A STORY OF THE SEA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1194, 1 August 1911, Page 6

A STORY OF THE SEA.

LOSS OF THE SCOW WHANGAROA. THE CREW'S PERILOUS EXPEKIENCE. (By Iclaeraph.— Press Association.) Auckland, July 31. Tho Australian mail brings interesting details of the experiences of tho crew of 'the flat-bottomed scow Whangaroa, who arrived in Sydney on Tuesday last by the. Island steamer Mnlaita. lno Whangaroa., a littlo vessel of 131 tons, was bound from Mokau, Dew Zealand, to Sydney with IGO.OCOft. of timber. When within 200 miles of Sydney Heads she got caught in a gale, and dnlted to within 25 miles oE Lord Howe Island, where, owing to her sinking condition, the was abandoned. ■ She sprang a-leak on Juno 18. iho oreV for a time managed to keep the water down, but on tho day following she- eank, just leaving her tiro ends awash. A heavy westerly gale was blowing at tho lime. ■ Tho crew stood by the vossel until June 23, when they sighted the island. They were obliged to leave the craft on account of provisions and water being washed away. Tho master, Captain John Pearson, and crew lost all their personal effects. • . _ '' , The crew comprised John Blake (nrst officer), Stanley Denson (second officer), D. Thomson (cook), and C. Enckson, C. Inn'd, B. M'Millan, C. Larkson, A.B. s. Hunger, thirst, and exposure during tl»o four sleepless days ■ and nights on the water-logged ship did not comprise the whole of the sufferings. The- nten all the'while wcro at the mercy of tho sens. They did not know what minute they might bo swept away, for the wind blew and tho seaa ran high. The third day they thought their last hour had come. Tho bottom and the ship's sides had then parted company, the bottom practically falling out. The sides, howover. hung together and kept tho vessel afloat, assisted by 80,000 ft. of timber, which had remained intact. The men were on top of. tho deck cabin hanging on to tho ropes which ran across the roof. It was fortunate for- them .that' they managed to secure from the' gutted galley one tin of biscuits and a bag •of potatoes. This comprised the only food for the four days, and it very soon became saturated with the salt water. From Monday night till tho following Friday afternoon they hung on to their slender support, .watching the timber wash out of the scow, and expecting tho worst to happen at any moment. _ Thero was no chanco of ascertaining their position, as all tho instruments had been lost. "There was nothing for it," said Captain Pearson, "but to hang on and wait development?. There was one hope left. Oiir boat, though stove in, was still on tho vessel, and we did not forget that. .Day after <lay went by, and at the end of the week we si?Med Lord Howo Island. I suppose tho island was about 25' miles off. I'hen cajae our opportunity. Wo got fclto boat out on Friday afternoon about two o'clock as far as I could juS?e. Wβ had no watch or clock, and started away for the island. It was still blowing bard, and the- boat soon had plenty oi water in her. Two hands were continually bailing, four were at tho oars, one resting, and ono steering. That is how it was worked. Everybody took his turn. Wo pulled all night, and on Saturday morning 'wo landed. ■■ The Whangaroa. drifted away to the northward, and next day was loet to sight. She will fetch up on some reef, I suppose, and add ' anther to tho list of Island wrecks."