SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1682, 24 February 1906, Page 2

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

A SHIPWRECK. A THRILLING STORY. By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Molbourno, Feb. 23. Nows reached Cowes late last night of I the wreck of the ship Speke off Port Phillip Island. All the craw, excepting a sailor named Henderson, were sa7od. The Speke arrived at Sydaey from Tollendo a fo tjight ago, and was subse quently ordered to Melbourne to load wheat for the Uoited Kingdom. The disaster happened at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, during a fierce south-wist gale. The first intimation of tho wreck was tbe arriyal at Cowes of a number of Ihe survivors, who were.driven into the township by a settler. Relief was at once sen'.

According to the story of tho survivors, numbering twenty-five a’l told, tbe Sptke missed stays during a gale. Despite every effort of tbe officers and crew, the vesstl crashed on tbe rocks, the coast here being very dangorous. She immediately swung broadside on to tbo reef. Two boals put off, and both were soon smashed. The men bad a thrilling time, but man aged to get a lino ashore. Most of the crew were saved by this means. The latest reports from Cowes state that the seoond mate, Cook, readily followed a reqaest of the captain to go over the side and oarry a life-line ashore. This was a most perilous undertaking, and was most plucky and successfully accomplished. He got to land and passed a line round the rooks. None of the men wou'd venture to pass aloDg the line, says Captain Tillbod, who aßked them to do eo. 16 was necessary to hearten them in view of the most imminent risk of all being drowned, and he led the way, and the remainder followed. “Of coursr,” he slated '• I wanted to be the last to leave the ship, but felt it my duty to give the men the neoessary lead.” When the vessel struck the seas dashed over her as high as the top-gallant yard. Williams, the chief mate, said : “ It was only by God’s meroy that matters were not worse as regards loss of life. Both aaobors patted. It was not possible to do anything to save the ship. She went straight up alongside tho rooks. The gale blew all tho time. Anyone who knows tbo coast thereabouts will understand what is meant by beiog wreoked there.

“We lost everything. All we have left are the things we stand in. “ We sighted Wilson’s Promontory on Tuesday night. Land was sighted at noon to-day, and when we tried ta wear the ship she would not answer, but fell back on the part tack, and then struek and became a hopelaeß wreck.” Later.—The Speke wreck is breaking up

Melbourne, Feb. 23,

The steamer Winfield has been docked, owing to a sudden heavy leak, which is supposed to have been caused by the vessel coming into contact with a boulder in the Geelong ohannel.

Hobart, Feb. 23. A large deckhouse of Oregon pine and teak, belonging to a woodon vessel, has been found at Brun» Island. Owing to a heavy sett farther searoh has been delayed. FURTHER DETAILS. TAKING THE LINE ASHORE. By. folfigraE/hji Prestl Asa’n, Copyright Received 12.22 a.m., Feb. 24. Melbourne, Feb. 23. The Spekes oaptain states that he signalled for the pilot, but the steamer failed to reply. Tbe.hurrioane gradually carried the vessol closer to land. When be found that the ship would not wear it, he ordered the boats to be got ready. The lead wa3 kept going. On reaohing 15 fathoms the anchors were let go, but parted after a fow mioutes. He ordered the boats out. The firs: capsized shortly after launching, owing to the terrible sea. Too other was not launched. P.rter, one of th 9 crew, states that when the anchors part d the vessd began to drift on to the rocks She c >tno down on her stern on the reef and bumped 1 o-ivily, the waves breaking over the decks She drif sed broa iside on. A boat was lowered and four men entered A bugs wave ctpeizsd it. Three reached the shore aftsr a desperate et-uggle. The fouttb, named Henderson, was drowned. The o her boat had btoa swung ou r , but when the first capsized was taken in agaiD. A few minutes later a sea swept the boat away. A call was made to take a line ashore. Toe seoond mate volunteered. He started amid ringing cheers. He was buffeted by the waves, and hurled in a’l din c ions, finally a breaker throwing him on the neks He made tbe line fast. The men were afraid to faoe tbe heavy aea. The captain was the first to cross, then tho chief meto and men following. Everything was orderly aboard. Though muoh knocked about they landed safely. The d( t ills are sli 1 mo igro.