WRECK OF ROYAL TAB.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 273, 27 November 1901, Page 4

WRECK OF ROYAL TAB.

stji!kj-j.-i Tin-; lock. ri i:; tji; i. Tin-; j.f.vTJ-; i-imwxi:!'. (Hy l J rc-- Vssoenuiuu.i Audi!".!' I. I'i't ni-.-ht. To; nt j no Jitivai Tar -.1..- wreck'd u ' fcneerer rock, Tintiri, about '1 o chock th;.morniug. Tili: :ir ; c N-.'ungiU’U Was passing, and saw the vr---;_! ~i_-11■ li!.l; up signal rocket-, and proceeded to render u--anno. Jiufore iu o got alongside, the Koval Titi- kipped oil' the reel; and sunk in deep wan r. The s'U; till':!' fonii 'l tin- e ipiain and CVCW o) tia; iairpue in tmi boats, Captain •Morrison stated ti.-.'it Hunt, the male, was drowned. The captain's wife and child were .coded ,;n Tiritin. Captain Morrison and the crew of the Koval liir were b:oughL to Auckland by tiif tup Admiral. The name of the mate drowned was Kirby, die was single, a native of Lancashire, and joined the vessel at Newcastle.

Captain Morrison, of the Koval Tar, states that lie left Auckland at 7 yesterday. with a light breeze between east and south, for Kaipara in ballast. Instead of following the uisfial passage between Tiritiri and the mainland, lie went outside that island in order to save beating to windward. At midnight the vessel was put on a X.X.E. course, running before a light, fair wind. The .second ofiicer was on watch at l.dU a.m. The vessel was travelling four or five knots and struck a sunken rock, what proved to be Sheerer rock. .11 miles north of Tiritifi. The officers were aware of the existence of this rock. He expected the course set at midnight would carry the vessel well clear of it. The captain attributes the mishap to the influence of very strong tides.

The vessel at once began to till and to settle down. The boats were launched, two lifeboats and a dingy. Mrs Morrison and most of the crew were put in the two boats. The captain, mate, and two seamen remained on board.

Twenty minutes after striking the hold was full of water. The cabin, which was on deck, began to fill, and the captain and one man had to jump overboard into the water and were taken into the remaining boat, the painter of which the crew were obliged to cut to fivoid being drawn down by the sinking barque. ■lust before the barque sank the mate, Kirby, went into the cabin to get his personal property. Before ho could return the vessel listed and sank. The inrush of water forced off the roof of the cabin. The vessel sank till the topgallant mast only was visible.

Some of the crew waited till daylight, when the steamer Ngunguru arrived. The whole of the crow embarked on the Admiral and were conveyed to Auckland.

Further particulars of the wreck state that the second officer, flume, was in charge of the watch, which numbered six men. The night was clear, and the moon shining brightly, though obscured at intervals by passing clouds. The sea was smooth. The watch below were awakened by a shock, and rushed on deck, to find the vessel beginning to fill and settle. A large hole had neon torn in the vessel’s hull, through which volumes of water were pouring. The vessel herself romained hard and fast on the rock, but it was evident that it was only- a matter of minutes until she would fill and sink.

There was no confusion. The captain’s orders were coolly given and promptly obeyed. Two lifeboats and a dingy were launched. A portion of the crow manned them. Mrs Morrison, with her infant son, was placed in the first boat, which was sent well clear of the wreck. In the second a number of the men’s belongings, caught up as they left the forecastle, were thrown, five men manning the boat. The captain, mate (Kirby), and a couple cf seamen remained on board a few minutes longer. The captain entered the cabin and savod the ship’s articles. The mate entered his room to save some personal property. As the captain went out about twenty- minutes after the vessel struck, the hold, was then full of water, and the cabin was beginning to fill. The lioyal Tar was not insured.