SHIP-WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1921, Page 5

SHIP-WRECK.

SMALL VESSEL Crew of Six Lost. ’ Disaster in Fierce Squall. Taranaki Man on Board. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. While entering Wellington heads early this morning the auxiliary schooner Omaka, trading between this port and Blenheim, capsized, and there are no survivor? of the crew of six. The keeper at Pencarrow lighthouse says he saw the vessel suddenly heel-to in a fierce south-easterly squall and turn over. The little vessel was laden with chaff, bales of which and other wreckage were soon swept overboard. He saw at least four men who were hanging on to the wreckage maintain their precarious hold until, pounded ’by the fierce seas dashing over them, they dropped off one by one. The vessel was hurled on the rocks, and soon went to pieces. Portions of the deck cabin were carried to Petone, where they were washed ashore. The dead body of one of the crew was found in the cabin As soon as the news of the disaster was reported, many vessels went to the heads and bays in the harbor to render assistance to anyone living, and search for bodies, but no trace of the crew, except Weeks (the engineer) could be found. No hope is entertained of any of the crew being saved. The names are: Captain A. E. Hunter, aged 38 years, a resident of Island Bay, Wellington; leaves a wife and two children. John Tyrell Weeks, engineer, late of Westport, now of Wellington; leaves a wife and four children. Wm. Leonard Watson, acting mate, 27 years, Wellington; unmarried. Harold Stapleton, 22 years; mother residing at Wellington; Unmarried. J. Marlow, cook, 38 years, of Brooklyn, Wellington; wife and three children. Tommy Toy, whose surname is not ascertainable; late of the Rona; parents residue in the Taranaki district. The vessel belongs to Eckford and Co., Blenheim. These are all the details available up to the closing of th# telegraph office at 5.30 p.m.

A GRAPHIC STORY.

WRECK SEEN FROM LIGHTHOUSE. TWO SHIPS PASS THE MEN. BUT FAIL TO SEE THEM, HOPELESS STRUGGLES IN WATER. Wellington, Last Night (11 p.m.) Mr. T. B. Smith (principal keeper at Pencarrow lighthouse) gave in simple language a most graphic and pathetic story of the accident, and of the brave struggle foY life of a number of the men on the ill-fated schooner. He says: “Whilst extinguishing the lights at 4.15 this morning I noticed the schooner Omaka making into harbor under her foresail and jib; her mainsail was not set. Lighthousekeeper Hujssey went downstairs, and when he went outside he saw the vessel capsize. A strong southerley gale was blowing at the time and the vessel was running before the wind. Suddenly she broached to and a big wave struck her at the same time and over she went. “I could make out forms of at least two sailors hanging on to the wreckage, and 1 immediately communicated with Wellington. I kept my two assistants, Hussey and Cocker, on the beach to light fires opposite these men, with the double object of showing them where to land and letting them know assistance was available, and that there was somebody to receive them if they came ashore. They were, however, drifting up harbor.

STEAMERS PASS BY. “I could then make out three men amongst the v rec^a B e ’ ne was c^n B* ing to a tank, but becoming exhausted, he was swept away. I saw him throw up his arms and disappear. It was then ten minutes past six. The other two men were clinging to a long plank, one at each end. “In the meantime, about twenty minutes past five, the steamer Wairau appeared entering harbor and. passed some 390 yards away, but apparently did not see either the wreckage or the men struggling* in the water. By this time the wreck had been blown inshore considerably and had struck half a mile further on, where she subsequently broke up. Later the Baden Powell came in and passed the men about (it sfcemed) 190 yards away. I again made frantic efforts to attract the attention of those on board, but without avail. “The man who was on the tank had disappeared some time before, but I kept the other two men in view all the time until they had nearly gone out of sight. There was about a mile or wreckage in all —benzine tanks, fodder, timber, etc., drifting with the wind and current faster than one could walk. “I then took mv telescope and ran as hard as I could to the point, where I saw one of the men on the plank throw up his hands and go down. As the second steamer passed, I distinctly saw the men make a supreme effort to draw themselves up on the plank and attract the attention of those on the passing steamer They drew themselves up almost into a kneeling position on the plank, but apparently they were not

when the man on the tank passed, I saw the two men on the plank wave encouragingly to and apparently cheer the other. A MASS OF DEBRIS. “Vessels now came from Wellington, but the gale was blowing so hard that the progress of the vessels was retarded to such an extent that when they reached the wreckage it was 2$ hours after the accident, and the men had disappeared. The assistant lighthouse-keeper followed up along the beach the drift of the men on the plank and about half-an-hour after he started he saw one man swept from his hold and disappear. Then following on, at Golland’s Bay he saw the second man on the plank also disappear. “The schooner was completely broken up and disappeared. The hull was smashed to matchwood and only a mass of spars and debris is left. When the man on watch came down to me he stated that he distinctly saw one man, probably the helmsman, swept over*, board a£ the schooner broached-to, and he was clambering up the side again when capsized. My son also saw a man seated in the ship’* dinghy after the vessel capsized, but a big wave overwhelmed the dinghy. “We all saw the men on the plank making frantic, efforts to tear off their clothes, so that they could swim better, and a torn sweater was afterwards found on the beach, showing that they had partly succeeded.” The body of Weeks was found right inside the deckhouse, which was but a galley when it shoaled on Petone beach. A rope stretched round part of ■ the deckhouse made it appear that one of I the crew had endeavored to lash himself to it. A second body, not yet identified, wasi wwihed ashore £» HtsJh <