THE HAWEA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 7

THE HAWEA.

CHIEF OFFICER'S STORY. NEVER EXPECTED TO LIVE THROUGH THE GALE. By T«legraph. — Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, 18th August. Mr. Irwin, chief officer of the Hawea, who, with Mr. Ritson (third engineer), j and a seaman, arrived in a boat at Solitary Island, relates that after leaving Newcastle on 28th July, the Hawea met with heavy south-east weather and high seas. At 5.45 on the morning of the 30th. tho shaft carried away, and as it was found impossible to effect repairs an endeavour was made to sail the ship, but without avail. Although a heavy easterly sea was running the vessel behaved splendidly. After sending the boat to I^ord Howe Island to seek assistance, and to mako the demand, on the provisions lighter, the Hawea drifted westward and northward, owing to the continuous easterly and south-easterly gales. When the vessel was eighty-three miles south-east of Cape Byron, the second boat was despatched. When it left the Hawea the weather was fine, and Mr. Irwin expected to reach flic mainland on the following morning. At 10 o'clock the same night the wind freshened from the eastward, and a heavy gale got up, which threatened to swamp the boat. He put out a sea anchor and used an oil-bag to calm the waves. The wind increased to a strong gale with a high sea. The three men covered the forepart of tho boat with canvas, fitrengtlfening it with the boat's bottom-boards. Notwithstanding this they were kept at it continually bailing. Mr. Irwin says they never expected to live through the gale. They were unable to sleep, and their food supplies just sufficed till they landed at the Solitaries. The gale lasted forty hours. They sighted land on Monday morning, and reached shore half-perished through exposure. The Tofua leaves to-night, and" searches for the Hawea. The tug Advance has also been despatched. TUG SENT TO SEARCH. (BT TELKQBArH. — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] DCTNEDIN, 18th August. The Union Company has made arrangements for the use of a tng to assist in the search for the Hawea, and it was to leave Newcastle to-day. The tug is a powerful one, and should be in the vicinity of the Hawea to-morrow nignt.