SCOW CAPSIZES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 282, 28 November 1932, Page 7

SCOW CAPSIZES.

ECHO ABANDONED. STRIKES PENCARROW ROCKS. TOWED INTO WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Caught in a series of fierce southerly squalls about 11 o'clock on Saturday night the scow Echo, coming from Blenheim to Wellington, struck the rocks near Pencarrow Head and was subsequently abandoned. The Echo, which left Blenheim on Saturday morning, had on board about 150 tons of cargo, principally wool, chaff and butter. The vessel was found floating on her side yesterday morning and towed to port. Some hatch coverings evidently came adrift after the Echo struck, as a number of boxes of. butter from the vessel were washed up on the Petone beach. When the scow struck water entered rapidly and the steering gear was also damaged. The vessel floated off and entered the heads, but was not manageable. The master, Captain Jarman, decided to anchor, and when this was done the vessel swung round into the wind. Water continued to enter and the master then decided to abandon the scow. The crew rowed ashore in the lifeboat. The scow dragged her anchor and the cable parted. The vessel drifted rapidly up the harbour and capsized. Launch and Tug to Rescue. The pilot launch Arahina was dispatched by the Harbour Board, but the weather, which had abated for a time,, again became stormy, and the scow could not be found. About midnight the tug Toia was sent out, but she also' failed to locate the Echo. The Toia returned to port, but left again at daylight yesterday morning and soon sighted the Echo, which was floating on her side, almost submerged, about half a mile south of Somes Island, drifting in the direction of the island. The Toia towed the scrow to Clyde Quay wharf, arriving about 10.30 a.m. She was still lying on her side. Members of the New Zealand Royal Artillery at Fort Dorset rendered valuable help to the crew, by directing a searchlight on the Echo as the crew were leaving her in the lifeboat. The sailors were subsequently taken to the fort, but as they reside in Wellington, the harbour authorities obtained taxis and sent them to their homes. Aeroplane Brings Papers. Mr. Anderson, of Levin and Company, Limited, the local agents for the vessel,' flew to Blenheim yesterday for a copy of the cargo manifestos, and arrived back at Wellington in the afternoon. He said that Eckford' and Company, Limited, Blenheim, were immediately recommissioning their motor vessel Opawa, at present laid up at Blenheim. She is to leave there next Thursday and will maintain the Echo's service between Wellington and Blenheim. Arrangements were also being made for the steamer John to bring cargo from Blenheim to Wellington on Wednesday. ... .- t , Floating Cargo Recovered. Gear for the righting of the Echo was placed in position yesterday* and the floating crane Hihitea brought the vessel to an even keel this morning, and the scow was towed to the floating dock wharf. She was pumped out, and the work of unloading is now proceeding. The amount of cargo still in the vessel cannot be ascertained till the work has proceeded furtTier. After discharge tile Echo will be taken td the patent slip in Evans' Bay for examination. It is known that most of the damage which the vessel suffered is confined to the forward part.

The agents state that she had 140 tons of cargo. So far they have recovered. from the beach 79 boxes of butter, 13 crates of cheese, 26 empty oil drums, and other articles. The work of collecting is still proceeding.

A schooner-rigged auxiliary scow of 126 tons, the Echo was built at Kaipara in 1903. Some years ago the scow was engaged in the coastal trade around Auckland, but was sold to the Karamea Shipping Company for the WellingtonWest Coast and Cook Strait cargo service.