WRECK OF THE DEVON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 27 August 1913, Page 5

WRECK OF THE DEVON.

A GOLD AND WEARY VIGIL. GETTING THE PASSENGERS OFF. The Evening Post of yesterday had the following concerning the wreck of the Federal liner Devon at Pencarrow Heads: — According to the members of the crew, at 7.40 last evening the engines were going dead slow, the weather at tho time being dirty and a squall beating the entrance to the harbour. Thero came a sharp rending sound, the engines were stopped and the boilers were blown off; the water was coming into the stokehold. Waves were breaking over the deck aft. All hands were called on deck and went forward. Rockets were fired to inform those on shore that the vessel was in distress. The lighthouse-keeper discovered the wreck ten mimvtes "after she struck, and informed Wellington. All the ship's lights went out as soon as the engine-room was flooded, and the position of all on board was uncomfortable in the extreme.

All night long the crew kept their cold and weary vigil on the forword deck. They could hear the voices of their would-be rescuers. But lifesaving operations were impossible. Overhead the Pencarrow light flash- | ed a friendly beam across the water. Fort Dorset's -searchlights were also directed on the helpless vessel. Time after time an attempt was made to get a line ashore by means of a ship's rocket, but on every occaflion'the line dropped helplessly into the sea a few yards from the shore. All night long the officers and men huddled together in the forward part of the vessel, waiting anxiously for morning, and gradually the light of dawn broke and revealed to those on shore the perilous position of the men aboard. Heavy seas were breaking relentlessly over the stern and sweeping half-way along the deck. The forward part of the vessel was practically the only place of refuge. In the early hours of the morning a line was attached to a life-bouy and thrown overboard. It drifted to leeward, away from the anxious watchers on shore, and gpt tangled-among the jagged pinnacles of rock which are scattered profusely abojpt in the vicinity. Another line was thrown overboard, and/that too was carried away by wind and waves in the same direction. Then a third attempt was made, but with; no better success. A PERILOUS TASK. Tossed about by the breakers, the wires soon became a confused tangle and well out of reach of those on shore. It wae readily seen that the of' bringing them to land would be a perilous one, but volunteers were not wanting for the work. Captain Johnson and Captain Hayward, with Messrs Edmondson, Peters, and Kinvig, struggled waist*deep in water, amidst the treacherous wash of the waves attempting to reach the line. For some hours they persisted,'- but the work was extremely difficult. Then one of the bulk-heads was pressed into the service and,, making their way from rock to rock, some of the party at last got" close to where the lines were entangled amongst the pinnacles. To get within reach, however, it was ne-, cessary to place a plank betwegn two jagged outstanding rocks over which the sea was breaking perilously. This dangerous task was safely accomplished, however, the feat being breathlessly watched by those on ship and shore alike. To secure the line it had to be rescued from the surf by means of a heaving line and Hauled up over a pinnacle rock 20ft or 30ft high. With communication established between the ship and the land operations were rendered considerably easier. Under the able direction of Captain Johnson and Captain Hay ward the life-line was made fitst to a high pinnacle of rock well inshore, the other end being secured to the foretop of the vessel. When everything was in readiness a basket was shackled to the lifelino and the hauling-lines attached—one to the shore and one to the vessel. The first man to make the hazardous journey was Quartermaster Johnson, who was severely buffeted by the surf, but reached the shore safe and -sound. He had with him a couple of kittens belonging to the ship, and although he was submerged a considerable part of the journey he delivered his charges safely on shore. The next man to be rescued was a steward, who brought with him the mother of the kittens. Time after time the basket was returned to the ship and hauled ashore safely with its living freight.