FOUNDERED IN STORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1924, Page 2

FOUNDERED IN STORM.

LOSS OF S.S. RIPI’LE. INDICATED BY BODY FOUND. [nv telegraph —run nu:ss association.] WELLINGTON, Aug. 3. In connection with the missing steamer Ripjn*, though the worst is 1 feared, as the result of finding a body and boat near Flat Point, which is ■><> or 50 miles up the coast from Cape Palliser, there is yet a hare hope that the steamer may he running before the gale which probably has now abated at sea. It is suggested that the derelict boat and the man’s body may have been the victim of an attempt to communicate with the shore. The police are now organising a search of the coast line for any signs of boats or men. So far as is known in Wellington, the following is the personnel of the Ripple:— , . , Captain J. A. Norling, in command (Who has his residence in Wellington). Mr Nicholson, Chief Officer (who is unmarried). The Second Officer is Mr D. McAllister. who holds a Master’s tickethaving been at various times in command of vessels of Richardson and Co., and who is married, his home being at Napier. He signed on recently as re- __ Bering officer.

The Chief Engineer, Mr J. B. Noilson, joined the Ripple about a month ago, to take the place of the late Mr J. Glover who died in Wellington on Wednesday. .Mr Neilson’s home is at Jiihnsonville, and he is married.

The Second Engineer. Mr W. J. -Mellon, is married, and lives in Murphy Street, Wellington.

The vessel’s complement also includes five able seaman, two firemen, cook and steward, the majority of whom have their homes in Napier as the crew signed on at Napier. Full details of members of the crow are not available, but it is known that the crew includes the following:— B. Johansen, A.IL, single. C. 0. Dr.vsdale, A.IL, married, liv-

ing at Napier. B. Gustolfson, A. 8., single. R. Williams, A. 8., married, living at Norway Street, Wellington, in May 1922.

W. R. Brute, A. 8., single. P. C. Cavoy, A. 8.. single, living in Newtown.

Robert Nelson, fireman, single, living in Wellington. J. Way, fireman, thought to be married, living in Wellington. John Offer, fireman, Grafton Road, Roseneath. . He is a married man, about 45 years of age with no children. He is well known on the West Coast where he was a miner for many years, and latterly took to seafaring. A statement is published that Mr Barton, iunr.. of Trcntham, was a passenger. This, however, is incorrect. Ho went to Napier on the previous trip. He intended returning in the Ripple when she came hack this time. Mr Charles Cameron, of. Flat Point, telephoned this afternoon that a boat and body had been found by a rabbitor on tho beach. The boat bore the name “Ripple.” and tlie holy was a seaman.

T|v Ripple is a single-screw steamer of. 113 tons gross. She is 141 feet long, with a beam of 21 feet and depth of 11 feet 3 ins. She was built in 1905 for the Canterbury Company, but was bought by Richardson’s fourteen years ago. She engaged in the Wellington and East Coast wool and produce trade. From Cape Palliser to Flat Point the coastline is low, with sandy shingly beaches, and rocky points ofl the shore, rendering the whole stretch dangerous for anything navigating close inshore. The first landing is at Riddiford’s Station at Torn, forty miles from Cape Palliser. Castlepoint, twenty miles ,> further on, offers some shelter, but this would not 1)1* of very much value in the face of the southeasterly gale which was reported raging along the Coast about- Flat Point yesterday ami last night.

As stated yesterday, telephone com-

munieation with Can- Vallisor was lost after the bare announcement of the Ripple’s peril got through. Had this connectie- '■ceil maintained, it is possible the Mararoa could have been advised bv wireless of the derelict steamer’s position so long as the hitter remained in sight of the lighthouse. The trawler Futurist, which is searching, may if she picks up the Ripple, tow her on to Napier. As neither vessel carries wireless.

nothing will tie known until shereaehe; port, unless they can signal some sheep station along the coast. The worst of the storm now seems to have passed. Actually its full force was not experienced in the Dominion, its centre being off the coast, and probably of a very bad type. The Ruahine may have been included in the storm. She is not expected till

this evening. The heaviest seas for many years broke on the shores of byall Bay and Island Bay. The I,urometer lias now risen considerable all over the Dominion.

