate philosophically replied, “ You will have to find that out from the Captain, sir; I think that he is very glad of tho first opportunity to get ashore.” Mr Bright took up tho running as interrogator, and aßked, “Where have you been all the time? ” receiving the facetious reply from tho mato, “ We have been on tho loose, sir. The boat has been on hor beam ends, and a lively time wo have had, to be sure.” 44 You are too light,” observed the agent, referring to the condition of tho vessel. "Not at all,” answered the mate; “wo are in beautiful trim." “Where did you get dismasted?” was tho last query put to the mato, but the reply was lost in the general hum of converSat Tho Health Officer, accompanied by Mr Bright and tho press representatives, boarded tho vessel, which bore indications of having undergone an exceedingly rough voyage. Her mizzen topmast was gone and tho main top gallant mast had also been snapped off. The story told by tho crew of the Graco Harwar’s trip up the coast showed that they had undergone a most perilous experience, and it is really a matter of wonder that they are alive to tell tho tale. Tho gale experienced on December 25 (Christmas Day), when the vessel was between the Kidnappers and Hawke’s Bay, was the worst that any on board had gone through, and tho sea the worst that tho captain and crow had experienced. , . , Early in tho ovening the gale increased until by oleven o’clock it was blowing with hurricane force, the sea being mountains high. The vessel shipped a terrific sen, at this time, which completely filled the decks, and took three of tho four boats with it, as well as the skids, the bridge, the standard compass, and nearly everything movable on deck, beforo it, Tho starboard poop ladder, the safe and a quantity of gear wore also washed overboard. Whilst boing swept by terrific seas tho ballast shifted, and throw the boat on her beam onds. Some idea of her position may be gained from tho faot that her lee rail was three feet under wator. The water came nearly, to the combings of the hatches, and washed over them at times. The keel of the ship could at the same time bo seen on tho weather side. The men, to got from end to end of the vessel, had to clamber along tho weather sido. Tho lee yard arms were all this time ten feet under water. To right the ship, ordors wore given to out away tho mizzen topmast, and let the main topsail sheets go. On tho morning of the 26th, when tho sea v vras running with torrific force, one of the seamen, a young man named Cornelius Eckard was washed overboard and drowned. Ho was endeavoring to make his way along the deck when he lost his hold and was swept away, disappearing under the ship and never being scon again. Captain Brisco was about the same time washed overboard into the seething foam, but fortunately was oaught on the crest of one of the turbulent seas and thrown 1 back on board against tho rigging, to which ho intuitivoly clung, although how he escaped from being drowned he himself is unable to explain. Eokard was a native of Capetown, nnd this was his first trip. He was 21 years of age, and during the trip from South Africa bad mado himself very popular with the

When tho gale had spent itself the work of * clearing away the wreckage was proceeded with, but this was no easy task, as tho ship was in a most battered condition. She was right over on hot beam, and for seven days the crew were occupied in putting the vessel on an even keel. Seven days elapsed from tho time of the gale before sail could be put * on. For tho last ten days the Grace Harwar has been within 200 miles of Gisborne, and on the 11th at 9 a.m. was 22 miles to the west of Portland Island. The officers state ’ that they were off tho bay on Friday last at the time the Beatrice reported having sighted thorn, but tho gale which sprang up on 5 Friday drove them up the coast. Tho only boat sighted sinoo the gale on the 25th was one of tho Union S.S. Co.’s steamers, probably the Hawea. It was on the afternoon of tho Bth that the steamer was seen, but although Captain Briscoe did everything in his power to attract attention, ho failed to bring the Hawea to his assistance. The only explanation is that the captain of the steamer did not observe the signals. One of the sailors on board, named Carlson, has been ill for the greater part of the voyage, the result of an injury received some months back. Dr Williams yesterday examined him and recommended that ho should be sent to ' tho Hospital, and this will probably be done to-dav. The Grace Harwar has about 1000 tons ot ballast, and about half of this will be discharged beforo the vessel starts loading for London. Tho necessary repairs to the ship will be effected at this port.