MOKAU WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 4

MOKAU WRECK.

LAUNCH LOST ON BAR.

THE CAPTAIN MISSING

CREW’S FIGHT FOR THE SHORE.

The wreck of a launch, involving tfte lo)ss of the Aiptaiu and desperate efforts by the three other occupants of the boat to reach the shore, occurred at the entrance to the Mokau river in the early hours of yesterday morning. The boat was the launch Turanga, of 19 tons net, ,and owned, by the Awa-kino-Mokau Shipping Company, of which Mr. P. E. Stainton (New Plymouth) is managing director. The launch contained:— Captain F. Stearne (37), married, of Waitara.—Missing, believed drowni ed.

Dave Scott, engineer, saved. Len Smith, able seaman, saved. Roy Gpddard, able seaman, saved. The launch was completely wrecked and its cargo of twenty-three tons of merchandise was lost. The vessel was valued at £3OOO, but was insured for only £l4OO in tlie Royal Exchange Office, while the cargo—valued at £looo>--wag only partially covered by policies in the Queensland Office and the British Traders’ Company. The total loss is therefore a heavy one.

STORY OF THE WRECK.

The story of the wreck was told to a Daily News reporter last night by Mr. Stainton, who visited the scene yesterday and attended tp the wants of the survivors. The vessel left Waitara at 10.45 on Thursday night with Captain I Stearne in charge. She carried 23 tons : of cargo, including 77 bags of chaff, 4 or 5 tons of fencing wire and ’general merchandise, all carefully stowed. The sea was calm when the vessel crossed the Waitara bar, but there was a spanking breeze behind her, and in the moonlight a pleasant and brisk passage was made. Calm conditions prevailed all the way to Mokau, and the entrance was reached at 2 a.m. The signals were up for the boat to enter the river, and the captain proceeded to take his craft in over the bar, which was comparatively calm.

Then, when everything was ready for the launch to take the bar, the engineer noticed a huge wave running behind them, and he called out to attract the oaptaiji’s attention to it. The wave, which was an exceptionally strong one, rushed on and caught the boat on the stern, and it was immediately followed by a considerable number of heavy breakers, which dashed against the small craft, causing it to lurch, then broach to, and quickly turn over. A succession of waves tossed the launh ashore and smashed it up into a wrecked tangK

“The mast was no better than kindling wood.” said Mr Stainton, “and everything was smashed to pieces.” A tidal wave is the explanation of the unusual conditions.

A PLUCKY RESCUE.

When the launch overturned Scott, Smith and Goddard swam for the shore, a distance of about half a mile. Goddard saw the captain clinging to the rudder, and Captain Stearne called out, but Goddard could not hear what he said. This was the last that was seen of the captain. In the meantime Scott struggled ashore without assistance, and Smith also reached land, but Goddard was seen to be in difficulties, and he was calling for assistance. Being z a strong swimmer, Smith, though exhausted by his efforts, immediately went to the rescue of Goddard and after a fine effort he brought the young man ashore. Goddard was greatly exhausted, and he owes his safety to the splendid work of Smith. Smith then went in again to look for the captain, but the search was fruitless.

At a late hour last night no trace of the missing captain had been found. It was his third trip since joining the boat. He had the reputation of being a firstclass seaman and careful navigator, Captain Stearne, who at one time was on the dredge Thomas King at New Plymouth, recently came from Lyttelton to Waitara, where his wife and child reside.

The Turanga was a vessel of 28 tons gross and 19 tons net register (length 52.9 feet, breadth 13ft and depth 5.2 ft) fitted with a 25-h.pl. oil engine. She was built by Messrs. Bailey and Low, of Auckland, in 1910, and purchased in April, 1920, froirj, Messrs. Bertram Bros, by the Awakino-Mokau Shipping Company.