SCOW DRIVEN ASHORE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1930, Page 8

SCOW DRIVEN ASHORE

CREW HAVE LUCKY ESCAPE

AUCKLAND, June 28

• iVlbre than 'the average share' of adventure was met with by the crew ,)l the screw Hero, which arrived in Auckland early this morning and was .dipped at Freeman’s Bay for repairs. Oil the night c'f June 20th the Hero was anchored at Wairoa Hay, near .ape Colville, to load shingle. There was a dead calm in the early part of he, evening, but shortly after midnight a gale sprang up from ithe west nul raised a heavy confused sea. Some ■f the squalls were of hurricane force, •id they were driving straight into ' a bay. The Hero had two anchors out at almost the length of the chains, but it was. seen that they would lot held bee. The scvow was driven Oil the beach and in the breaking surf was soon like a half tide rock. One Mg wave splintered the port bulwarks do matchwood, and afterwards the starboard bulwarks were shattered. The by, which was carried astern, was 'woken in fragments. Up to this tifne the crew of three men Captain A. Aspden and Messrs r . nnd;|J/. Stilwell, had resolutely ytuck to their, ship in an effort to save her. With .the scow literally awash *f W as realised 'tlint nothing,, could b 1 done and they decided to 'lor t/l" shore: On tliefsteep heafcli the scow was' lifting- to each big wave and hammering her keel, the heavy spinnaker boom was swaying madly to and r ro, and some loose dumber on deck was 'ashing backwards . and forwards 1 in Hie sweep of each wave. The masts were shoiyipg ; signs' of bending 'Mid there was a’fear that they mirrh*' 'opple overboard. The three man had to watch tlicir chance to scramble ashore. They bundled up their personal effects, took what food they could 'carry and .at a favourable moment "•aded to the beach. The crew spent. Hie remainder of the night under an M shingle hopper. At davlight tlm scow was high and dry and fragments nf -the ditmhy were strewn at tnr water’s edge. The crew were camped at the hopper Far nearly a week. There was only one farm within miles and the owner gave them supplies of food and on one mocial occasion killed a sheep for tin ■inrty. Advice of the men’s predicament was sent to Auckland and two 'aunclies went down to the bay.- towed ‘be scow off at high water ,and brought + ho vessel hack to Auckland. “We had a lucky escape,” said Or> taiti Aspden this morning. He added ■ Unt if the Hero had not been wel' built sbo would have been pounded to meces on the bench. Viewed on t' ,r din this morning, the scow showed r mod, deal of evidence of the batter n" lie received. Seine of the heavy iron An 11 eh ions arc twisted like'wire.