FATE OF THE RIPPLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2769, 9 August 1924, Page 2

FATE OF THE RIPPLE.

BODY AND WRECKAGE WASH-

ED ASHORE,

Wellington, Last Night.

In connection with the missing steamer Ripple, though the worst is feared as a result of the finding of a body and a boat near Flat Point, which is 40 to 50 miles np the coast from Cape Palliser. there is yet a hare hope that the steamer may he running .before the gale, which is probably now abated at sea. It is suggested from the derelict boat and the man’s body that, he may have been the victim of an attempt to communicate with the shore. The police are now organising a search of tlie coastline for any other signs of boats or men. So far as is known in 'Wellington, the following is the personnel of the Ripple:— Captain J. A. Norling, in command; Mr Nicholson, chief officer; Air D. McAlister, second officer, married: Mr J. B. Xeilson, chief engineer, married; AD' W. -J. Me bail, second engineer, married; and the crew, Messrs B. Johanson, A. 8., 0. Dybdalc, A. 8., married; B. Gustafssen, A. 8., R. Williamson, A. 8., married: W. R. Bruce. A. 8., P. C. Cavey, A. 8., Robert Nelson, J. Way, married; John Offer, married. The Ripple is a single scx'cav steamer of 413 t<>n- gross, 141 feet long, Avith a beam of 24 feet and depth of 113 feet. The vessel Avas built in 1905 for the Canterbury S.S. Co., and bought hv Richardson’s fourteen years ago. It Avas engaged in the Wellington-East Coast avool and produce trade, and came from Cape Palliser to Flat Point. The Ripple carried two passengers from Wellington. Messrs Taylor and P. Lendan. The ship carried a full cargo—the largest cargo carried by the vessel for months. The total freight Avas 450 tons for Napier and Gisborne.

WRECKAGE ON THE BEACH

EVIDENT TIHI VESSEL HAS

GONE DOWN. Alastevton, Last, Night. From Avreekage picked up on the East Coast with the body of the seaman, it is CAndont that the Ripple lias foundered, and it is unlikely flint there are any survivors. A rabbiler at Flat Point station this morning discovered a 20-foot lifeboat with the name “s.s. Ripple” on tin bc-nch near the landing stage. It was fully provisioned Avitli loose oars and a mast, and nearby was the body of the seaman. He was clothed in singlet, shirt and blue jersey and wearing a lifebelt; a powerfully built man of apparently 55 years, clean-shaven, with long red hair, and heavy eye-brows. Searchers also discovered an airtight compartment and some boxes. The theory is that the ereAV took to the lifeboat when the vessel foundered and drifted or sailed up the coast.

Owing to the thick weather of the last feAv days, it has been impossible to see anything from the shore. The coast was thoroughly searched this afternoon by the police and settlers for five miles from the wreckage, but no further discoveries were made. The iiiidv of the seaman was

'dly bruised about the limbs, and one side of Die head, apparently by contact with rocks.

Late to-night (lie “Age” received information from White ' Rock station about ten miles from Cape Palliser, that ten barrels of tar and pieces .of hatch had been washed a.-hore on the beach there, which, it is feared is evidence that, the Ripple has foundered somewhere in that locality, as she reported herself in distress at Cape Palliser on Thursday morning. She seems to have sunk not long afterwards. No other bodies have been found, though the oars on the beach suggest that the boat Avas fully maimed when she left the ship. It is possible that another boat is still at sea, though the one which was cast ashore would have held the Avhole crew. Police from Tinui, Masterton, Carterton and Alartinborough are taking part with settlers in searching the coast from Palliser Bay to the Aohanga river. There is a very strong northerly current along Die coast.

ADVICES FROM NAPIER, DECK CARGO WASHED ASHORE. Napier, Last Night. Advice has been received in Napier that two of the Rip]>le’s hatches and ten cases of deck cargo were washed ashore at White Rock, 20 miles south of Flat Point. The Ripple earned 500 tons for Napier, chiefly transhipments from the Port Curtis from London.

Mr O. Dybdale mentioned in a Wellington telegram as one of the crew signed off on the last trip. The company does not at present knoAV of the men named Bruce and Thomasen on the ship, and it is thought here that Mr Robert Nelson signed on in Wellington for the present trip. Mr Squires.is believed to belong to Gisborne. Air D. Crawford (cook) is also on board, otherwise the Wellington list is confirmed.