A SCOW WRECKED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3072, 17 December 1908, Page 5

A SCOW WRECKED.

THREE LIVES LOST.

By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 16. The scow Kia Ora struck a rock off Kawau last night. Three lives were lost, namely Captain Edward Piercy, aged 55, whose widow lives in Auckland. James Piercy, the captain's son, about thirty years of age. The cook of the vessel, whose name at present is unknown. j One seaman was saved. The Kia Ora is owned by Maclow Brof., of Auckland, and was bound from Nugnguru to Auckland, loaded with logs. THE SURVIVOR'S STORY. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The "Herald" correspondent at Leigh telegraphs as follows: About midnight on Monday, during the heavy gale that raged on the coast, the Kia Ora went ashore on a jutting reef on the outer side of Kawau Island. The sole survivor states that she struck at about 12.15 in an intense darkness, and with a heavy sea running. At the time it was impossiole to see the bow of the vessel. The Captain, thinking himself well clear of Kawau Island, and wishing to keep clear of the Canoe Rock, altered his course two points to the starboard. Almost immediately after the scow struck a submerged rock and was immediately swept by a hugh sea, which smashed her against the rocks, carrying her spars overboard. The cook was swept away by the same wave, and was never seen again.

Tho vessel started to break up, and the captain and his sor., with the survivor, found themselves clinging to a rock, which was being swept by occasional seas and a ceaseless spray. The tide was tailing, and so later on they were less in danger of being washed off, but the cold wind and spray kept them in a state of helplessness and misery. At length, when daylight broke, the survivor said he would not stay there to be drowned by the incoming tide. He struck out for the shore, and after twenty minutes swimming he landed ashore at the foot of the steep cliff fairly exhausted. He looked back after clambering up the cliff a little way, but could see nothing of the other two, either in the water or on the rocks, and it can only be surmised that they followed his example and tried to swim ashore, Of were washed from th<~ir hold by a big Wave. They jv..j not seen again.

The surv'hitf limbed painfully up the cliff on wf]#s little precarious holding he could fino, and eventually reached a cottage. He wm received arid welcomed, and news sent in to Kawau mansion house.

The survivor is naturally much exhausted, out was reported well at the time the s.s. K?wau left Kawau Island for Omaha.

The vessel is broken into several pieces, one part of the hull being upside down, while the forepart is aslant inside the rock she struck, and the deck house ashore further along.