WRECK OF SCOW TE TEKO

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 275, 14 August 1920, Page 8

WRECK OF SCOW TE TEKO

A NIGHT IN THE RIGGING

GOBBIE'S DISAPPEARANCE

PROSPECTS OF SALVAGE

Ttij' Telceraph—Prcm Association. Auckland, August IS. | The steamer Daphne, wk.cli arrived from Mercury Bay early this morning, brought with her the crow of the scow To Teko, which was wrecked on Slipper Island, near Mercury Bay, on the night of l?rday last. With hor also reLurned Captain Hammond, of the Northern Company, who has been to Mercury Bay to examine- the wreck and report on tho possibility of salvage. It seems that the scow, which was on her way from Whakatano to Auckland, ran into exceptionally heayy weather on Friday night, which will bo remembered m very wet and stormy in Auckland. The wind was high, and it was impossible to sen where tho vessol was going, In these circumstances, tho. vessel ran ll to the south-east corner of Slipper Island, and began to break up, a most nt once. It was impossible to launch o boat aid the crow tai;k to the rigging, liter, when the breaking up «mfanued, two of tho engineers and a deck-hand swam ashore, W Captain B. Sellnra, who was in charge of the vessel, and tho remainder cf tho crew remained in he Sg all night. The three men who had Len able to land had gone o tho homestead of Mr. Leighton, who lira onthe island. With his help they ere ablo to rescue the other members of tlie orew in tho morning, when the %™«ss»nce of Gobble remains a mvstery. He apparently climbed into IhPSg with the other members, of o crew, and no one remembers seeing h ,n 1 avo it. The three who swam whoro thought that he ™IhZntt.hat others while the captain thought that ho Id gone with them. It » possible hat ho made an attempt, and w utto rSch safety. He may have been struck by a. piece of wreckago and rendered insensible. A search was .made -nsterdav for lii« body in the vicinity of tho wreck, but to no avail. Cap an Hammond reports that he went over to the island yesterday to view the wreck, and found the vessel completely broken up. ~ "The wreckago is strewn clone; tho h«ich for live miles," he sa d this morninT "It may be possible for us to wl"4 one o the engine*, the winch, and he an ho"s, but they are in a very lfficut position. The port engine is k er UW while l»» starboard engine s not v" looted. Attempts--*, salvage L machinery will be made by launch ami piint when tho weather moderates." Tile mails that the vessel earned were lost but some cargo, consisting principally of tinned dripping casks and personal effects, was .washed up shores of tho island, and has been brought up to Auckland by the Dapline.