Peril at Sea.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 53, 24 June 1914, Page 5

Peril at Sea.

WRECK OF STEAMER EPI. CREW’S ROUGH EXPERIENCE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] {United Press Association.] (Received 9.30 a.m.) • Sydney, June 24. The captain and officers of the steamer Epi, which was recently totally wrecked on the coast of New Caledonia on her maiden voyage from Sydney, have arrived. The Epi was carried on to the reef by the tide. After the wreck, the crew in two boats were eight days knocking about in a rough sea before they reached Pott Island in an exhausted condition. THE LOSS OF THE ALEDA. CREW STILL MISSING. Sydney, June 23. Search was made for the crew of the Aleda. Lifebelts and clothing were found, but no trace of the sailors. All hope of finding the Aleda’s crew has been abandoned, and the tug has returned. (Received 9.10 a.m.) The Aleda’s wreckage ; is coming ashore. It is supposed the vessel turned turtle in a storm.

U.S.S. CO.’S KAURI ASHORE THE CREW SAFE. JPm Preb« Association.] Westport, June 23. The U.S.S. Company’s steamer Kauri, from Auckland, is ashore on tho beach north of the eastern breakwater. When entering at 6.40 this evening, in squally weather, she was apparently driven by a westerly set on to the eastern wall. She then slewed round tho breakwater on a hard, sandy beach. From there she drifted along for half a mile further north, and is now apparently hard and fast. No one has yet come ashore, but as there is comparatively little sea and the vessel should be almost high and dry at low water, no fears are entertained for the safety of those aboard. The vessel is under the command of Captain Buxton. The tug went out, but the Kauri was too far inshore for her to render assistance. If the vessel holds where she is, it is not thought it will be a difficult task to refloat her, but nothing authoritative can be said until it is ascertained to what extent she is damaged. It is understood that No. 1 hold is full of water and tho engine-room flooded. The vessel has 30 tons of cargo for Westport, mainly sugdr and general produce. The captain and crew are standing by the ship until loav water at about 4 o’clock, when they expect to be able to walk ashore.

ALL THE CREW ASHORE.

HOW THE VESSEL WENT ON THE BEACH. ) SALVAGE OPERATIONS COMMENCED. Westport, June 24. Captain Buxton and the other members of the crew came ashore at low tide. The vessel is hard and fast on a level sandy bottom. Captain Buxton reports that a westerly set put the steamer on the wall. Water made in No. 1 and No. 2 holds and in the engine-room. She was rapidly filling and. in danger of sinking, and to save life he beached her. Very little water is being taken in over the side. The vessel settled in the sand. The weather at the time of the mishap was a fresh westerly breeze, with rain moderate, apd a swell on ' the bar. The Union Company’s tug Terawhiti, with salvage gear and Captains Stott and Burkett accompanying her, left Wellington at noon to assist in the work of refloating the vessel. NO ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE. SURFING IN THE EARLY MORNING. Westport, June 24. As no survey of the Kauri has yet been made, the captain and chief engineer can give no information as to the damage. All hands landed safely through the surf at four o’clock this morning. The vessel lies bow-on to the sea.