A SCHOONER WRECKED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2085, 21 May 1907, Page 2

A SCHOONER WRECKED.

Press Association.

WELLINGTON, yesterday. - A southerly gale, which has been raging for the past two or three days, shows signs of abating. Beyond dislocation of shipping arrangement's, no damage is reported. A small sailing vessel, which had sought shelter under Mana Island, lias been driven ashore there, but the sea was too heavy to permit of any assistancefrom the shore last night. Those connected with the vessel were sending uji rockets and burning flareups. The s.s. Hinemoa left about midnight for the scene. AThe name of the vessel is unknown. ' The vessel ashore at Mana Island is the schooner Emma Sims, bound from Havelock to Lyttelton with a cargo of timber. It appears that during the gale on Saturday she sought shelter under the lee of Mana Island, but after lying there for a time the anchor parted, and she drifted broadside on to the rocks. Captain McDonald and the crew of four got ashore with difficulty. The Government steamer Hinemoa,which was sent out last night, brought captain and crew to Wellington this afternoon. The stranded vessel is said to be full of water. WELLINGTON, last night.

The vessel which went ashore at Mana Island during the recent heavy southerly gale proves to be the smart little schooner, Emma Sims, of 61 tons register, owned by Mr. E. G. Pilcher, of Wellington. The schooner was bound from Brooklyn Bay, Pelorus Sound, to Lyttelton with a cargo of timber consigned to Messrs. Reece and Budd, of Christchurch. She was under the command of Captain MacDonald and her complement of sailors was four.

The Emma Sims cleared the Sounds on Saturday, 11th inst., and got up to Cape Campbell on Sunday evening, at 5.40. Then tiie boat commenced to run in with the stormy weather and eventually the Captain put into Worser Bay for shelter and left on May 16th, at 8.30 p.m., with a sixknot breeze. Once outside, however, the vessel was a plaything, of the fiorce southerly wind which varied from eight points upwards between south-west and south-east, and its moods were most malicious.

The Captain finally tried to take shelter under Cape Terawhiti. All he could do was to'- reach Mana Island and he just managed to get inside the south-eastern rocks. He was forced to anchor five . and ahalf cable lengths out or go ashore. He let go both anchors—forty-five fathoms on the" starboard side and fifteen on the port—but the lines apparently failed to hold the vessel o!T the rocks, and at 1.30 o’clock on Saturday morning the schooner struck, swinging broadside on. to the

rocks. Signals of distress were hoisted, but nothing could .be done from the shore owing to the high sea running, and assistance was asked from Wellington. The Hinemoa was despatched by the Marine Department and she returned to Wellington this afternoon with the members of the crew, all of whom had reached the Island in safety. The Emma Simes is not insured and it is believed that she will become a total wreck. The owner and a salvage party leave for the scene of the vi vet this morning to endeavor' to save as much as possible. Whether or not the cargo was insured is not. known here.