TOTAL WRECK OF THE DEVON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 95, 26 August 1913, Page 5

TOTAL WRECK OF THE DEVON.

ON THE ROCKS AT PENCARROW HEAD. WITHIN THE SHADOW OF THE LIGHTHOUSE.

WRECKAGE COMING ASHORE. NO LIVES LOST. Pencarrow Head is a rounded cliff 322 ft. high on the eastern entrance of Port Nichclson, the port for Wellington, and is connected by telephone with tha city„ The top light-house 1.33 a fixed white light, which In fair weather can be seen for > a distanca of 25 miles. The low-level light is Wigham patsnt fixed white with red arc, and is visible for ten miles. [Per Press Association.]

Wellington. August 25. The Federal-Houlder-Shire lineDevon went ashore near the low-love' light at Pencarrow Head about 8.17 to-night, in a very strong scutherl; and thick, driving lain. The spot is very inaccessible, bul information from the lighthouse indi pates that the vessel is hard and fas: .in the rocks about 100 yards from th shore. A tremendous sea is running, am it is impossible to lower a boat. The ferry-steamer Wahine stood b; until 10 p.m., when she proceeded or her way south, after wirelessing tha' die was unable to read the Morse sig nals from tlie vessel. The captair of the Wahine considered it inrpos sible to render any assistance, owin," to the tremendous sea and the position of the wreck. The harbor ferry-steamer Duehesr : s proceeding to the scene with the harbor-master and others. It is also reported that a party is endeavoring to make its way overland. THE FIRST NEWS. The first intimation received by the postal authorities that the vessewas ashore came front the Delphic ,>nich is lying in quarantine off Somes Island, opposite the entrance to tin harbor. Sho reported tiiat distress signals had been observed in the direc :ion of the heads. A further wireless from the Wahim ,tatos that the Devon had reporter :,h;.t she had only one boat left. A telephone message from Pencar row stated that no lights were visibl. m the Devon at half-past ten. The harbor ferry-steamer, which Id* bhol wharf at about a quarter t< sloven, took the harbormaster, a pilot i Morse signalman, and the police ["he idea is to approach the Devon a near as possible and communicat'. ■vibh her by Morse lamp, or else wit! i land party, which will proceed tc he scene of the wreck along tin >each. ..IGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S REPORT A HOPELESS V^RECK. THE CREW SAFE. Wellington, August 26. At 12.40 a.m. the lighthouse keep r at Pencarrow Head reported that he Devon appeared to be a hopelesr vreck, but that the men aboard wen •M'obably in no immediate danger. The after-part of the vessel appear d to be breaking up, and some wreck •go was coming ashore. The bow was high and dry, and t/ ill appearances was firmly fixed or ',ho rocks. ELECTRIC LIGHT OUT. The electric light seemed to hav? ailed, but the masthead light and a Tew others were showing. Three or four attempts had been

made to get linos ashore, but the linos !iad all fallen short. In the keeper's opinion, the crew -ould come ashore. There was no sheltered water, but a boat might live, while a line sent ashore would have to pass over sharp pinnacle rocks. The only signal successfully despatched up to 12.40 was from the lightiou.se asking the Devon if they were j;oing to send the boats ashore. The reply was "No," INDISTINCT SIGNALS. * Further signals from the ship seemed to indicate something should lie done ashore, but the full meaning of the signals could not be made out. The weather, though rough, was not in the nature of a storm or even a gale. The Wahine was able to go out, and he incoming steamers this morning had an easy passage. THE DEVON'S DIMENSIONS. The Devon is a steel screw steamer if 6059 tons, with a length of 400 ft, breadth 54ft., depth 28.7 ft. The vessel is owned by the Federal Steam Navigation Company, and is under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Company. VESSEL'S BOTTOM KNOCKED TO PIECES. COMMUNICATION EFFECTED. A later report from the lighthousekeeper at Pencarrow states that lie bad just returned from the beach. He thinks the ship must become a total wreck, half the bottom being knocked to pieces. A line -has been- got ashore, and those on board will be able to land without trouble. TOO ROUGH FOR BOAT TO LIVE IN. CLOSE INSHORE. * The vessel is almost within speaking distance of shore; in fact it w'ould Se possible to converse with those on board but for the noise of the sea. About 20 people are at. the site, eluding the harbour master and staff and three policemen. The sea is much too rough for any boat to live in. HER RECENT MOVEMENTS. The Devon arrived in Auckland on Friday last from Montreal via Australia. She landed 500 tons of cargo, and left on Saturday afternoon for Wellington. weather was experienced by the Devon while on the passage from Capetown to Melbourne. A succession of heavy gales delayed progress considerably, but although a -great deal of water was shipped, no flamage of a serious nature resulted.