FATE OF RIPPLE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18148, 11 August 1924, Page 8

FATE OF RIPPLE.

believed lost near CAPE PALLISER. LIGHTHOUSE-KEEPER'S TRAGIC STORY. SIGNALS BETWEEN VESSEL AND SHORE. The Jirst and, it is feared, the, last ecen or heard of the Bipple in her state of distress is a story that apparently the keeper of the light at Cape Palliser alone can tell. It was during the height of tie storm, about midnight on Wednesday, that the lighthouse keeper first became awaro of the plight of the littlo vessel, whose lights were clearly visible. In less than two hours all signs of the Ripple vanished. What happened meanwhile—the signals from the vessel of urgent appeals for help, the signals in reply from the shore, and tho transmission of telephone messages to and from the city, while the Eipple was at the mercy of fierce winds and angry waves, until the lights of the vessel were no more make up the story of the lighthouselceoper (Mr A. W. Page), as told by him to a Wellington "Evening Post" reporter. In those lights which came from the sea to the lighthouse-keeper in the watches of tho night there was a glimmer of hope; in the beacon itself those on board the little steamer saw hope; in the subsequent news that the S.O.S. call was being answered there was a greater hope; and then, almost with tragic suddenness, there came a fear. The keeps* had received a further encouraging message for thoso in peril, and was hastening to transmit it to the vessel, when he discovered that the lights so clearly visible but a little while previously had disappeared. It was then that the worst was feared.

CAPTAIN'S BODY FOUND.

ANOTHER THEORY OF VESSEL'S END. (PBE33 ASSOCIATION YBLEOEAM.) MASTERTON, August 9 (11 p.m.) The body of Captain J. A. Noriing was found on the beach half a mile south of Castlepoint [Lighthouse, this afternoon, by the Tinui police, who wore returning north from Flat Point. The spot whero the body was found is GO miles from Te Awaite, where it is believed the Bipple was wrecked. A lifebelt was picked up near Achanga, which is about 75 miles north from Te Awaite. There is no further»tmce of the wreck or the crew.

LIGHTHOUSE-KEEPER'S ACCOUNT. SHIP'S LIGHTS DISAPPEAR. The story of the lighthouse-keeper at Cape Palliser (Mr Page) was related as follows: I first sighted the vessel at midnight on Wednesday. She was then about three iniles off the shore, and due south of the lighthouap. About twenty minutes later I noticed that she was sending out distress signals. She signalled that assistance was wanted from, 'Wellington. That was all the information the Vo3sel gave at that time, and I immediately communicated tho message by telephone to Wellington. At 1 o'clock (Thursday morning) the Bipple again signalled, and wanted to know if assistance had been sent for. I replied in the affirmative. A little later I was again in communication with Captain Petersen, of Wellington. Before going to the telephone to speak to him the vessel's deck and cabin lights were still clearly visible, and from the position of the vessel I should have been able to see those lights for another hour or more.

A Meesage of Good Cheer. I received word from Captain Petersen that a tug was being sent out to the assistance of the Ripple, and he told me to advise those on the vessel of this. I then went out to signal this advice to those on board, but the vessel was nowhere to be seen. The lights ha-1 completely disappeared. The time was then between 1.40 a.m. and 2 a.m. Tho vessel when I last saw her wag in a position due east of the lighthouse. From the time that the vessel was first seen until the lights disappeared the weather was extremoly bad. There was a strong southwesterly gale, and the seas -were very heavy; in fact, the storm was as heavy a one as you might see. The lighthouse-keeper added that from what had happened he had grave fears for the safety of the vessel.

During a visit to Whito Bock (about four miles up the coast from the lighthouse) on Friday, Mr Page found that two hatch planks had been washed ashore. These were the only signs of wreckage. He examined the planks and found that there we're marks on each. One was marked "XI" or "IX," and the other "PB." The latter mark had been made with white paint, and the former was cut into the plank. The measurements of tho planks were, roughly: Length 8 feet, width 18 to 20 inches, and thickness 2* inches.

