THE ASKOY WRECK

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1334, 11 January 1912, Page 5

THE ASKOY WRECK

CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT. "MUST HAVE BEEN A STRONG CURRENT." By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Sydney, January 10. Captain Monner, of tho Norwegian barque- Askoy, which was wrecked on Elizabeth Reef, has arrived from Noumea. He states that he was picked up a hundred and twenty miles from tho wreck after travelling 'for two days. Ho adds little to the story of the wreck, but states that there must have been a strong current, which carried the Askoy on the reef. While on the reef the vessel was surroundod by enormous sharks, which came close enough to be struck by the men. ' _ . The only inconvenience experienced in the small boat was from the hot sun. Luckily the weather was fine, as the boat was too small to have outlived a storm. STORY OF THE WRECK. THE CREW'S PERIL: SEVERAL DATS IN BOATS. The Melbourne "Argus" of January 3 gives tho following account of tho wrecE of the Askov: — , , Considerable excitement occurred at Yamba, near Clarence Heads, this morning, when a ship's boat was sighted oil the coast, making for the entrance, iho sea was calm, and there was no difficulty in navigating the bar. On arrival it was found that the boat contained tho shipwrecked crow of the Norwegian ship Askoy, bound from Peru'to Sydney, in ballast. , . Tho mate, when interviewed, stated that tho vessel was under the command of Captain Monner. The mishap occurred 1 on Wednesday night, December 27, at 11 o'clock. Tho chief mate was on watch, aud the captain was also on deck. The ship was making a course between Middleton and Elizabeth reefs, east from Clarence Heads, 300 miles. A strong N.W. wind was blowing, which dropped to a dead calm at 9 o'clock. Later tho wind veered south. The ship was then making a course E.S.E., and as the captain was afraid of striking Elizabeth Reef, no tacked west by south. By observations made at noon and 4 o'clock tho ship should have heen iu a good position to pass between tho reefs. A heavy current was lunning, and at 11 p.m. the vessel suddenly struck Elizabeth Reef, travelling about six or seven knots at tho time. She ran high up on the rocks. Thn sea was smooth, and the tide- full, and nothing could be seen of the reef. Orders were given to back all the yards, and everything possible was done in the endeavour to back the vessel off. She had struck bow first. The boats were got ready for lowering at half-past 12 o'clock. All hands stood by till morning, when with tho rising tide another unsuccessful attempt was made to float the Askoy off. At noon an inspection of the ship showed her'to bo leaking badly, and at 2 o'clock, as the vessel was straining badly and apparently going to riicces, all hands asreed that it would bo wise to take to tho boats. The ship then had 3ft. oi 4ft. of wtiter in her, and the men wero urging the officers to leave the ship. At half-past 2 o'clock tho boats wero manned, and tho crew was equally divided, the captain taking one, and the mato i the other. Each boat contained 10 persons. A westerly course was steered, and the boats kept together till Friday morning, when tho mate's boat lost sight of the other. Pine weather aud fair spas prevailed till Sunday night, when the wind shifted, and the sea was very heavy. It boc-amo calm again on Mondav morning, but freshened up with a S-E. wind, and became rough with a strong southerly drift. Observations taken at noon indicated that they should sight land during the day. At half-past 2 o'clock land was sighted right ahead. Pulling and sailing wero continued in the hope of reaching land before dark. North Solitary was passed at i o'clock. At 6 P o'clock an attempt was made to land on the beach further north, but tho boat was nearly swamped, and hart to put to sea again. It was then headed for Clarence Heads. A smooth sea prevailed during last night. Tho Clarence right was observed at 1 o'clock this morning, and at 20 minutes to 6 o'clock, the Heads were reached and safely negotiated. All the men are in good condition considering tho experience they have undergone. They had ample supplies of provisions and water, but suffored from exposure. Like most Norireirian ships the Askoy was originally a well-known British merchantman, having been built of iron in Glasgow 33 years aso by Barclay, Curie, and Co. She was then known as the Argus, under which name she sailed tho seas until sold to a Norwegian firm some time ago. She was of 1513 tons net register, her dimensions being: Length 255 ft.; and beam, 38Jft.