SEA DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 9

SEA DISASTER.

WRECK RECALLED.

DUNDQNALB'S LOSS.

SURVIVORS' HARDSHIPS.

TRIPS EN FRAIL CRAFT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, tliis day. Seafaring men. on the "waterfront to-day liad few otlier topics than the plight of the Penang, and it "was generally stated that the course from Australia to Britain followed by tlie barque •was the same as that usually taken by sailing vessels in the days before steam. In bad weather several of them -were ■wrecked on islands of Stewart Island.

One of the worst wrecks was that of the four-masted barque Dundonald on Disappointment Island, near the Auckland Islands, on March 7, 1907, and the story of the survivors made dramatic reading.

Disappointment Island is an .uninhabited island devoid of growth apart from a few small growing veronica trees. Working on the Dunedin wharf this morning was Mr. Carl Knudson, one of the heroes of the Dundonald party. He was second mate of the vessel, and was leader of the party after the first mate died. Twelve Drowned. Of the ship's company IK men, including the captain, were drowned. The captain's young son, a passenger, was also drowned in his father's arms. The mate and about 10 others reached the island by climbing from flic rigging of the masts to the cliffs, but the mate died from exposure within a fortnight. The story of the survivors from the time of tlieir landing on the inhospitable island is one of resourcefulness and heroism. For seven months they lived in loneliness and desolation. In the first Sew days they fed on raw mollyhawks, and . when a fire was subsequently lighted they kept it burning day and night until they left for the shipwreck base at Auckland Islands. To reach the shipwreck depot at Auckland Islands they constructed a boat, from twisted veronica branches, covered with sail cloth, precariously removed from the masts of the wreck. The skeleton of the boat may still be seen in Cliristchurch. In' this frailest of craft three of the' .men conquered the five miles of sea which separated, them from the Auckland Islands, but a constant fog hindered them from finding the food depot, and after seven days, four of them without food, they made the perilous return trip to Disappointment Island. Hope Never Abandoned. A second attempt to reach the island was also unsuccessful. A third attempt, however, was successful, and the heroic men set. out to rescue their companions, who never abandoned hope. The survivors were taken by boat to" Port Ross, where they remained till rescued by the Government' steamer Hinemoa, which reached Bluff with them on November 30, 1907. the men improved in. health. . and, were . all fit when the Hinemoa rescued them. '