LOSS OF THE SCHOONER RAVEN, AND TWO LIVES.
Kawhia, May 14th, 1861. Sir, —Henare Takerei, a Native of this place, and half-owner of the above vessel, has just given me the following melancholy information:— On Sunday morning last, the 12th inst., the Raven left Waitara with a crew of four men, viz., Mr. Hopkins-the master, another European called Ho, Henare Takerei, and his cousin Hira. When but a short distance from land it was found that the vessel was leaky. She had been injured in the* "Waitara by a large tree, during the flood a week previously. The anchor was dropt! for an hour, and the leak slopped with | oakum, after which she proceeded on her i way to Manukau. The weather was fine, I the wind fair, and nothing particular oc-i curred until seven p.m. when Hira, who! was in bed, heard the rushing in of the I water. The vessel's course was then altered,' lier head turned towards the land, and three men hastened to the bow below, where the water came in. They endeavoured to stop the breach with a blanket, but it being in a decayed board, the hole became larger, and the water rushed in more ahd more. After working an hour and a half they returned to the deck which was then only one fool above the sea. All procured some clothing, iben pushed the boat into the sea and left the vessel—Hopkins steered with a paddle, Eo and Henere pulled with oars, and Hira baled the water out with a saucepan, the boat being leaky and small. When they had rowed about 200 yards they saw the' Raven go down. It was then 9p.tu., and they were some five miles from the lands about half way between Mokau and Kawhia. The high hill Wareorino was in sight. They pulled towards the land, but a strong land breeze from Marokopa ruffled the sea, which
filled the boat and upset her. Three clang to the boat, but the sailor Ho was carried away. Henare swam after him and brought | him back with the oar still in his hand. The boat was now righted, the water got out. and three men got in again, but the fourth upset it. Both Europeans were now washed away, Henare swam after them and brought Hopkins to the boat again, but the poor man Ho was seen no more! He was a good swimmer, and might have been saved if he had not worn long and heavy boots. Hopkins had his taken off while in the water, clinging to the boat. He was carried away and brought back by Henare four times, but about four (judging from the stars) yesterday morning he was drowned! His last word was a lauguid call " Henare," whose strength was also nearly exhausted, so that he could help the sinking man no longer. Hira who was very weak, had tied himself to the boat with a rope, otherwise he must have been lost too. His clothes were torn off him by his cousin. With part of his shirt they baled the water out of the boat, and gelling in ihey embraced each other to " tangi" (weep) in their distressing state. After that Henare sculled the boat with the oar they had left, and Hira continued baling the water out until, quile exhausted, he was compelled to lie down, liul at length the sun rose, the wind from the land gradually ceased, there was a calm, then a genile Seabreeze set in, which enabled Henare to scull the boat le a sandy beach at Harihari, south west of Kavvhia, landed about noon. He carried Hira ashore and laid liim in the warm sand, got fire by rubbing wood together, rubbed and rolled Hira uulil he revived, and procured some mussels from the rocks, which they roasted and eat. In the evening they came to Tanaroa where they found people and food. * it *
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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 10, 1 August 1861, Page 12
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656LOSS OF THE SCHOONER RAVEN, AND TWO LIVES. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 10, 1 August 1861, Page 12
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