SHIR FOFNDF.RKI). finding of "the lifeboat. MASTER'D>N, August 8. From the wreckage picked up on the Fast Coast, with the bade of a seaman it is evident that the Ripple foundered, and it is unlikely that there aio auv survivors. A rabbi tor. at Flat Roiiit Station, this morning discovered a 20-loot lifeboat. with the name “s.s. Ripple” on the beach near the landing stage. It was fully provisioned. There were loose oars and a mast nearby, and the 1 1, idv of a seaman, clothed in a singlet, shirt and blue jersey, and wearing a lifebelt. He was a powerfully built man. of apparently • r >-1 years, , (•loan .shaven, with long, red hair and heavy eyebrows.

The searchers also discovered an airtight compartment and some boxes. The theory is that the' crew took to the lifclKiat when the vessel foundered. and drifted, or sailed up the coast. Owing to thick weather of the last few days, it has been imfossilile to see anything from the shore. The coast was thoroughly searched this afternoon''' by the police and settlers, for five miles from the wreckage, tint no thcr discoveries were made. The body of the seaman is badl.v bruised about tne limbs' and one side of the head, apparently by contact with the rocks. I.ate to-night the “Age” reieived information from White Rock Station about ten miles from Cape l’alliser tliat ten laurels of tar and pieces of batches have lieen washed ashore oil the beach there, 'which, it is feared, is evidence that the Ripple has foundered somewhere in that locality, as she reported herself in distress at Cape I’alliser on Thursday morning. Slii' seems to have sunk not long afterwards. This afternoon the coast was thoroughly searched for a distance of five miles from the wreckage, but no other bodies were found, although oars on the lieach suggest that tho limit was fully manned when she left the ship. It is possible that another boat is still at sea, though tho ono which was east ashore would have held the whole crow. Police from.'Tiniu, Masterton, Carterton and Marti (thorough am taking pa it with the settlors

in the soar-eh of the coast from Palliscr Bay to Aohanga River. There is a. very strong liortlierly current along tljo coii.st. When tlio Mink in Cook Strait :)0 years ago, tlio wreckage <lriftoil asliore at MataiUona. 100 miles north of .M( C'alhsfcr.

'llie, second mate of the Ripple held a. master's certificate, and "as the sole survivor of a wreck at ( ape Ttim-

aplain many years ago. Barton was not a | a--.xciiger, being at present in Napier.

SIXTEEN A BOAR RWELLINGTON. August 8. The Ripple carried two passengers from Wellington, Messrs Taylor and p. I/mclan. Mr Taylor was em]iloycd as an aooonntant *l>y A. D. Biley and Co., engineering importers. Wellington. lie was married, hut there are jio details as to his family avaiJahle. At present, little is known here of Mr 'I-emlan. lie hooked a passage by the Ripple for Napier. The ship carried a full cargo. It was the largest cargo carried h.v the vessel for months. The total Height •was -100 tons for Napier and Gisborne, portion being transhipments by the Port Curtis, Tahiti and Moeraki. Beyond the fact that a man’s body lias been washed ashore, and the lie aches are being searched, f aptain Petersen (representative of tin; owners) lias received no further news at the time of wiring. The search steamers report they have seen nothing of the Ripple. FURTHER DETAILS OF CREW. WELLINGTON. August 8. Following are the members of the Ripple’s crew when she lett Wellington: - ‘ Seamen Beriihaidt Gustnlscii. single, Napier. Olaf ilyhdale. married, Napier. Percival l.avey, single. Wellington. Bernardt .Tohansen. sings*. Wellington. Rcihert 'Williamson, married. Wellington. Neil so li Thoma-seu, married, Wellington. Firemen .John Charles Ollw-r. married, Wellington. Robert Nelson, single-, Wellington. John J. Wav. married. Wellington. The ship’s cook was W. C. Squire, iv,ho shipped at Wellington just before the Ripple sailed. HATCHES AND CARGO WASHED ASIIURK. XA PIF.lt. August 8. Advice has been received at Napier that two of the Ripple’s hatches and top casks from her deck cargo, have been washed asliore at White Rock, -0 miles south of Flat Point. The Ripple carried oof> tons for Napier, chiefly transhipments from the Port Curtis from Lnidoii. O. Dybdalo niontionecl in a Wellington telegram, as one of the crew. signoff on the last trip. Tlio Company does not at present know of the men named Bruce and Thomason on tlio ship, and it is thought that Robert Nelson signed on at Wellington for the present trip. Squires is believed to belong to Gisborne.

T). Crawford (cook) was also mi board. Otherwise the Wellington list is continued.