A SECOND RIPPLE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 244, 16 July 1928, Page 10

A SECOND RIPPLE DISASTER

COASTAL VESSEL CAPSIZES , TRAGEDY WHILE CROSSING HOKIANGA BAR CREW OF EIGHT DROWNED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 15. .< The gravest maritime tragedy on the New Zealand coasts since the "sinking of the coastal steamer Ripple on August 7, ’ 1924, occurred at 4.30 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when the auxiliary schooner, Isabella de Fraine, capsized on the I lokianga Bar with the loss of all hands—a crew of eight..

Strong westerly weather, ut times reaching to gale force, has obtained along the northern coast for over n week, creating difficult navigation conditions at har harbours. The Isabella de Fraine left Onehiuigu on Thursday afternoon, and when crossing the bar at the mouth of the Hokianga River on Saturday afternoon was seen to capsize, apparently being overwhelmed; by one ot the great ■ rollers which, combined with the formation' at the mouth of the liver, so very often makes negotiation of the channel hazardous. The little vessel rolled right over in the heavy seas, and it is believed impossible that any of the crew of eight can have survived. The master of the vessel was Captain A. Berridge, of Auckland. • The Hokianga bar is reckoned one of the most dangerous on the northern coasts. The channels are constantly changing hi direction and depth. Lat-est-reports state that the wreck has disappeared-and there is no hope of survivors. .. — A Previous Escape. The Isabella de Frainc is well known in Auckland shipping circles and has been engaged in New Zealand coastal trade for over ten years. She is a wooden schooner of 110 tons gross owned by A. G- Frankham Ltd., und was built at Camden Haven in the north of New South Wales tn 100for auxiliary purposes. She has an oil engine of 60 horse-power. After running for a considerable, time in the Gisborne-Auckland trade she was transferred to the Hokianga service, trading first from Auckland, and in more' recent months, from Onebunga that last year de Fraine was nearly sunk in Hokianga Harbour, when, on May 30. she struck a submerged rock off Karaka Point, a hole being knocked m the forward part nf ihp hull.' Pumps were manned, but as the vessel continued to make water the captain beached her, and plugged the hole with a sack of Tour. A reference to the incident published at the time remarked how fortunate was the escape from such a tragic fate as the little sailer met not much over a year later. Hokianga Bar’s Last Victim.. It is fourteen years since the Hokianga bar claimed its last ship. On August 7, 1914, the barque Joseph Craig, while being towed’ Outward for Melbourne by the tug Ohinemuri, parted from the towline, and became a total wreck inside the bar The crew were landed safely without much difficulty, but a southerly gale blew with hurricane force in the night of the wreck, completely breaking up the barque, timber from which was scattered all round the North Head. The Joseph Craig was an iron vessel .0f.714 tons gross. Captain Airey was the master, and among the, crew was Mr.- W. E, Sanders, who, as a Royal Navy reservist with the British Fleet during the Great War, attained the rank of lieutenant-commander, and won the Victoria Cross in one of the most brilliant minor engagements of the campaign. He was'a native of Auckland, 30 years of age at the time when he was awarded the" decoration. Risks' of the Bar. Discussing the risks of the bar, Captain JI. Pierotti, Marine Superintendent of tiie Northern Steamship Company, who, as master in. the .fleet, has had many years experience of working bar harbours of the Northern Peninsula, deemed it probable that the bar, which moves north

and south from time to time, was to the north when the Isabella de Fraine came to grief. In that case, a vessel entering had to turn broadside on once inside. Normally, she would then have to contend only with broken water, but occasionally one of .the great rollers would come through unbroken, nud catch the ship at a disadvantage. Captain Pierotti surmised that it might well have been the case in Ibis instance, or that the steering gear had carried away. Normally, signals were readily ricked up’at Hold-’ iingii Heads, although on occasions,’ the’ early morning haze behind the land compelled masters to stand well to the northward to pick up indications. The Crew, . The crew of the Isabella de Fraine were . Captain A. Berridge, aged 47. D. Teixeira, mate, aged 53. A. Kendrick, engineer, aged 3.1,. . . . 11. Trevarthen, assistant engineer. E. 'Merritt, cook. . F. Liewendahl, A.B. A. Suvanto, A.B. M. Kennedy, O.S. Captain Berridge leaves a widow, a son, aged 20, a daughter, aged 15, and a son, aged 7. I). Teixeira leaves a widow, and a sou, aged 18. and daughters, aged 15 and 8Al Kendrick was married six weeks ago, and had just returned to duty from his honeymoon. The two able-bodied seamen have no relatives in New. Zealand.

HOW THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED SUPPOSED REASONS (By Telegraph,—Press Association.) Auckland, July 15. Further particulars of the wreck of the Isabelle de Fraine were sent to-night by the “Herald’s? special reporter, who reached the scene ;of .the wreck on the isolated coast by aeroplane, by .extraordinary message. A moderate southwest breeze was blowing, he said. .‘.‘The Isabelle, responding to; semaphore messages from the signal- station, swung from her course outside the bar and earne dipping through the main channel. Alone in the forerigging, Captain Berridge watched the dangerous channel mouth. Cuting through, the rough seas the ketch got within thejchannel. Suddenly as she made for. the bar the wind caught her canvas, and the huge booms slung across the. spray-washed deck. Strained by the quick jar, the labelle listed on her side. Following the winds came heavy swells, catching the vessel as she lay momentarily on her side’. Tn a flash, she turned completely over, bottom facing skywards. Thrown from the rigging, the captain was caught with the seamen, and sucked beneath as the Isabelle lurched and turned turtle. Trapped like rats in a hole, eight gallant men met death while the great, green waves battered on the hull. For 20 minutes the helpless derelict drifted, then sunk.. The tide was running almost, full in when she attempted to take the bar. Why she hesitated and did not come through is baffling all seamen along the harbour. Ex-masters of vessels say, perhaps it was because the rudder became loose, because the steering chains broke. That the captain changed his miud is indicated by the statement of the, Harbourmaster, who described how the Isabelle seemed suddenly to sweep bow round after, she had started to dip into the channel. When she wim on her buck, no rudder was seen. No trace of the crew was seen after they sank, and no trace of the bodies but wreckage is coming ashore.