May Have Made Out from Coast. It is considered by those who know .the Bipple well that from the fact of tho lights disappearing it did not necessarily follow that the vessel had foundered". The vessel must have been heading nearly west when the lights were visible. With the vessel heading east the lights could not be seen, and it is surmised by some that while the messages were being transmitted to Wellington the vessel was turnc'l to the cost"in order to run before the wind. By some it is considered that in turning the Eipple may have shipped one of the heavy seas, and that the crew thereupon took to the boat. Only those unacquainted with the coast" wo aid Uavo a tt emu tod to make

shore under tho prevailing conditions anywhere between Castlepoint and tho locality where the vessel was in distress, and it is believed that those who got into the boat ha'd hopes of landing at Castlepdint. The probability tras that tho boat was driven into tho treacherous part of the coast where there is mnch danger from rocks and breakers. "No Boats Could Have Got Out." As to what action was taken on receipt of the news of the vessel's distress, Captain Petersen stated that the firat message ho received was from the Tolls Office at 12.30 a.m., on Thursday, to the effect that the lighthouse-keeper at Cape Palliser hau advised that the Eipple required assistance'. The message was not very clear as to the plight of the vessel, but Captain Petersen immediately took steps to arrange for help to be sent. He communicated with the lighthouse for definite particulars regarding the vessel and her position. Mr Aiken, of the T T nion Steam Ship Company, was advised of the Ripple's distress, and he said thai he would do what he could, and also informed Mr Neal, the Union Company's local traffic manager, that he was" to do his very best in the matter of rendering assistance. Tho weather was so heavy that no boats, big or small, could "have got out of 'Wellington. That being the case, Mr Neal sent a wireless message to the Mararoa, which was then on her way from Lyttelton to Wellington. Tho Mararoar received word at about 2.30 a.m. to go to the assistance of the liipple, and the course was altered for five miles east of Cape Palliser, the position in which the Eipple had been reported just previously. The Marnroa was the only possible steamer, in view of the tremendous gale that was in progress and the fact that the steamer was coming from the South, that could be got without delay. The Marnroa proceeded to tho position indicated, but the search was unsuccessful, a wireless message being received by Mr Neal from her at 6 a.m., stating that she was unable to pick up the Ripple. Tho tug Terawhiti was undergoing overhaul, but had she been ready for the sea the very severe conditions would have prevented her from going out.

AT FLAT POINT. RIPPLE NEVER SIGHTED. EVIDENCE OF ROCKETS FIRED. (Wellington "Post's" Reporter.) FLAT POINT, August 9. Qnce against the angry seas of the rockbound East Coast have claimed their toll, and to the list of vessels which have coino to grief there must be added the 6teamer Ripple. For a time at least she battled against tin? elements, but eventually the vessel was mastered.

Tlio Eipple was not once sighted front tho shore hero.

The theory advanced at Flat Point, where the first indication was received that a tragedy had occurred, is that the Ripple, crippled by the toss of her propeller and at the mercy of the southerly storm, had foundered, and that the whole crew has been drowned. Certainly everything point? to that as having been the unhappy outcome of the mishap to the Ripple. Probably the full story of the tragedy will, never be told, and only conjectures can be mads as to tho sufferings to which the inombers of tho ill-fated crew underwent in their uneven contest with the storm. Description of Boat and Body. As soon ns news reached Masterton that a body had been found on the beach about half a mile below Mr Charles Cameron's station at FlatPo'int, Senior-Sergeant Sweeney, who is in charge of the Masterton station, left with throe constables for the scene of the occurrence, in the meantime a suggestion having been made to headquarters at Wellington that a party should be sent from Carterton, or even lower down, to work up the coast. On arrival at Flat Point a thorough examination of the beach was made. A small 20-foot boat had been washed up on shore just below the Cameron homestead, and lbout 100 yards further along the coast, in the direction of Whito Rock, there was. found the body of a man. No other trace cf anything from the boat could be found at that time, and tho body was taken into Masterton, where it was identified as that of Erik Andersen, one of the Ripple's seamen.

The body was clothed in socks, shirt, singlet, end blue jersey, but no trousers. A lifebelt was secured round tho body, which was found lying faco downwards ou the beach and in a crouching position, almost as if he had crawled. up the beach.

The boat, which was found 100 yards further up the beach, bore the namo "Bipple" on the bow and the word "Napier" on the stem, making it quite evident that tho Ripple was no more, and that the crew, or part of the crew, had taken to the boats as a final chance of getting to tho shore. Thorc was a fairly large hole in the stern of the bout, which appurently had been thrown against the rocks with which the coast abounds. There was an ample supply of ship's biscuits in two airtight tins, and there were several open and empty chocolate tins on board. Wore Rockets Fired? In the boat also there was one full and one empty rocket tin, and the "Post's" special reporter, in the course of his examination, came across the butt of the rocket that had apparently been used in :in endeavour to attract attention from tho shore. The firing of the rockets, however, could have been of little avail, as the heavy mist which enshrouded the whole coast made visibility impossible, 3n indication of this being the fact that throughout the storm the- Bipple was not once sighted fron. the shore. Landing Almost Made. The finding of looso {irticles in the lifeboat would seem to show that the boat was not capuized, but rather that a landing was almost made} the rollers there taking charge and crashing the boat on the rocky shore, staving in her planks. The lifeboat v/as, of course, self-righting, but had she turned turtle out from the shore a clearance of moveable articles would immediately have been made. Lifeboats are required by the shipping regulations to be continually provisioned, water, biscuits, chocrlate, etc., being carried in special lock- ! era. The fact that the body of the sailor found wa3 unclothed from the waist downwards, except for socks, seems to point to a tragic struggle against impossible odds. The position in which the boat was found carries the tragic picture further. Searching the Coast. A large party of men from tho Cameron Station was engagod yesterday afternoon and this morning in a thorough examination of tho coast, but so far nothing further hns been found, although rumours that more bodies have beer, found have been floating about the district. Seven Macria from Oaatlepoint trapped d'iwn to Flat Point yesterday aftcr-

