A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3000, 24 September 1908, Page 5

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. NELSON, September 23. The warship Encounter nut to sea at noon yesterday owing to the heavy sea running: in the bay consequent on the north westerly gale, and sheltered last night under d'Urville Island. Yesterday afternoon a party of bluejackets landed at the French Pass to send a telephone message to Captain Fyler, who was left ashore at Nelson with about fifty liberty men. Only open boats were available, as the pinnance was left behind here to convey the men to the ship to-day. The shore was reached safely and a message sent. The party waited some time at the lighthouse in the hope of a reply, and darkness set in. The boat was unable to return to the vessel owing to the heavy sea and gale preventing them making any headway against the wind. The boat was tuown a considerable, distance out of her course, but the Encounter's searchlight kept her in ( view, and another boat was" despatched from the vessel, and by the aid of the searchlight the second boat picked up the castaways, and both boats re* turned to the warship after a 'long hard struggle at 8 o'clock. Rumour magnified the incident into a calamity, it being ireely stated today that fourteen lives had been lost, but the facts are as given. The Encounter returned to Blind Bay this morning.

Owing to the heavy rain the rivers are flooded. Yesterday the Motueka coach was surrounded by water at Appleby. The horses were saved, but the mails did not arrive till to day. A landslip between Canvastown and Havelock prevented the Blenheim coach reaching Nelson. The weather is now fine.