STEAMER FOUNDERS NEAR CAPE MARIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3005, 2 March 1926, Page 3

STEAMER FOUNDERS NEAR CAPE MARIA.

ONLY BOAT LAUNCHED SMASII-

ED IN BREAKERS,

TWO LIVES LOST.

Auckland, March 1. A wreck, resulting in the loss of two lives, is reported from Te Paki station, a few miles from Cape Maria Van Dieman. The schoonerrigged steamer Karu, a vessel of 267 tons register, foundered after springing a leak. So suddenly did she sink that there was only time to launch one boat and this was smashed in the breakers and two lives were lost. The crew as it was signed on when the vessel left Auckland was as follows : J. Richmond, captain; G. Keith, mate; A. C. Dunkley, second mate; G. F. Nelson, engineer; 0. Varjonen, leading seaman; R. Ravenswood, and W. R. McLaren, A.B.’s; D. B. Cochrane, seaman; J. T. Kyle, fireman; F. Saunders, fireman; and 11. Ilulford, cook T. Halliday signed on as an A. 8., but he left the vessel somewhere up the coast, and is at present in Auckland. It is stated that the crew would have been aughiented on the' trip from Auckland,, so that the new hands are not yet known. Captain Richmond, master of the Karu, was for several years with Captain Wlatchlin as an officer on the Louis Theriault. He left the last-named vessel to take over the command of the Karu. Auckland, Last Night. The Karu, formerly well-known as the Ilolmdale, left Whangape on Saturday morning with a cargo of timber for Sydney, and by the following morning had run into a north-west gale. Early on Sunday morning it was discovered that the vessel was leaking badly, and the captain decided to run for shelter at Cape Maria Van Dieman. So quickly did the vessel settle down, that it was decided to abandon her. The twelve members of the crew crowded into one boat, and were nearing the shore at the Cape when the boat capsized in the surf, and was smashed up. All got ashore with the exception of Saunders and Ravenswood, the latter not being seen again after the boat overturned.

There is very little settlement in the region immediately south of the Cape, and the survivors separated into parties, looking for signs of habitation. One man reached Te Paki station, about nine miles from the Cape, early this morning, and this afternoon the captain, engineer, and two other members of -the crew also reached the station. The five remaining men had not been reported at a late hour, although search parties are out. VESSEL ASHORE AND BREAKING UP. The latest report to-night states that the Karu, which loaded about 200,000 feet of timber, struck a tremendous gale on Saturday night, and sprung a serious leak. The pumps were unable to keep the water down. The vessel has drifted ashore at Scott’s point, on the West Coast near 'Cape Maria. She is breaking up badly, and the deck cargo is coming ashore.

Five of the survivors who did not reach Te Paki with the other five this afternoon, were found at Spirits’ Bay about 6 o’clock this evening in an exhausted condition. They were taken to To Hapu, on Peronga harbour, where they arc being cared for.

The ten survivors are: Captain Richmond, Chief-officer Keith, Se-cond-Officer Duncan, Chief-engin-eer Nelson, also Hulfoi'd, O. Varjoner, D. Cochrane, R. Murray, C. Waipouri, and Kyle. It is presumed that both Ravenswood and Saunders were drowned. The survivors will leave for Auckland on Wednesday.