WRECK OF THE DEVON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 98, 29 August 1913, Page 2

WRECK OF THE DEVON.

- ♦ —=- • .•.-■..•■' "A CONSTRUCTIVE TOTAL LOSS';" ' [Per Press Ambtiikiiok".] Wellington, August 2 y . The members of the ciev of the wrecked Devon to-day recovered their personal effects, which were lowered into a small boat lying alongside. , This afternoon, Mr" Archibald Walker, Lloyd* surveyor, made an examination of the wreck. He finds that the Devon'is "a constructive total les-s," which means that even if -he could lie got off the rocks the cost of repaks would be too' great to make it worth while. She lies' on a reef which runs diagonally from a point 120 feet from the stem on the starboard side to a [joint'l6o feet from the stern on the ix»rt side. Thus'4o feet of the ve&so 1 . is resting on the rocks. The reef set', up about four to five feet from the bottom. Soundings' show an even grade on the 'bottom, .from 3$ fathoms at the bow to abo'tit '5 "fathoms at the stern at high tide. The contour of. the hull is unaltered. The transome n!' the counter is flattened in and 'the deck lias started; Numbers four and five' hatches are burst" open, indicating that the bottoms of number four and five holds are up. The starboard boiler has been rawed, indicating that the bottom from the stokehold aft is set up. There is mly ten feet of water in No. 1 hold, inci a lot of cargo is therefore uninjured. No. 2 hold is empty. In the low.?r •lold of Nos. Ji and 4, the cargo, which is principally rolls of newspaper and general merchandise, is under wator, .tnd the cargo in 'tween decks there ;a "tinsalvable. , If there is no change in the weaklier, the salvage cargo should be secured without any trouble. There is io chance of "the vessel breaking up for many months, except in exceptiondly heavy weather, although the deck houses are bound to go. It is possible to remove the winches, refrigerating machinery, steam pipes and fittings throughout. The local agents for the owners have received a similar report from Captain G. T. Hull, which 'has' been transmitted to them. A reply giving instructions is expected to-morrow.