ASHORE ON MANA ISLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 21 May 1907, Page 7

ASHORE ON MANA ISLAND.

THE EMMA SIMS ON THE ROCKS. ALL HANDS SAVED. f The schooner Emma Sims was wrecked on the .south-eastern end of Mana Island on Saturday mowring. The Emma Sims was bound from Brooklyn Bay, Pelorus Sound, to Lyttelton with a cargo of timber. The schooner cleared the sound last Saturday week at 7 a.m., and got up to Cape Campbell on Sunday evening at 5.40. Then the boat commenced to run in with stormy weather, and the were kept hard at work. EvenP®%Tally the captain put into Worser Bay for shelter, and left on May 16th, at 8.30 p.m., with a six-knot breeze. Once outside, however, the vessel was the plaything of a fierce southerly. The wind varied eight points between south-west and southeast, and Its moods were most malicious. It would rise to half a gale, then drop, and spring up again. The captain finally tried to take shelter under Cape Terawhiti. All he could do was to reach Mana ► Island, and just managed to get inside the south-egstern rocks. He was forced to anchor five and a-half cable lengths out or go ashore. He let go both anchors, forty-five fathoms on the starboard side and fifteen on the port, but the lines, apparently, failed to hold the vessel off the rocks. At 1.30 on Saturday morning the schooner struck, swinging broadside on to the rocks.

By Telegraph—Press Association. /WELLINGTON, May. 20. The crew of the Emma Sims had a difficult time in getting ashore. On Saturday morning, at 5.30, while it Was yet dark and misty, one of the men, named Munro, endeavoured to get ashore. A lifebelt was put around him, and a couple of lines were fixed so that he could be pulled back when in distress. He went over the -side, and immediately disappeared. Then a voice was heard, "For God's sake pull me in!" and his mates tugged him back to the vessel. After a rest Munro determined to make another attempt, though he was strongly counselled to remain on the schooner for a time. He fought his Way to hard ground, and after half an hour's rest he was able to assist his mates to land. A line was got ashore, and Munro made it fast around a rock, thus enabling'the other three sailors to creep to safety. The captain, however, stuck to the ship for many hours alone. Huge seai. wero breaking over the vessel, but he would not budge while a ray of hope remained. In tho end he, too, was forced to join his crew on the dreary island, where they had to shiver in their soaking clothes till the Hinemoa came to the rescue. Captain Mac Donald lays some blame on the government regulations for the present plight of the Emma Sims. As an auxiliary oil engine is installed, the vessel is required to carry a certificated mate if it is desired to supplement sails with v mechanical power. The master was ) detained in Wellington for ten days trying to get a certificated mate, but none would come for the salary, which he considered good (£l2 a month). One man did appeal-, but vanished when he heard that the vessel was mainly worked by sail. Before the vessel left port that time the Government officer sealed down the works, and later on the captain shipped the idle propeller for it was, serving only for the purpose of catching weeds. This regulation and the belief that the starboard cable snapped, are held responsible by the master for the striking of the vessel. The master gives all possible praise to the men. He says that they behaved splendidly throughout the trying voyage and in the final crisis. The lifeboat of the Emma Simms was stove in by the great rollers. Captain Bollons, of the Hinemoa, which went to the rescue of the Emma Sims, says the vessel is in a hopeless position. She is ashore on a rocky bottom, broadside on to the south-eastern side of the island. The Hinemoa left Wellington for the scene of the wreck at 11.30 last night, and arrived off the island at 4 o'ciock this morning. After locating the ketch a boat was sent ashore, and the captain of the sailer, three seamen, and a boy, who constituted the crew, were taken on board the Hinemoa without difficulty. Since their vessel had been ashore the wrecked mariners had been made comfortable on the island. The captain and the crew lost practically the whole of their personal effects. Captain Bollons examined the wreck, and found the bottom portion of the wreck in a very bad way. He considered there would be no possible chance of. doing anything with her, but a number of things, including the gear, could be saved if prompt action was taken.