WRECK OF THE OMAKA

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2233, 1 February 1921, Page 3

WRECK OF THE OMAKA

WHILE ENTERING WELLING-

TON HEADS

SIX LIVES LOST

While entering the Wellington Harbour eariy on Sunday morning, the auxiliary schooner, Ornaka, trading between Wellington and Blenheim, capsized. The. keeper at Pencarrow Lighthouse says lie saw the vessel suddenly heel to in a fierce south-easterly squall and turn over. The little vessel was laden with eliaff, and the hales and other wreckage was soon swept overhoard. He saw at least four men, who were hanging on to the wreckage, maintain their precarious hold until, pounded by the fierce seas dashing over them, they dropped off one by one.

The vessel was hurled on the rooks soon, and went to pieces. A portion of the deck cabin was carried to Pctone, where it was washed ashore, and the dead body of one of the crew was found in it. As soon as the news of the disaster was reported, many of the vessels went to the heads and bays'in the harbour to render assistance to anyone living, and search for bodies, but no trace of the crew except Weeks could be found. No hope is entertained of any of the crew being saved.-, Their names are:

CAPTAIN A. E. HUNTER PURVIS, aged 38 years, a resident of Island Bay, Wellington, who leaves a wife and two children. JOHN TYRELL .WEEKS, engineer, late of Westport,, but now of Wellington, who leaves a wife and four children. WM. LEONARD WATSON, acting mate, aged 27 years, of Wellington, unmarried. HAROLD STAPLETON, aged 22 years, mother residing in Wellington, unmarried. .1. iMAKLOW, cook, 38 years, of Brooklyn, Wellington, who leaves a wife and three children. CYRIL WILLIAM THOMSON, aged 21 years, ship's Imy, whose parents reside at. New Plymouth, single. The vessel belongs to Escklonl and Co., Blenheim. LIOHTHOI/SE KEEI'ER'S STORY. GRAPHIC RECOUNTAL OF SEAMEN'S BRAVE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

Mr T. B. Smith, the principal hooper at Pencarrow Lighthouse, gave in simple language a most graphic and pathetic story of the ac-

cident, and of the brave struggle for life of a number of nuhi on the ill-fated schooner. ‘’Whilst extinguishing the lights at 4.45 this morning. I noticed the schooner making into the harbour under a foresail and jib. Her mainsail was not set. Lighthouse Keeper Hussey went downstairs, and when ho went outside he saw *tlie vessel capsize.

' “A strong southerly gale was blowing a I the lime, and the vessel was running before the wind. Suddenly she broached to and a lug wave struck her at Ihe same lime, and over -die went. I could make out the forms of ai least two sailers hanging on to the wreckage, and immediately communicated with Wellington.

“I kept my two assistants, Ilussev and Cocker, on the beach to light, fires opposite these men, with the double object of showing them where to land and letting them know ihat assistance was available, and there was somebody to receive them if they came ashore. They were, however, drifting up the harbour. “I could then make out three men amongst the wreckage. One was clinging to a tank, but becoming exhausted he was swept away. 1 saw him throw up his arms and disappear. It was then ten minutes past six. The other two men were clingirm to a long plank, one at each end. 'VESSEL PASSES WITHOUT SEEING. “In Ihe meant ime, about t wenty minutes past five, the steamer Wairau appeared entering the harbour, and passed some 300 yards away, but apparently did not see either the wreckage or the men struggling in the water. “By I his lime the wreck had been blown inshore considerably, and bad struck half a mile further on, where she subsequently broke up. “Later the Baden Powell came in, and passed the men about (it seemed) 100 yards away. They again made frantic efforts to attract the attention of those on hoard, but without avail. The man who was on the tank had disappeared some time before, but I kept the other two men in view, all the time until they had nearly gone out of sight. “There was about a mile of wreckage in all, benzine tanks, fodder, timber, etc., drifting with the wind and the current, faster than one could walk. I then took my telescope and ran as hard I could to the point, where I saw one of the men op the plank throw up his arms and go down as the second steamer passed. DROWNING MEN’S LAST EFFORT.

••[ distinctly saw the men make a supreme effort to draw themselves to the plank and attract the attention of those on the passing steamer. They drew themselves up almost into a kneeling position on the dank, but apparently they were not seen, nor their cries heard. Before this, '-when, the man on the tank mssed the two men on the plank, I saw the two men on the plank wave encouragingly to, and apparently cheer the other. “Vessels came from Af ellingl 011, but the gale was blowing so hard

that their progress was retarded to such an extent that when they reached the wreckage it was, 24 hours after the accident, and the men had disappeared.

“The' assistant lighthouse keeper followed up it long the beach the drift of the men on the plank, and about half an hour'after he started he saw one man swept from his hold •and disappear,’ then following on as far as Gollan’s Bay, he saw the second man on the plank also disappear.

“The schooner was completely broken up and disappeared. The hull was smashed to matchwood, and only a mass of spars and debris is left.

“When the man on walcli came down to me he staled that he distinctly saw one man, probably the helmsman, swept overboard as the schooner broached to, and lie, was clambering up the side again when she capsized. “My son also saw a man seated in the ship’s dinghy after the vessel capsized, but a big wave overwhelmed the dinghy, and all saw the men on the plank making frantic efforts to tear off their clothes, so that they could swim better, and a torn sweater was afterwards found on the beach, showing that they had partly succeeded.” TWt) BODIES ASHORE. • The body of Weeks was found right inside the deckhouse, which was bul a galley, when it shoaled on the Petone beach. A rope was stretched round a part of the deckhouse, and made it appear that one of the crew had* endeavoured to lash himself to it. A second body, not yd identified, has been washed ashore on the Petone beach. A WELL-KNOWN VESSEL. The Omaka was formerly known as the May Howard.. She was built in 188(1, at Erina, New South Wales —a wooden vessel of (14 tons gross, 78Cl. in length, with a 20ft. beam and a depth of hold of Oft. 2in. She was lifted with a 24 horse-power pel rol mol or, and a single screw, which could drive her four or five knots per hour without sails. Slid was without her topmasts. Her owners were Eckford and Co., Blenheim.; who have also the Wairau, Opawa, and the auxiliary scow Echo. Levin and Co. are the Wellington agents. The ill-fated vessel had made four trips to .Foxlon since the mishap to the Kennedy. Her last trip was on tin 1 Li th of last mouth, when she'brought a cargo of benzine lo I lie local port and relumed lo Wellington hemp laden. , INQUEST OPENED. The inquest on the bodies ol the engineer and the cook was opened at -the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Mr F. K. Hunt presiding. Formal evidence of identification was then heard, and the inquiry was (hen adjourned to enable the police Vo gather full particulars, ol the tragedy.

The late captain A, E. Hunter Purvis leaves a wife and two children, whose home D at 37 lamarSireet, Island Bay. For some years Ihe deceased was in the service of Ibe Anchor Shipping Company:, and Ihe Union Steam Ship Company. He was master of Ihe auxiliary schooner Lily when she went ashore at Kapili Island a few months ago. The deceased was a very popular skipper, abstemious, and a good seaman.