THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY IN SEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1902, Page 5

THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY IN SEARCH.

NO SIGN OF THE MISSING ONES.

THEIR CHANCES OF ESCAPE STILL GOOD

( By Our Own Reporter.)

(On the Schooner Countess of 1 Ranfurly.)

MANGONUI, Wednesday (Midnight).

On hearing of.the wreck of the Elingamite Captain Worsley. of the schooner Countess of Ranfurly wired to the Government offering to take his vessel north to render any assistance that might be required. The Government replied accepting the offer, and late on Monday night efforts were quickly made to get the vessel, which was about to be docked, ready for sea. The crew were quickly got together, and, minus the cabin boy, the schooner left the wharf at five minutes to two on Tuesday morning under sail and propeller.

A south-westerly wind was blowing and freshened considerably after dawn, so that the schooner had a smart run under sail alone up the cost during the morning. In the afternoon the engines were brought into requisition and Cape Brett was reached shortly after four.

Just off that headland the barque Hirotha, bound for Auckland, Avas spoken by Captain Worsley, who laid the schooner alongside ancl communicated the news of the wreck to the crew of the barque. They had not heard of the disaster previously to this, and the captain of the Hirotha said he had seen nothing of the boats, rafts or wreckage of the Elingapiite though he had passed the Three King's three miles to the northward at about four o'clock on Monday afternoon.

The weather had been bad with heavy sea from the south-west, but not much wind.

The boats from the wrecked ship would, in his opinion, have every chance of getting round the North Cape, but not much chance of effecting a landing on the Three Kings.

The sea was not of such a nature that, the boats could not live on it.

After asking- the barque to report having spoken onr vessel on arrival in Auckland Captain Worsley continued along the coast. The wind was, now more ahead than before. About seven o'clock a sail was sighted off the Bay of Islands, and proved to be that of the schooner Coronation, from Sydney en route to Auckland. She, too, had not heard of the wreck, and reported having seen no wreckage., boats, .or rafts during her trip. Our. schooner then continued -..on a northerly course. - The night was beautifully clear, and a tine light breeze was blowing. _ L

. Blue flames were burnt every hour and a sharp look out was kept. At half-past three the Omapere, another of the search vessels, passed us. About four o'clock, off Mangonui, a large steamer hove in sight, and proved to be the' Zealandia, which had turne"d back from her trip to Sydney. When within speaking- distance she was hailed by Captain Worsley, and in answer to the question, "Have you got the Eling-amite's passengers?" the -welcome reply came back, "Yes; seventy-seven of them. There is one boat and a raft still missing." The. Zealandia's officers also stated that they were bound •for Auckland. They then proceeded on their voyage down the coast. After speaking with the Omapere the latter vessel proceeded tip the coast. Our schooner then ran out several miles to the north-east in the hope of finding the missing boat and raft, but. without success . The captain then decided to run to Mangonui for instructions and commurticate news to Auckland. We made Mangonui at 11.30, but found that the news had been sent through by the Omapere from Doubtless Bay. Captain Worsley telegraphed the state of affairs to' the Premier. The captain has decided to resume the search on the north north-east of the Three Kings if nothing should be heard beforehand of the boat and raft.