noon, but they made no discovery of any moment. Word which roachel Hat Point early (bis morning indicated that further cvi. dences of a tragedy hud been found further down the coast tov.-arda "White Rock r.nd Palliser Bay, it being stated that considerable wreckage, including n number cf barrels, had been washed f shore. On the strength of this information Senior-Sergeant Sweeney made off down the coast this morning, hut so far his search has not resulted in any farther developments. Meanwhile the coast in the vicinity of the point is being carefully patrolled. No Boat Could Have Lived. The coast lino in the vicinity of Flat Point is particularly wild and treacherous. The bmcli, with rocky portion* he 10 and there, extends for over twentv miles. To the south, fourteen miles'distant, lies the Glenburn station, and it is towards this poini that the police have moved this morning. Conditions on Hid coast have been vcrv wild during the past week, high winds and heavy rain having prevailed practically all the time. The storm, it is stated, was one of the worst experienced for a long time, although there ere those who hold that a storm of some fix weeks ago was even fiercer than that which resulted in the almost certain loss of the Ripple. Whichever opinion may be the right one, it is certain that the conditions were so bad as to prevent any open boat such as that which had come ashore hero from living very long in the huge seas. No Sign of Sarf-Boat. There is no eign of the heavy surfboat which was used by the Itipple in handling c,nuo. chiefly wool, between shore and ship'. The surf boat is par ticularly designed for this work, bcinqr of heavy and"solid build, and equipped with a fairly powerful marine motor. The surf-boat, being designed for the carriage of wool, bulky cargo, was not decked in, but, nevertheless, was considered to be remarkably seaworthy. Fov tier class of work, cargo handling in all conditions of weather and surf, such a condition was essential. So heavy was the surf-boat, however, that it wouid bo impossible to launch it in quick time by hand, the launching being carried out in the ordinary course cf affairs with the assistance of a steam winch. It is not considered probable, therefore, that the heavy boat could have been successfully launched in a raging sea, but there are still faint hopes that good fortune has attended this boat and those who may havo manted her. „ The storm has now abated, and Juflt Point to-day is a fairly pleasant spot, spurt troui the recollections of yesterday's Sad occurrence.

Latest Particol&TS. Two constables who havo made n complete search of the coast-line between Ca-stlepoint and Flat Point returned here at 1 o'clock. They havo nothing to report, stating that the coast was quite clear. A pair of men's tronaera was found on the beach in front of the,Cameron homestead about 1 o 'clock, but it is presumed that they belong to the man whose body was found yesterday. There is considerable speculation here as to what has happened to the other occupants of the boat which was blown ashore hero.

THE RIPPLE'S CARGO. On her last voyage the Ripple carried a very full cargo, tho holds being filled to the hatch combings; in fact, go heavy were tho demands for splice that a good deal of 'tho cargo offering had to be left in the wharf sheds until the next boat to Napier. Tho total freight was about 450 tons, comprising general merchandise from various city warehouses, 330 tons of transhipped cargo ex Port Curtis, from Hull und London, ex Tahiti, from San ITranciscj, the Moeraki from Melbourne, and also wool from LytteltOn for Napier. No machinery or motor-cars were carried, but a deck cargo included barrels •of oil arid fruit spray. It will probably be found that tho barrels which eamo ashore at White Bock are some of tha latter. COAST WELL SEARCHED.

