Acheron crew sights rival

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 1

Acheron crew sights rival

fFrom

HUGH POPHAM,

f. exclusive and copyright to

The Press end the Observer/’ London.)

AUCKLAND ISLANDS, Jan. 8. At 1030 a.m. today, when Acheron was lying off the mouth of the cave in which the wreck lies, another vessel was seen approaching the coast from south of Disappointment Island.

Reports had already been received of a rival expedition and it seemed likely that this was it. Four of Acheron’s divers were already in the water preparing to survey the wreck. They were immediately recalled and brought aboard. By this time, the other vessel had sheered off to the northward. Acheron gave chase and soon overhauled her. The boat, a black seal fisherman, of the type known as a “Chatham Islands submarine,” carried no name and the registration number on her bow had been roughly painted out.

She was apparently carrying a crew of four, two of whom are known to be divers. They are, Tim Mclntosh and a commercial paua diver, both from Invercargill. On being questioned, they replied that they were: "Having a look round,” "Doing a bit of fishing,” "On holiday in the South Pacific.”

It was reported by radio, via the Lands and Survey Department, that they had reouested permission to land at the Auckland Islands for water.

The boat’s name is said to be Atlantis, a former fishing vessel, no longer registered as such.

Aiex Black immediately radioed the Marine Division, requesting assistance in preventing her hindering the expedition and asking if she has a permit to visit the Auckland Islands. In the meantime. Acheron is keeping an eye on them, and will take all necessary steps to discourage them. "I didn’t come 12,000 miles to be cut out by a couple of interlopers,” Commander John Grattan said. and clearly meant it.

Commander Grattan judged conditions to be suitable for diving and everything was made ready while hove to off Disappointment Island in the verv cove in which the castaways from the General Grant had sought shelter, and

where one of their two boats capsized. Although conditions today are very different from that May night 110 years ago, it was winter then and thick weather. It needs a little imagination to picture the terror of the people on board as the ship was swept into the cliff, or the suffering of the handful who survived. What is scenic grandeur on a pleasant day in the summer must have looked like the gates of hell to them. The divers were into the inflatable boats and ready to go by 8.30 a.m. The first four to go down were Malcolm Blair, from Wellington, Mike Stewart, and the two brothers Perry and Joe McCormack, with Commander John Grattan himself at the helm.

They reported that the wreck was just as they had' left it a year ago, anchors, bollards, fairleads, and so forth still in position, but with more brass-work visible. During the dive, they completed the preparations for the survey. Diving was resumed this afternoon and it is hoped tomorrow to work in company with the television team, now in Port Ross, in the Golden Harvest.