AROUND THE WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 4

AROUND THE WORLD.

GOSSIP OF THE PORTS. THE WRECKS OF A CENTURY INCIDENTS IN 1003. (By LEE FORE BRACE.)

Schooner Toroa.—Sailed from Greymouth for Wanganui on August 10, and never heard of again.

S.s. Ov-ilau.—A Union Company's island trader. When on a voyage from Norfolk Island to Sydney fire broke out on October 17. A course won set for Lord Hove Inland, which was reached two days later. Desperate attempts were made by the crew to extinguish the (lames, but aii explosion drove them from the ship. A second explosion burst the hull, causing the vessel to sink. The Ovalau had 26 passengers aboard, all of whom were landed on Lord Howe Island. The outstanding feature of this disaster was the heroic conduct of the vessel's engine room crew, who stuck to their task of keeping steam on the boilers in order to reach safety. Owing to the fumes in the stokehold and engine room the firemen could only stay below for fifteen minutes at a time. Lord Borringdon, who was a pjißfiolißer on the Ovalau, described the Ovalau's firemen as the bravest men he had ever met. No one was injured, but the ship and enrfco, insured for over £20.000, were a total loss.

Barque Northern Monarch.—Bound from Newcastle, New South Wales, struck on Oaonui Beach, Now Plymouth, on November 7. The crew of 24 escaped from the ship in the lifeboats, and three days later the barque was smashed to pieces. Thif vessel was owned by <1. Eager and Co.. of Liverpool, was of 1148 tons register, and should not he confused with the barqiientinc of the same name then owned in the Dominion.

Barque lion Avon.—Bound from Duncdin to Wellington to complete discharge of her cargo. On November 10 stranded on Cape Palliser. The vessel was in charge of a coaetal pilot, Captain McKinnon, who dropped dead immediately after the vessel .stranded.

Ship Thornliebank.—Bound from Xew York to Auckland with a cargo of case oil. When in the high southern latitudes, about 200 miles to the eastward of the Crozet Islands, she encountered a hurricane which lasted for live days. Jn the tremendous sea which followed the hurricane the vessel was strained very badly, the cargo shifted, and several bilge plates amidships were cracked, causing the ship to leuk badly. A cour.se was set for .Melbourne, but when oil" Port Phillip Heads the vessel was blown to the northward, and with great difficulty, owing to the loss of every sail on the ship, Sydney Harbour was made after having been 177 days on the passage, the Thornliebank ww sister ship to the Olivebauk, which viaited Auckland two years ago.

Barque Kalisko. —Totally wrecked at Matautu Savaii, Samoa, on November 27. Crow were rescued by the natives. Vessel and cargo were insured for £ 15,000, and nothing was saved.

Schooner Jessie Xiccol.— When lying at anchor in Lyttelton Harbour the s.s. Rotomahana crashed into her on December IS), the bows of the steamer practically cutting the schooner in two. Only Captain Smith and two of Ins crew were aboard the schooner at the time of the accident, and they were rescued by boats from the liotomahana. At the subsequent inquiry no blame was attached to the officers of the .steamer, as it was proved that the riding lights of the schooner could not be seen.

Schooner Xgamaru Arikt. —Sailed from Avarua, Karotonga, on December 2, for Auckland, to be refitted, and was never seen again. Two months later a quantity of wreckage was picked up on tiie beach at Aitutaki Island (Cook Group), which was identified as having belonged to the miesing vessel. She carried a complement ol eleven hands.

Barque Amsterdam. —Tliis vessel was IJ'.iLcli owned, of 1990 tons, and left New Yolk, bound for Auckland, on July 20, and the story of the voyage makes strange leading. >Sixty days after sailing she was picked 11j> in a dismasted condition oft' the Azores (Western Islands), and towed into St. Michaels. New masbs were sent out from Holland, and the vessel repaired. On November £9 she resumed her voyage, and on July 1, 1004, she was posted at Lloyd's as "missing." On June 18 of that year the schooner Rachael Cohen, belonging to Hatch and Co., of Invereargill, had occasion to visit the Auckland Islands to pick up a party of men engaged in the sealing trade. Coming up to the anchorage at Port Ross the Amsterdam was found lying at anchor in good order. The master of the Amtserdam boarded the Rachael Cohen and inquired from him where the

"port" was, and when the questioning was finished it was found that the people of the Amsterdam had mistaken the Auckland Islands for the port of Auckland On July 26, 1001. 371 days after the Amsterdam left Xew York, she arrived in the Waitemata, which constitutes the longest voyage on record between these ports. Incidents in 1904. Ship Falls of llalladalc.—On January 2, this vessel arrived off the port of Bluff in distress. She left Liverpool for San Francisco one hundred and sixty days before, but was held up for sixty days when trying to get around Cape Horn. Gale after gale was met with in the high latitudes, and finding it impossible to make westing, her master put up the helm and ran east about to make his port. When the Falls of Halladale arrived at Bluff she was short of water and provisions. After assistance had been given the ship she resumed her voyage, arriving at San Francisco 284 days after leaving Liverpool.

Scow Waitemata.—When bound from Mataponi'i for Auckland was totally wrecked near Tutukapa on January 4. The crew were saved.

Barque Lutterworth. —Ran ashore on the Fifeshire Rock on January 19, but was towed off the following day. having sustained slight injury to the hull.

Barque Tobias. —On February 2S this vessel arrived at Auckland in distress. On January 27 a hurricane was experienced in the Tasman. The vessel's decks were swept, bulwarks stove in, and galley with stove and pots and pans swent overboard. A survey was made at Auckland and the vessel was condemned, the hull being purchased by Messrs. J. J. Craig for £125. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. AUSSIE.—I have no particulars of the wrecks on the Australian coast, and it is doubtful if they would bo of sufficient interest to " Star " readers to compile such a list. You should write to one of the Australian papers for particulars. Many thanks for your interest. "STAR' READER (J. McL.) —1 can find no trace of the Mary Ann Christina in th - shipping records of the year you mention. A echooner of this name was wrecked on the Ninety-Mile Beach on August 31, 1567, and as .she was commanded by Captain D. McLean, this is evidently the wreck you mean. G. S. EMTAGE (Motnora).—No trace of the ship Teviotdale can be found arriving at Wellington in cither 1873-74. Further search is being made, and you will be written to. "STAR' READER (P.M.J.).— The s.s. Taranaki was wrecked in Cook Strait in ISOS. The Bishop of Lichfiekl was a passenger on this vessel at the time of the wreck, but he wa.s not drowned. The passengers and crew were all saved. Particulars of this wreck will be given later. CAPTAIN MOORE (Wellington).—The writer of this column is identical with the "Lee Fore Brace" whom you heard from IVA. The ship mentioned wae the Routenburn (now the Beatrice). Sincere thanks for the information.