SCOW ECHO

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1932, Page 5

SCOW ECHO

DRIVEN ASHORE

CREW LANDS SAFELY. (Per Press Association — Copyright .) WELLINGTON, Caught in a series d’f fierce southerly squalls about 11 o’clock on,*,Saturday night, the scow “Ecfnv’ comntg fropi Blenheim to Wellington, was driven ashore on the Pinnacles Rocks, off Seatoun.

The crew came ashore in the ship’s liieboat.

, Later the scow floated off, capsized and drifted up the harbour. As soon as the crew had landed, the Harbour Board was communicated with. The pilot launch Arahina was despatched, but the weather, which had abated ■ for a time, again became stormy. The scow could not be found. About midnight the tug Toia was sent out, but she also failed to locate the “Echo,” which is floating on its side, and is almost submerged.

The Toia returned to port, but she left again at daylight, and she very soon sighted the Echo, about half a mile south of Somes Island, drifting in the direction of the island. A line, was then attached, and the Toia towed her to the Clyde Quay wharf, arriving there at about 10.30 a.m, The Echo still lies there on her side. ' ' * The members of the N.Z.R.A, Fort Dorset were able to render valuable help to the of the distressed vessel while she was on the Pinnacles, and after she drifted off towards Somes Island. Some of the artillerymen were on their way home from the pictures when the news reached them, and they made all haste to port.. The searchlight plant was put into operation at once, and the beam was directed on the boat at about 11.30. The searchlight was of considerable value in enabling the sailors to leave the , vessel, which was accomplished 1 about midnight.

The crew landed at, the Seatoun wharf, and they were then taken into the fort, where accommodation and other hospitality were readily offered for the night, but as the crew had their homes at Wellington, the Harbour authorities obtained taxis and sent them to their homes.

According to the information given at Fort Dorset, the vessel got into; trouble soon after passing Pencarrow Head, and she was disabled. She then went on the refef off Seatoun.

Echo was kept under the light, but she drifted slowly off towards Somes Island, until she turned over and disnppeared from sight about 1.30. Owing to'tho heavy southerly, tKe principal lights at Fort Dorset were out of action. This supply is from the city mains, and it —is frequently affected by heavy southerly winds. Fortunately the searchlight is worked from an independent unit in the Fort, having a portable engine.. This plant is in the way of making, history for itself, as it was the first plant to be sent and set in Napier following the earthquake, which put all the Hawke’s Bay plants out of action, and it was also sent to Christchurch for the landing of Kingsford Smith. Although he landed in the daytime, the plant was working, and was ready for action.

The Echo, when towed in, was tied, up to -the wharf. The wharf staff, and the local agents, Levin and Co., Ltd., together with men from A. Wood and Son, Ltd., commenced to remove the vessel’s rigging. The extent of the damage was not known this evening. She is to be righted to-morrow morning by the floating crane. A . collision mat will then probably be 3 jxut round the vefssel covering any holes in the hull, and she will then be pint on the patent slip for survey. Mr Anderson, of Levin and Co., Ltd., flew to Blenheim to-day to pick up a copy of the cargo manifestos, and < he arrived back at Wellington in the afternoon. He told a “Dominion” reDorter that Eckfgrd and Co., Ltd., Blenheim, were immediately recommissioning theifr motor vessel Opawa, which at present is laid up at' Blenheim. She is to leave there next Thursday, and will maintain the Echo’s service between Wellington and Blenheim. Arrangements were also beingi made for the steamer John to bring cargo from Blenheim to Wellington on i Wednesday.

The Echo, which left Blenheim on Saturday morning, had on hoard about 160 ton s of cargo, principally wool, chaff and butter. . Some of the hatch cov^i|i£j{ 'dently come adrift, as a certain number of boxes of butter from the vessel were washed up on Petone beach. The remainder of the cargo is apparently still in the Echo, and it will be unloaded to-dav before she is taken to the patent slip.