MISHAP OFF SEATOUN

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 151, 27 June 1921, Page 8

MISHAP OFF SEATOUN

A WELL-KNOWN BARQUE

" NO PERSONAL INJURIES.

The well-known barque Rona, bringing a cargd of. 1100 'tons of coal from Newcastle to Wellington, came to grief in j the southerly storm last night by running aground on the Steeple Rock, off" Seatoun, and she now lies apparently held fast. The violence of . the storm this morning was not promising fog the release of the vessel, but fortunately,, she lay end on;to the wind, and was consequently much less battered than would have been the case if she had-been broadside'on. The Rona had every appearance this forenoon of, being held by the Pinnacle Rocks as .in a vise. ■ Sho lifted slightly to the seas, which were sweeping in at the entrance, although they were not so heavy as they usually are in a stiff southerly in this locality. There is very little water under the Rona. At tho best of conditions of tide there would be a bottom of about 12 feet where she lies, and there is a nest of tootfilike rocks all around. „ Those who know the locality will appreciate her' position from the fact that it is "said the barque is well inside the Black Buoy. She is heading up the Harbour, and her stern; is pointing to the open seas. The seas Were not breaking j over her this morning; the waves first ran alongside; fore and aft, doing no damage. Most of the sails were neatly furled, but' some, of them were blown out and were thrashing noisily in the wind. The'ship's rigging showed no obvious signs of being much damaged. The Rona, whose commander is Captain G. W. Airey, is one of the bestknown sailers trading to New Zealand ports, and is a,' smart vessel with many good sailing performances to her credit. ' She is an iron vessel, of 694 tons, and ,was Built at Belfast in 1885. Many years ago she >was named Polly Woodside. , DRIFTED FROM ANCHORAGE.. ' TKe accident occurred about 10.20 _.m,, shortly after the gale sprang up last night. It vas very dark, and the barque, rofle in through the Heads on the big sea which was running. About opposite Pencarrow, it is understood, she dropped anchor, to wait for a tug, and the Pelican was then on her way to Vgive her a tow. Before long the barque Ttiis found to be drifting, and when the Pelican arrived she was on the rocks. The accident was seen from Pencarrow Lighthouse and; from, Fort Dorset. The Komata, which entered the harbour about the same time as the Rona, passed her while she was drifting. Efforts were made from the lighthouse, the fort, and the steamer, to obtain information from the Rona by signalling, but her replies could not be read. THE KOM'ATA'S EXPERIENCE. Those on board the Komata, on approaching the Rona, noticed a' faint light on the barque. It was regarded 'as a sort of ■ distress ; signal, but its nature and exact, meaning could not be ascertained. ; The. Komata steered close to the barque, and was in some danger of collision. Signals were made fromTthe steamer, but no understandable reply was received,,and„the.Komata,~jon the supposition "that the Rona was riot in serious difficulties, proceeded to .port. ,^ As'sboh as'the'pught of the Rona was fcnowrC. the. searchlight", at Fort .'Dorset ■wag switched on to her, in the hope that the light would help those on board, and those who were attempting to assist her. TUGS TO THE,RESCUE..^, Tlie lighthouse-keeper -at Pencarrow first saw the Rona about 10 o'clock, 'when ..she_ already seemed to be in some difficulty. - v She - was yawing badly and seemed to be out of control, The wind was then rising fast, and when she struck was blowing a gale. . -, Word was sent from - Pencarrow lighthouse to the signal station and the harbour authorities as soon as the. Rona was seen to be in trouble, and the Harbourmaster (Captain Dawson) went out in the oil-launch Uta. The Uniori.'Com•pany's tug Terawhiti went out about 1.30-a.m., and, with the Pelican, gave what assistance was possible in the circumstances.- Captain Dawson rovnained up at Seatoun all night.. i At daylight this morning the Pelican went up to' the stern of the Rona, an operation;inyo]ying, no/.small .risk'. to\the tn<r." "and "succeeded in taking all the ~rrip_i, company., off, -.fortunately without ' mishap. The crew were brought to town and-landed about 8 o'clock. Two of the Rona'a boats, which-had been launched • by jhe crew and were in a battered condition, were also-brought in by the Pelican, ;; HOPES OF SALVAGE. , The tide when the Rona struck was ebbing, and was little better than halftide^ as it was high-water a few minutes,1 after 9 p.m.. High tide occurred at 9.34 this^mornrrig, and jthere was some hope last-night that she-might be got off on, tho "top''of the tide this'morning. The time,; passed, ;however,. with the" vessel still .on the rocks.- Tho iTerawhitt is back in port, and the i Pelican: to the Rona during ■) the .rhoriwug. - i Tho Rona. '-commenced; to leak when she struck, and .was reported to he making iwater freely this morning. She 'is, however, on an even keel, and it is a fairly general opinion that, as there is open; water astern of her, the chances of towing her off when the sea goes down are fairly good. '■•-.'