SCOW'S END.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1920, Page VII

SCOW'S END.

WRECKED IN A GALE. . TRIALS OP THE CREW. IN THE RIGGING ALL NIGHT. By Telegraph.—Piesi Astoclatlon, Auckland, Last Night. The steamer Daphne, which arrived from Mercury Bay early this morning, brought with her the crew of the scow Te Teko, which was wrecked on Slipper Island, near Mercury Bay, on the ijight of Friday last; With her also returned Captain Hammond, of the Northern Company, who has been to Mercury Bay to examine the wreck and report on the possibility of salvage. It seems that the scow, which was on her way from Whakatane to AuakJand, ran into exceptionally heavy weather on Friday night, which will be remembered as very wet and stormy in Auckland. The wind was high and it was impossible to see where the vessel was going. In these circumstances the vessel ran on the goufch-eaet eorner of Slipper Island, aid began to break up almost at onoe. It jras impossible to launch a boat, and tie crew took to the rigging. Later, when the breaking up continued, two of the engineers and a deck hand, swam ashore, but E. Sellars, who was in charge of tha vessel, and the remainder of the crew, remained in the rigging all nighty The three men who had teen able to land had gone to the homestead of Mr. Leightou, who lives on the Island, and with hia help they were able to rescue the other members of the crew in the morning, when the tide was low. j The disappearance of Gpbbie remains j a mystery. He apparently climbed into the rigging with other members of the crew, and no one remembers seeing him leave- it. The three Who fWW ashore thought that he remained withthe others, while the captain thought that he had gone with them. It is possible that he made an attempt to get ashore, and was unable to teach safety. He may have been atruok with a piece of wreckage and rendered insensible, A search was made yesterday for his body in the vicinity of the wreck, but .to no avail.

Captain Hammond reports that 'he went over to the Island yesterday to view, the wreck, and found the vessel completely broken up. "Wreckage is strewn along the beach for five miles," he said this morning. "It may be possible, for us to salvage one of the engines, the winch, and anchors, but they are in a very difficult position. ; The port engine is under water, while the starboard engine is not yet located. Attempts to salvage the machinery WUI be made by a launch and a punt when the weather moderates." The mails that the vessel carried were lost, but some cargo, principally tinned dripping casks, and personal effects, were washed up about the shores of the Island, and nave been brought up to' Auckland by the Daphne.