TOWED INTO PORT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue LXXXIV, 23 September 1912, Page 8

TOWED INTO PORT

BARQUENTINE WANGANUI IN DISTRESS In Saturday night's Post it wae stated that the barquentine Wanganui (late Carla) was lying helpless off Sinclair Head, being in a dismasted condition. The Arapawa went out t<> the vessel's assistance, and tow«d her into port early yesterday morning. Ac she lay off Kaiwarra, the Wanganui certainly looked as if she had been Very roughly handled, and so she was. Of the masts only two bare sbumps are left. About 30ft of the foremafit remains, together with 35ft of the mainmast. The mizzen mast snapped about 2ft above the deck. Oaf tain J. A. Berqukt was in charge of the Wanganui when the mishap occurred. He etates that the vessel, laden with 250.0001t of white pine, Was towed out of Wanganui by the Kapiti »on Thursday last, with her cargo consigned to the Union Box and Packing j Case Company, Sydney. Tho weather wae fine then, and a moderate north-north-west wind was blowing. In the evening the wind veered to due north, and the Wanganui eet all sail lo a fresh breeze. Early on- Friday morning rain fell, and aome sails were taken in. The captain went below for his oilskins, leaving the mate (Mr. N. J. Garrett) on deck. While below he heard a crash, which told him that the masts had gone. Tho wind was then blowing a hard breeze from the north-west, but it was not fresh enough to cause anxiety. When tho accident occurred the Wanganui wa« 65 miles west by' south of Wanganni. All hands were called out to cut away the wreckage, and this they succeeded in doing to their own imminent danger. The heavy seas, which swept acrow the vessel, made the task a very dangerous one. It was soon completed, however, without further mishap, and the captain then had to face the danger of drifting out of the track of steamers. With . the fore-sail set, the vessel had good steering way. At 7 o'clock on Saturday morning the Brothers lighthoueo wa« signalled, but there is «o communication from there to the mainland. Later in the morning the Kapiti spoke the distressed vessel, off Sinclair Head, and returned to Wellington for assistance. The Duchesa went out, but her search was futile, and it remained for the Arapawa to bring the Wanganui to safety. The Wanganui was very well provisioned, and had a crew of eleven all told. She is an iron vessel of 341 tons grosgj and was built in 1902. Her dimensions are: Length 134. 2 f t; breadth 26.2 ft, depth 10.7 ft. Twelve months back the Wanganui (then Carla) was stranded at Wanganui, and was later purchased by Hatrick and Co. Originally she was named the Voorlichter. It is estimated that the cost of refitting the Wanganui will be about £1000 to £1200. A MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE. There seems to be a complete mystery attaching to the mishap to the Wanganui. As will be seen the captain states that at the time the mas*ts snapped there was not even a gale of wind blowing; only a fresh breeze. No warning was given that anything unusual was about to happen, and the whole thjng occurred with remarkable suddenness. i The incident has been the principal topic among shipping men today, but no explanatory theories are forthcoming. This afternoon the Collector of Customs is holding a preliminary enquiry into the matter, and he will subsequently report to the Marine Department. Nothing has yet been decided in reference to repairs to the vessel. Mr. A. Hatrick, of Messrs. Hatrick and Co., Wanganui, was expected in Wellington this afternoon. He will inspect the boat on arrival, and will probably then decide what will be done.