A BARQUENTINE FOUNDERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8325, 5 January 1907, Page 5

A BARQUENTINE FOUNDERS.

THE CREW SAFE,

By Telegraph—Press Association.

AUCKLAND, January 4,

The barquentine Elverland, bound from Newcastle to Auckland, with a cargo of coal, foundered off the Three Kings, The captain and five of the crew reached Pukenui this morning. The others remain on the Three Kings, and a steamer is to be sent to bring them to Auckland.

Captain Savory states that the Elverland foundered in deep water on Saturday. She had been becalmed for fourteen hours between the Big King and Cape Maria, and was drifting ashore, and was in such imminent danger of being wrecked that the crew had to get out the boats. They commenced to tow the vessel clear of land. After three hours towage/ when the vessel was apparently safe, it was then discovered she had sprung a-leak. The vessel was making so much water that the case was hopeless, and she soon foundered in deep water six miles west of the Three Kings. THE CAPTAIN'S REPORT.

The following is Captain Savoury's report regarding the loss of the barquentine Elverland: —"The Elverland on December 28th, at 4 p.m., was 15 miles east by south of the Three Kings, Cape Maria, east-south-east, being about 15 miles. It was dead calm, but there was a nasty swell from the north-east. The principal sails were stowed. At midnight the Cape Maria light was bearing east-south-east, apparently the same distance off. There was a heavy fog over the Three Kings on December 29th at 4 a.m. At 6 a.m. the sound of distant breakers was heard, and the fog lifted, the land being seen 100 yards off the ship. I called all hands, and launched both boats. We tried to tow the ship off the land, and were towing for about three hours. We towed the ship two miles along the coast, but not off. A light breeze then sprang up, and I took my boat's crew on board to set sail, leaving the other boat still towing during that time. After making sail I sounded the well and found 30 inches of water in it. I started the pumps, but the water gained. I provisioned both boats and left the ship about 2 p.m., three miles off the Three Kings. The Elverland sank about 4 p.m., and I landed on the big King. I left in a boat with five men on Wednesday, January, 2nd, and after 36 hours rowing, reached Houhora Bay, on Thursday evening. There I met a man named Saunders, who gave us food* and showed us the way to Mr Thomas, N.S.S. agent at Houhora. There are, six men still on the island."

(The Elverland is a three-masted wooden vessel of 398 tons gross" and 361 tons net, built at Porsgrund, Norway. Her dimensions are: — Length, 137 ft 4in; breadth, 29ft 7in; depth, 14ft. 4in. The scene of the wreck is memorable from the fact of the Huddart Parker liner Elingamite having been totally wrecked on the same group a little over four years ago, with 'terrible loss of life. It is a cluster 6f islands some eight miles in extent, lying about 33 miles north-west of Cape Maria Van Diemen, and in the track of vessels plying between Auckland and Sydney. The islands are uninhabited, and landing is uncertain and dangerous. Since the erection of a powerful light at Cape Maria the islands have not been considered dangerous for steamers, if care is taken to avoid the strong currents and tide races, • but sailing vessels are advised to give them a wide berth, unless 'favoured by a commanding breeze.)