SHIP WRECKED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 894, 20 September 1910, Page 4

SHIP WRECKED.

CARNARVON BAY STRIKES A REEF. FIFTEEN PERSONS MISSING. Melbourne, Sept. iS. The full-rigged ship Carnarvon Bay, 1795 tons, bound from Liverpool to .Sydney, struck a reef south-east of King’s Island at 6.30 o’clock on Thursday night, during a heavy gale. The steamer Tarccola arrived to-day, bringing the captain, the second and third mates, and thirteen of the crew of the wrecked vessel. They were picked up in an open boat on Saturday afternoon, off Cape Liptrap. A second boat, containing the first male, thirteen of the crew and a passenger, is still missing. A TREMENDOUS CRASH. The Carnarvon Bay was eightyseven days out from Liverpool. She experienced a succession of heavy weather long before she approached the Australian coast. On Thursday evening, when driving before a gale, she was suddenly brought up with a tremendous crash.

The vessel then began bumping heavily amidships. As the masts showed signs of falling, Captain Griffiths ordered two boats to be launched. This was done with much difficulty in the heavy sea. The captain and the first, second and third officers remained till the last. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the boats to put back to take the officers off, as the men in the boats feared the masts would fall upon them. Eventually all got safely into the boats. The captain decided to make for Launceston, and gave instructions that effect to those in the first mate’s boat, but owing to the heavy sea and the darkness the boats separated in a few minutes, and the first mate’s boat was not again seen. Heavy weather drove the captain’s boat towards the Victorian coast, which he was trying to make when picked up and rescued in a very exhausted state through fighting against the stormy conditions. The boat was partially filled with water and the food supply was almost expended, only half a sardine apiece remaining. later particulars. There is no news of the Carnarvon Bay’s missing boat. A steamer started yesterday to search for her. It is feared the Carnarvon will become a total wreck. When the crew left, her head was fast on the rock, and she was bumping heavily and tearing her bottom. She carried 4000 tons of general cargo for Sydney. The captain believes the rock was uncharted. The ship ran into tempestuous weather on September 1. The waves smashed the cabin doors, swept the decks, and did cons'derable damage. It continued till she struck the rock.

The captain experienced a difficulty in getting his bearings, and he supposed he was a mile and a half from laud at the time of the grounding. When the boats were launched, 22 clambered into the starboard, while there were only seven in the port boat. The men in the latter refused to return for some time, for fear they would be crushed by the masts. When they did obey the captain’s orders some of the starboard boat’s crew were transferred, leaving seventeen in the captain’s boat. Otherwise everyone behaved splendidly. The captain was especially cool. Those in the boats had the scantiest clothing and a small supply of food and water, with a bottle or two of spirits. From the time of leaving the ship till the Tarcoola rescued them they were driven about by high cross seas, and kept constantly bailing. They suffered severely from cold and hunger. Some men were so exhausted that they lay sleeping in six inches of water in the bottom of the boat.

Two steamers passed, and did not notice the distress signals. A pair of trousers hoisted to the masthead brought the Tarcoola to their assistance.