SINKING OF THE COWAN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25440, 11 March 1948, Page 8

SINKING OF THE COWAN

CREW TELL STORY OF THEIR ESCAPE MASTER DRAGGED UNDER A dramatic story of the narrow escape of the crew of the steam trawler Cowan, which sank after striking Port Levy rock on Tuesday night, was told to a’ reporter of “The Press.” who was aboard the rescue launch which nicked the men up in the early hours of yesterday morning. The launch first called at Little Port Cooper and took aboard Captain G. Mouncer and four of the crew, and also took the Cowan’s lifeboat in tow. Crossing the wide entrance to Port Levy, the launch turned in oast the Port Levy rock, where the mishan occurred. and went cautiously into Starvation Bay. where three of the men had been left. Starvation Bav is a small inlet, towering cliffs on three sides making the darkness still darker. On the tiny, shingle beach a big fire was burning, and. guided bv this, the lifeboat went in and brought the men out to the launch. The launch arrived back at Lvttelton at 3.5 a.m. Cantain Mouncer said that the Cowan was nearing Port Levy rock when the signalman on du*'* at Adderlev Head called him bv Morse lamp, and asked for the name of the shin, which was given. About a minute later the vessel struck. He at' once called uo Adderlev Head, and had begun to send a message when the water got to the dynamo, and al 1 the lights failed. The eneine was still working, and he turned the vessel, with the intention of beaching her in Starvation Bay. Men in the Water “Some of the men we r e clearing away the lifeboat.” said Captain Mouncer. “but the shin suddenly heeled over and sank. There were three men in the boat, but rest of us were in the water, with the exception of W. Willman, jun.. who had jumped on to the rock when we struck. I was dragged down with the ship, but got clear. T thought t would never come up. When I reached th’ surface. I saw the boat rowing around and the men in the water were calling to each other We were all picked up and we beached the boat.” It was then decided that some of them should **ow to Little Port Cooper, where the Harbour Board signalmen live, and Captain Mouncer and three of the men went. On the way they rescued Mr Willman from tbn rockIt took them an hour and a half to reach Little .Port Cooner. where thev were taken into the house of one of the signalmen and given fooH and tea A telephone call was nut through to Lyttelton for a launch to be sent. His Second Sinking

Mr W. Willman, sen., trawling master of the Cowan, has now had two vessels sunk under him. The first was the fishing launch Dolphin, which was sunk by mistake by a shot fired from a gun at Battery Point. Lyttelton Harbour. early in the war. He was one of the two occupants, the master of the launch (Mr J. Brasell) being killed by the shot. Mr Willman was picked up by a dinghy which put out from Battery Point. When.the Cowan sank, Mr Willman at first went under, but came up safely. He swam for a little while, and then secured a small pieec of board, to which he clung until rescued by the lifeboat. He was one of the men left on the beach. They found plenty of wood, he said, and one of the party had some dry matches. So they lit a big fire and then stripped off their clothes and dried them. Baleine Point is the actual east head of Port Levy, and Port Levy rock is about four cable lengths north-east of the point.. It is flat-topped and is steep-to with deep water on the seaward side. It was for many years surmounted by an iron tripod and cage beacon, but the beacon disappeared a few years ago. An inspection of the position in Starvation Bay, where the Cowan sank, was made by launch yesterday. Even at low tide there was no sign of the vessel. The possibilities of salvage are being considered. A preliminary inquiry into the sinking of the Cowan will be held by Captain G. P. Evans. Government Marine Superintendent at Lyttelton, who will report to the Marine Department at • Wellington.