WRECK OF THE WAIKARE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 70, 4 January 1950, Page 2

WRECK OF THE WAIKARE

DUSKY SOUND DISASTER ASHBURTON MAN LOOKS BACK At least one Ashburton man will wander down memory lane to-day to January 4, 1910, for that is the date of the sinking of the Waikare in Dusky Sound, and he was a passenger aboard the craft. No casualties occurred. Describing The incident, the Ashburton resident stated ‘ that thd vessel was makjng a holiday cruise of the West Coast sounds. Rough, weather had been experienced, but nothing untoward occurred until the day before the scheduled end of the cruise. They were then steaming down the sound, and were passing through the half-mile-wide channel between Indian Island and Passage Inlet, when a sharp crash and tearing sound shook the vessel from bow to stern. Another crash followed and the stern lifted almost out of the water. The record on the chart for that portion of the sound read: “No bottom at 132 fathoms.” An immediate order was issued for all to take up boat stations, and, minutes later, the vessel listed badly to starboard. It appeared that the ship would turn turtle at any moment. Within 15 minutes the boats on the starboard side had been lowered and 120 passengers were clear of the ship. Owing to the list to starboard, the boats on the part side could not be used, so the captain decided to make for Stop Island, about a mile away, as the engines were still going. When close to the island, however, the engines failed, but the vessel had sufficient way to keep going and crash on the rocks of the shore. Anchors were roped ashore in the dense shrub and ropes made fast to the trees to prevent the ship from swinging off-shore. The remaining passengers and crew were landed, but the boats later returned to the ship to take off ■ stores, bedding, etc. A suitable camping site, about 100 yards up from the rocks, was found, and awnings were erected to provide a measure of shelter. Most of the gear had to be hauled up a rocky face TQ feet in height, and then carried along a track which soon become a sea of mud.

Warship to Rescue

That day and night were spent in the camp, with the cooks and stewards serving meals which were remarkably good considering the conditions. A launch was sent off to Puysegur Point lighthouse, 30 miles away, to convey news of the disaster to Dunedin, and the castaways, were picked up, late on the day after the wreck, by H.M.S. Pioneer, on board which was the late Sir Joseph Ward. They were given a meal aboard and slept that night under awnings on the deck. The Court of Inquiry, held later, cleared Captain Newton of all blame and complimented him on his handling of the situation. A letter from the Union Steam Ship Company, owners of the Waikare, expressed warmest appreciation of the work of the captain, officers, engineers and crew. “What might have been a dreadful catastrophe became a memorable adventure,” is the Ashburton resident's summary of the happening.