WRECK OF THE KETCH ELSIE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1930, Page 2

WRECK OF THE KETCH ELSIE

AN ANXIOUS TIME, Captain Ingram report's:—Having sailed from Hokitika for Ofcurii on (Wednesday, '.September UXh, at 1 p.m., .fine weather and a light northerly wind prevailed with every prospect of a good trip. When off Bruce Bay on Thursday morning at 1.60 a.m., the engine slopped suddenly, and tiie engineer, not being a'ble to 'get it going again, I got sail on tinvessel and headed south with a liglO east wind. At 1 p.m. the wind cairn* away from S.E. and the vessel was not laying her course but drilting oil the land. ! put her round and set up lor Hokitika, a heavy swell coming in from the westward. The engineer, with the assistance of .1. Wjoiods, worked like trojans, taking the engine to pieces and trying to fund out the cause of the stoppage. On Friday there was a light west wind and considerable sea. We got

wiifuii 'twenty-three miles ‘of Hokitika.. At 8 p.m. sent up rockets and burnt flares. On Saturday we rigged up a jury mast to get more sail on the vessel. There was a light westerly wind and sea moderate. Wo got within four miles of Ross when the wind dropped and came from the east, We dropped anchor in 16 fathoms about four miles off shore. At 8 p.m., sent up distress rockets and fnuhit a- big fire .from an oil barrel a l night, On Sunday at 4 fl-.ni. the wind freshened, hut we hung on to the anchorage in the hopes, of assistance coming, before the weather got. had. At 9.45 a, 111,, the wind wus still increasing from tiie N.E. and the- glass falling. We got under way for; Jackson’s .Bay. At 1 p.m. fired a rocket before reaching Okarito and , tried to reach the bar hut the wind headed the vussel off and got blown past the entrance. We set a course then S.W. lor the Bay. At 6 p.m. it was blowing a N.E. gale and the sea was making from the north. Off Gillespies point we put the vessel out to sea heading N.W. to, get a good offing, intending to get well out and ilay to a sea anchor for the night. At 9.30 p.m. the wind suddenly backed into the westward and we had to wear round and head for Hokitika again, the ship steering north but making a lot of leeway. Visibility at

this time being bad, we could not the land. At midnight the wind increased to gale with a heavy westerly sea getting up, but the weather clearing got a glimpse of the land and ■ found the vessel was making more leeway than headway, the heavy sea knocking her inshore- rapidly. ‘At 12.30 a.m., I ca.l’ed the crew and told them to be ready for the worst. At 1 a.m. shipped a very heavy sea, ulmost burying the little vessel and almost washing me from the wheel and taking All* Montague off his feet, who hail to swim to keep liifnseJf from, being washed over the rail until he could get hold of some support to regain his footing, n<j the deck was flooded. Seeing the vessel was going broadside into the heavy breakers and in danger of being overwhelmed and foundering with all hands, 1 ordered the men to put on their lifebelts and get into the rigging. I then put the vessel before the wind and sea and before entering the heavy break lashed the helm and went forward into the rigging with the crew, the vessel sailing straight for the beach. AVe grazed a sunken rock about two miles off shore, but landed safely up oti a sandy beach. I kept the sail on her and drove her up as the tide was making at the time. We all landed a litii'e later and made a big fire and | put up a bit of a shelter with an old sail and waited for daylight. We sent for assistance and next day the settlers arrived and looked after our wants. On behalf of myself and crew 1 cannot thank the settlers around Bruce Bay and Hunt’s Beach too highly for their assistance and kindness in lending horses and bringing food to us in ou-r time of need.