SCOW WRECKED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 391, 28 November 1932, Page 5

SCOW WRECKED

(Press Assn.-

ON THE PINNACLES AN.OTHER CPASTAL DISASTER OFF WELLINGTON HEADS CREW ESCAPES IN BGAT

-By Telegrapn — Copyrlght)

Wellington, Saturday. Caught in a series of fierce southorly squalls, about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, the scow Echo, coming from Blenheim to Wellington!, was driven ashore on the Pinnacles rocks, off Seatoun. The crew came j ashore in the ship's lif eboat. Later ( the scow floated off, capsized and j jj drifted up the harbour. jj As soon as the crew landed, the |i Harbour Board was communicated | with and the pilot launch, Arahing, was sent out, but the weather, which iiad abated for some time again beeame stormy- The scow could not be found. About midnight, the tug, Toia, was sent out, but neither vessel could locate the Echo, which was floating on her side, almost submerged. The Toia returned to port, but left again at daylight, and soon after sighted\ the Echo about half a mile south of Somes Island, drifting in the direction of the island. A line was attached to the Toia which towed the Echo to the Clyde Quay wharf, arriving about 10.30 a.m. The Echo still lies there on her side. Help From Fort Members of the Royal Artillery at Fort Dorset, were ab'le to render valuable help to the crew on the. distressed vessel which was on the Pinnacles and after she had drifted off toward Somes Island. Some of the artillerymen were on their way home from the pictures when the news reached them, and they made all haste to the fort. The searchlight was put into operation and the beam directed to the boat about 11.30 p.m. The searchlight was of eonside-rable value in enabling the sailors to leave the vessel which was accomplished about midnight. The crew landed at Seatoun wharf and were then taken into the fort, where accommodation and pth.er hospitalities were readily offered for the night, but as the crew had their homes in Wellington, the Harbour Board authorities obtained taxis and sent them to their homesAccording to information at Fort Dorset, the vessel got into trouble soon after passing Pencarrow Head and was disabled. She then went on the reef off Seatoun. After the crew came ashore, the vessel was kept under the light but drifted slowly off toward Somes Island until she turned over and disappeared from sight about 1.30 a.m. Useful Plnnt Owing to the heavy southerly, the principal light at Fort Dorset was out of action. This is supplied from the city main, and is frequently affected by heavy southerly wnds. The. search light, worked from an independent unit in the fort had a portable engine. This plant is in the way of making history for itself, as it was sent to Naper following the earthquake which put all Hawkes Bay plants out of action. It was also sent to Christchurch for the landing of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. ' Although he landed in daylight, the plant was working and ready for action.

The Echo, when towed in was tied up at the wharf and the local agent of Levin and Company Limited, together with men from S. Wood and Son, commenced to remove the. vessel's rigging. The extent of the damage was not known this evening- The Eeho is to be righted to-morrow by the floating erane. A collision ma? will then probably be put around the vessel covering any holes in the hull which will be then pumped out. The vessel will be put in the patent slip for survey. Mr. Anderson, of Levin and Company, flew to Blenheim to-day to pick up a copy of the cargo manifesto, and arrived back in Wellington in the afternoon. He said that Eckford and Company were immediately recommissioning the motor vessel Opawa, at present laid up at Blenheim, and she is leaving there next Thursday and will maintain the Echo's service between Blenheim and Wellington. Arrangements have also been made for the steamer John to bring cargo from Blenheim to Wellington on Wednesd.ay. The Echo, which left Blenheim on Saturday morning, had aboard 150 tons of cargo, prineipally wool, chaff ' and butter. Some of the hatches coverings had evidently come adrift as a number of boxes of butter from the vessel were washed up on the Petone beach- The remainder of the cargo is apparently still in the Echo and will he unloaded hefore the boat is taken to the patent slip.