A TALE OF SHIPWRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 253, 23 October 1905, Page 5

A TALE OF SHIPWRECK.

DETAILS OF THE COUNTY OF AYB CASUALTY. STATEMENT BY THE GAPTAtS. (Br Xelegraph.-Prese association.) DUKEDDT. ibis day. went well until 8.30 on MSf. There was a dense fog, and the ves.ll got dose into breakers near Moeruki nghthouse. A heavy sea was running at I the time. He had gone below at 4.30 a.m., leaving the mate in charge, and when he was called he recognised that the vessel was IN A DANGEROUS POSITION. Efforts were made to head her out to sea, but, these proving futile, the vessel went heavily on the rocks at mc time mentioned. She continued to bump with each sea and, as the masts were shaking and threatening to come down, Captain Tulloch judged it advisable to TAKE TO THE BOATS. The last sounding prior to quitting the vessel showed about 3ft of water in" her hold, and the heavy sea which was breaking all round the barque made the task of putting off from her very difficult. It also put the idea of landing on the beach out of the question. The boat, therefore, stood off and on all the forenoon, but in the afternoon the coast was again inspected with a view to landing. A DENSE FOG. The fog continued, and sometimes th* boat was in among the kelp, but no suitable landing place could 1 , beY seeifc ■ Evening began to fall, and it va3 resolved to" stand off shore, and keep tie boat's head to the sea as far as possible. About six pan. the Talune passed about half a mile to seaward, and efforts were made to attract her attention, but without success. When darkness fell the occupants of the boat settled down to a steady BATTLE WITH THE WAVES,, "arid," added the captain, "the men stuck to it splendidly, taking turns at the oars four at a time, and relieving each other all n^ht." At two a.m. the Tairoa Head' Eght could be dimly seen through the gloom, and a course was shaped for it, the boat falling in with the Kaputai at 5.30 a.m. As soon as the crew reached the wharf they were taken in hand by Mr. E. D. Grace, secretary of the Shipwrecked Relief Society, and their wants were attended to. DUNEDIN, this day.! The frame of the County of Ayr, largely stripped of. plates and dismasted, is visible from the shore; Cargo is being washed ashore near-the mouth of the Shag River. It is reported that a faur : masted steamer was seen in the same place, three weeks ago. . ' ,