DRIVEN ASHORE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 163, 5 April 1933, Page 11

DRIVEN ASHORE

Auxiliary Ketch Lily

HEAVY GALE AT BLUFF

Unlikely to be Refloated

CREW’S HAZARDOUS TRIP

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Invercargill, April 4. ■ The auxiliary ketch Lily, owned by Mr. A. Pasco, of Invercargill, came to grief this morning on the rocky northern shore of Bluff Harbour during extremely boisterous weather.

The Lily left Half Moon Bay at an early hour with a full cargo of cased fish, and experienced extremely bad weather in Foveaux Strait. A considerable amount of water was shipped on the trip across, and on entering the harbour the engines stopped. The use of sails in such a gale was impossible, and the anchor was dropped, but the vessel was gradually driven ashore by the force of wind and sea. With the severe pounding she received it is not believed that she will be refloated.

When the crew were seen to be in difficulties the Britannia and Digger put out to assist, but nothing could be done on a lee shore, as these vessels would only have been courting a similar fate. The crew of the Lily consisted of Messrs. J. Johansen (master), Andrew Andersou, and Kenneth Braid, who got safely ashore by means of a dinghy and a communication rope. All showed traces of the buffeting they experienced. This afternoon 200 cases of fish were transferred without mishap to an oyster vessel. 1 A later inspection of the Lily revealed that she. had. received extensive damage and had filled with water. Further attempts to tow lire off were therefore abandoned. In her exposed position she will doubtless break dp.