THE WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12867, 27 July 1907, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

♦ SUFFERINGS OF THE SOLE SURVIVOR. JACKSON TELLS A GRAPHIC STORY. (rBESS ASSOCIATION 1 TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, July 26Herry Jackson, sole survivor of the wrecked Soow Surpriw. relating his experiences said :—"The Surprise, when off Slipper Island on Friday night, started to drag with three anchors out. The captain ordered the crew to set the staysail. Immediately afterwards, sho struck ihe south end of Watchman rock. The captain sang out 'Good-bye.' That was the last I B»w of him and of the boy Frank Kelly. The scow was bumping very hard when Alf. Stewart, Edward Johneen and 1 took to the fore rigging. Wβ eteved there a little time, and then oame down and went aft. The ship came eterii first off the rocks, and capsired. I lest sight of Stewart, and never saw him again. Johnson and I stuck to the main rigging, after which the scow drifted midway between Watchman rock and tho "coast. I swam ashore, but never Raw Johnsen again. I am a good swimmer, but tho breakers were very large and rough. One breaker took mc aehoro, and ethers came immediately after, and smashed mc on to tho forks. Tlmt is how I was so much cut and bruised. I had been in the water five or six hours. I climbed about half way up the cliffs, and then collapsed from oxhauetion, and stayed thore the whole of Sunday, and at night felt ill, and unable to go further. Next morning, feeling a Tittle better, I crawled up over the cliffs, and eventually reached Mr J. McGregor'e bouse, wliore I received every kindness, and wae put to bed, and carefully nursed. My position on Sunday wae terrible. It was a wild, stormy day. nnd I was stuck naif way up the cliffs, with only x small singlet on. reaching to m,v thighe. I was unable to move, further. The cliffs were below mc, and high perpendicular hills above. I thought 1 wae done for. I lay tliere in the storm all Sunday, "and in the night tho pain wae co severe and unbearable that I wished I wae dead. The weather appeared better on Monday morning, and hiving gained c little extra strength, I started to crawl clone, not knowing exactly where I wae. , ' A Tairua -message states that the steamer Onslow visited tho scene of of the wreck of tho scow Surpriso veeterday. Constable Brown and party eearched the beaches. but could find no bodies. They secured a flag, some broken lifo buoys, and a name board. Tho steamer called at Ohm and brought Harry Jackson, th* sole survivor, to Tairua. He is still weak. Aβ showing the fury of the Btorm. dozens of crayfish and dead fish were thrown upon the beach, also tons of sob weed.