WRECK OF THE MAHOE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1919, Page 3

WRECK OF THE MAHOE.

TWO-BODIES RECOVERED. ,i SURVIVOR'S ACCOUNT, ...

The oil launch Mahoe, which capsized at the entrance to the Waitara rivet on Friday afternoon, now lies completely overturned on what is known as the A.vrdale reef, about half a>mile from the moutli of the river. A visit to the locality showed that the vessel was well up on the reef. The beach for some distance north of where the wreck lies is i,trewn with wreckage, consisting of petrol tina and cases and other' impedimenta, while one bale of wool was keeping a lonely wateh over its erstwhile carrier. Prospects of saving the Mahoe are doubtful, and it is likely she may become a total wreck.

SURVIVING SEAMAN'S ACOO T JWT. When approached by a Daily News representative Mr. George Mellar, the only surviving member of the crew u the ill-fated vessel, wlio wtw naturally in a somewhat unnerved condition, was reticent in giving his account of the disaster. Ho stated, however, that they -had hadt a "plugging go" on the trip down front Awakino, and when tliey came'Oir"the. bar at the entrance to the trbfev Captain Roberts, who was at the helm, circled round to wait'for, a favorable lull, in which to-get over the bar. Tins ho thought he saw, and setting the vessel's course by the 'beacons attempted to cross. Tivo first breaker caught the vessel and carried it well on, but it was found that the launch liait turned broadside on-and was in that position in the trough of the waves. The captain had the holm hard over, but tho vessel did not rasporitl, and Mr. Mellar believes that the engine must have stopped, and the vessel consequently lost way. THE CAPSIZE.

The following wave caught the little craft and completely capsized her. Mr. Meiiar denies emphatically that the Mahoe struck tho bar

All the occupants, except the engineer, were thrown into the sea, and. Mellar states that when he looked up he saw the launch looming above hiin, and lie struck out'to get irom under her On coming to tho surface he caught hold of $ petrol case, which floated by, and then jiad a look round. He saw the ship's dinghy soma yards away, floating bottom uppermost, and he struck out for it. Ho managed to right the boat and cling to it. Ho then secured the boy Jury whom he saw swimming in the water «. short distance away. He was unable to get him into tho boat, but they held on to it to keep afloat and were gradually carried in shorewards. Soon Meilai caught sight of Captain Roberts swimming some littU distance away and he called to him to ask if he could make the dinghy. He heard no replv. and almost immediate ly a heavy breaker struck the captain and the last Mellar saw of Mm was the crown of his bead just above the surface of the water- The other boy, Ogie, was seen swimming strongly some yards further out to sea, and he even tually reached the beach after a big struggle The dinghy with Mellar and tha boy Jury were washed up on the beach a few chains beyond the noTtb bank of the mouth of the river. They wore all pretty much exhausted, be.'ngr of course, fully clothed at the time they were precipitated into the water. Me!' lar stated he made an attempt IS get his' coftt off once, but was not able The last few yards of the struggle ashore were wors® than ail the rest of the swimming, as the back-wash was v?rv strong Mellar himself is a strong swimmer, but he wns naturally much concerned for tho boy he had tHMi him no he had received a serious fright at his experience.

ASSISTANCE FROM THE TOWN When they reached the beach Jury wan at once despatched to the nearest house to summon assistance, while Mellar went along the beach to see if he could see anything of Captain Robert*, or assist tha bny Ogle, SEARCH PARTIES ORGA^ISEr The township quickly, responded to tho call for help, and parties began to search the beach in order to ascertain the fate of the two missing men-. RELEASING THE ENGINEER. Another pari)-, with whom were Mr. Laing, pilot, and Constable Lapouple, made an attempt to cut through the hull of the upturned launch in ordtr to reacli the engine-room The task of reaching the vessel through the breakers was no easy one, as she was lying some considerable distance from tiio highwater line. Under such circumstances the difficulty of cutting a way into the engine-room may be easily imagined. Whpn tlie hull was pierced tli" ftuivd from the benzine were so strong that the party had to withdraw. Four other m™n went, out and enlarged the opening made, but before their work was completed they also had to retin> Eventually at about 9 o'clock at night the body of the engineer was recovered much disfigured by burns or scalds.

CAPTAIN'S BODY FOUND. Tbp search <or the missing i*t>V.p wa= continued withort interruption, the whol-* beach being 'thoroughly scoured for a considerable distance. It was not until about 3 #,m ck SstuWfev that the body was found, 'about a mile further

along the beach from where, the launch 6ettled. TUB DECEASED SEAMEN. •Both the men who lost their live* in connection with the disaster were weE- . respected residents of W&itara, anil unuch sympathy is felt for their relatives by residents the district. Mauy flags were flying at half-mast'm "Wai» tara on Saturday.

Captain J. M. Roberts, who was a ;native of Scotland, leaves a widow bus no children. He was £5 years o£ age Ke had had a lengthy experience at saa, carrying a master mariner's deep sea certificate. He to New Zealand when he brougnt the Kia Ora out, .the vessel which was afterwards acquired by tho Northern Steam Ship Company, being wrecked some years ago .whilst" "trading between Waitara and Kawhia, with loss of life. He had been ill charge of the Mahoe for about four years, coming from Auckland to Waitara to take over the vessel.

Mr. N. A. Jamieson, engineer, iVas 3'2 years of age and loaves a widow and three children. Ee 'as been a marinft oil engineer practically all his life, and came from Auckland to Waitara, joining the Mahoe aTiout four years ago. The funeral of the deceased took place yesterday afternoon at Waitara, and was largely attended.

THE INQUEST. " "

'A formal inquiry for the nurpesaa of identification was opeted before Mr. W. F, Jenkins (acting-coroner) on Saturday afternoon. It is understood the inque&t will be continued to-morrow.

THE MABCE'3 CMGO, ; The cargo aboard the Mahoe a£ ika time of the mishap consisted of 50 bales of wool. This was considered quite a 6afe load fop tho vessel, and It is stated she has actually carried mora than that on occasions- S-he belongs to Mr A. W. Ogle, of Waitara, who acquirer! her <jomc five years What may become of her ia uncertain at present. Mr. Ogio estimates that it would cost about £4OOO to replace her eunder present-conditions. ,