A STRETCH OF FIFTY MILES. Speaking to a "Post" reporter on the telephone at 1 o'clock oa Saturday, Mr D. G. Dimler, manager of White Bock Station, stated that in the morning varioua parties had made a thorough search of ■ the shore from Cape Palliscr up to Glenburu Station, ■ a distance of about 40 or 50 miles, and had not discovered anything further except that during the night another barrel had drifted aßhore, making eleven barrels and some hatchways in all. Somo of tho barrels were filled with oil, and sonic wore empty. "In my opinion," said Mr Dimler, "the Ripple went down between hero and the lighthouse. Ido not see that she could ever have possibly got past White Bock. She must have been overwhelmed shortly before the light-house-keeper failed to pick her up again, being very probably caught broadside on. Nothing could havo lived in such a sea." •Mr C. E. Cavorhill, manager of the Glen Dim Station, 20 miles south of Plat Point, stated that the only extra things that had been washed ashore during the night wero a red plush stool and some parts of hatches. LIGHT WRECKAGE POUND. IDENTIFICATION OF SEAMAN'S BODY. (SfECUL TQ "THE FHE3B.') MASTERTON, August 10. Search parties who were out all along the coast on Saturday and today found no sign of any survivors of the Ripple. Early on Saturday off the AJataikona beach, north of Castle-: point, found pieces of light wreckage, deck fittings, a door, and a signboard. Later in the day, farther north, they discovered half an oar and a quantity of benzine box-wood, evidently smashed on tho . rocks. Tho parties to southward found nothing of any consequence, except here and thero light wreckage. j The body brought to Masterton last j Friday night was identified to-day atj the opening of the inquest, by Edward Betson. fireman, who left tho Kipnlc ! only on Tuesday. He said that tho body j was that of Erik Anderson, a Swede, | aged 43, Witness said that the llipplo j was a good sea boat. He had made i many trips in her during the last j &even years,- some of them very rough. , His opinion was that her engines broke uown and she lost ,steerage ivav, and was damaged' in the trough of tlio sea. All tlie lite-saving gear was in good order. Tha lifeboat cosikl accommodate eighteen men, and the surffcoat had o : 10-iiorse-power'engine. Tbc JJipple had '

■ two m&st« hm «~1. *• B - nc s 6r r* Speaking wife ; 'ertgo of the t fit 1 Jreqneat vUtaMgflyfcK 2 Uwnoroa ~ i 1 jwe sprang « i Though - Ke/es she ««» saH*| ; wast tried to mifa J*? <o shore SLS t attitude, with IktSi ** * ffi •- water. ' Wwt: lltegl'w * n next Simdav beC Iftlflß . rot-warn!. On Sk On? J52 t nay haro JJ n srSf.*"" -^SirSj \ list op TBS da t- ( ' msß weeigji r The oorfasi •- ciT'U- .ire;— . *M%j| ' i * Si? » T. M. Niehrfaaa, I>. McAllister, mom! * B. GustAlfsen, ? Erik Anderw#, - It. Williamson, JL&, fc2?i e p - Cavey, A.8., I 't B. Johansen, AJB, f 1 l ; W. R. Bra«, | C. Squires, ooofe, fstffifaW: ■ P, D. Crawford, titfsrwg, *' 1 J. Offer, fireman, g It. Is el son, fomm. 1 £ Pcrciv&l Carey, among the ere* of A* 'on tho Philomel MBb BaffM I whole period of tf» ~ one of the two the Philomel whiA II at. Ng ie Bl(L«|ri§QH l ' sion Chief :- when the ctw* tf *%2J struck, and bft sea until ha jpiud tJb i TWO PA^S^^«| It. was not ° late on Friday n Ripjsrfe carried «QT jlilMffßtli M however, botrdtd ttemmfam n she sailed. " ■e Mr Pvoberl ■ s of Arthur D. BOqr onginecra, jj^wtKE recrtiiting trfp, Hippie to | a niember rf „ Ho was a RkßfttM tmWWXM t of ago, who twe''eWg|MK* S the son rf iO l Z Mr Tcyktf *«• " his ])&ssa(» tiant at i) n.m.. bat g tided to_wrt til* y p.m. Aw d municatto with d tho Bhiwwßg oawMMIfflMS j, tho M Mid fflggS 10 of tho earliee •j the^nn^rsy^Mftjl|^^| dan. He of Wellmgtoß ~<rf«fettflMpffP 3 N-\piT ge by It is tinteAMi tfween the National offioef» * DEATH Of of^he 8 tinzton Ho«pH*l 06 'SiiHgIBII '-i (The late Mr d | record of WHFnC#' 0 j son Lin© of hoste. S MB9 c I been m poet WW-iBBEiI two or tar«» r, recently to ®awr W* I 1 GISBORNITB e A short'time f equipped -with ft d lation. This, how* l ** e one of the WW, 11 removed. tb» •P*« , yjgjp]B reption only, and on the vessel it W® |^y| Tile was at the «Rrt of leavinz at 6.15 was a well-KnoWB Gislwrno. Ho 3 j* Thomas Nichotwa tlTo steanwr snorts. inctadiag 1 [Tc a