PELOTAS ASHORE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 8

PELOTAS ASHORE.

OFF CASTLECLIFF. HER POSITION AND CARGO. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wanganui, June 13. The barquentine I'elotas, from Eden, New South Wales, which arrived off the bar last evening, was stranded oil the Castlecliff beach, about a quarter of a mile from the north mole. There was a heavy fresh in the river, and the , tug towing the barquentine failed to breast it. When both vessels had reached the pilot station they drifted out over the bar, where a heavy south-east wind drove the I'elotas ashore. . Tho crew is sate. : The vessel is in a good position, and is expected to be floated without difficulty when the weather moderates. ■ The I'elotas has a cargo of sleepers for the Gonvillo Tramway Board. LATER PARTICULARS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Wanganui, June 13. Later information regarding the stranding of the I'elotas shows that sho was being towed in by the lighter Shamrock at 9 o'clock last night, but the heavy fresh in the river proved too much for tho lighter's power, and, when abreast of the pilot station, she could go no further. An attempt was therefore made to tow tho barquentine to sea again, but the strong "southerly" swept both vessels towards the north mole, which they bumped. Good handling of the lighter by Captain Collins, however, enabled both vessels to clear the mole, when the Pelotas asked her to lot go. It is surmised from this request that the Pelotas must have' been knocked about by the mole, and that therefore her captain preferred to take his chance where ho was rather than be towed to sea.

The wind drove the barquentine along parallel with the beach, and she finally grounded about .100 yards, from the mole. Anchors were got out, and she was lying head to sea this morning, on a sandy bottom. It was impossible to communicate with tho ship all day on account of the heavy sea, but she appeared to be in a good position for floating off. During tho afternoon, however, some uneasiness was felt on shore, as she appeared to bo "working" in the sand. An attempt was made to get a rocket lino to the vessel, which, however, was unsuccessful. Towards evening, however, the wind fell away to a calm, and the sea partly moderated, and, if the vessel's hull is, found to be undamaged, an attempt will bo made to float her off to-night. Captain Cousins is in command of the Pelotas, which is owned by Messrs. Lane and Sons, of "Whangaroa. She has a cargo of sleepers valued at about J;1200, but none of the insurances, either on the cargo or hull, are at. present available.