THE SHIP STRATHNAVER.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1211, 15 September 1874, Page 4

THE SHIP STRATHNAVER.

Our Wellington telegrams state that the owners of the steamer Stormbird claim £IO,OOO salvage for saving the ship Strathnaver. In reference thereto the New Zealand Times of the -ith instant publishes a written statement made by Captain Doile, master of the Stormbird :—" The ss. Stormbird left Wellington for Wanganui at 7.30 p.m. on the 3lst of August, with a light breeze from the south-east. At 8.20 p.m, when abreast the Pinnacle Rock, I observed a vessel's lights in the offing; at the same time saw a rocket thrown up. On ncaring the Heads saw a ship standing in for the old pilot station, on the west side of Chaffer's Passage, under topsails and mointopgallantsail, the wind being

light from the south-east at the time

When abreast the outer rock of ' Barrett's Kcef, I burned a blue light to indicate the position of the channel, seeing by the course the ship was steering • that she- was a stranger, and running-into danger. As she did not alter her course, I steamed with all possible haste towards her. On ncariny; her I found her very close to the reef, so close that I did not consider it safe to cross her bow. I at once steamed under the -ship's stern, and called out ' Port your helm, and steer for the fight; you are running on to the reef.' The helm was at once put to port, and the yards braced forward. The wind at this time was \crj light and moro to the eastward. §eeing tnat the ship would not clear Barrett's Reef, I called out 'Let go the anchor;' she was now yory close to the rocks. I was then asked by some one on board to come and tow her clear of the reef Jut once steamed under the ship's bow, and received ih() tow-liue from the

pilot's bout. The ship was then two or three hundred feet south of the outer rock of Barrett's Reef; too close to let go an anchor, no wind to work her, and setting fast on the rocks with the south-cast swell."