A WELLINGTON GALE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 610, 11 October 1913, Page 5

A WELLINGTON GALE.

SALVAGE PARTY'S EXPERIENCE NARROW ESCAPE PROM DROWNING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —MtESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, This Day. A strong south-easterly gale prevailed throughout yesterday, and the sea rose rapidly. The wrecked Bteamer Devon received considerable buffeting, causing the back to break and fastening several plates. The salvage party aboard had an exciting experience and one nearly lost his life when the vessel's back broke. 'JThe party decided to come ashore, but it was impossible for another vessel to go alongside, so they utilised the bo' Bun's chair and wire hawser on which the crew landed the day after the wreck. Three accomplished the trip safely, but when the last four were half way the running line fouled in the rocks. After half an hour in this dangerous position, the men started to clatnber along the hawser. Two lost their holds and fell into the sea. Both wore lifebelts. One man named Price was lifted on a huge wave and washed ashore; the other, E. Affleck, was caught in the undertow and washed out. Later, however, another wave brought him close to the rockß, where he was rescued by the shore party. He was then unconscious, but under treatment partially recovered. Other shipping had rough experienses, and all took hours longer than usual in 'covering their trips. It was rumoured that the ""steamer Morayshire, 5851 tons from Auckland, jnd been wrecked at Terawhiti. Enquiries, however, failed to substan* tiate the rumour. The" agents consider it probable the Morayshire is standing out to sea.