TWO RECENT WRECKS.

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 7

TWO RECENT WRECKS.

THE SIR HENRY LOST WITH ALL HANDS. FOUNDERING OF THE AOTEA. [Spbciaj. to thk Stab.] GISBORNE,. Jnly 20. Tho schooner Sir Henry, bound from Auckland to Napier with hardwood timber, was wrecked near East Cape, and all hands lost. After the Sir Henry got clear of Tolago Bay she was seen at nightfall to be standing south txn*rds Gisborne, but must have been caught br the storm, and driven northwards to the East Cape There was a wreck at the East Cape some four years ago, when the scow Wbakapae, driven up I the coast by a storm in a similar manner, j crashed on to the rocks between the island and the mainland, and was lost. Captain Boinor and the crew being drowned. The ketch Sir Henry was one of the smartest little sailing vessels on the east coast. She was a centre-board boat, of 68 tons register, and capable of carrying about 150 tons. The Sir Henry, although of some age, was a strong and well-found vessel in all respects. She belonged to Captain Joe Goomes, a Portugese, of Auckland, well known in shipping circles, and owner of the scow Bravo, together with owning interests in the scow Hawke and other sailing vessels. Captain Goomes was verv fond of this little vessel, and liked to pail" in her. "She Sir Henry was formerly square schooner-rigged, and when Captain Goomes bought her he. converted her into a ketch. He was also part owner of; the schooner Rangi, which lost several of her crew yesterday by a boating accident on the bar at Karainea. Captain Goomes was further interested in the missing scow Haeremai. The Sir Henry was a very well-known coastal trader, liaving for "many years, under Captain Clarbon, run from Timaru to Napier and Gisborne and Auckland with produce, and was at one time trading out of Kaiapoi with flour. Sho was a toprail schooner in those days. The ' Poverty Bay Herald's' correspondent at East Cape telegraphs that the wreck of the Sir Henry occurred at 7.30 on Tuesday morning, when tho schooner was seen scudding before a furious gale, and evidently at the mercy of the terrible 6ea then running. The helpless vessel was watched with breathless interest by peoplo at the lighthouse and by natives on the sea shore, who were powerless to render assistance on account of the angry state of the elements-. The schooner ioUowed a track almost similar to that along which the scow Whakapac was borne when, four years ago, that vessel, with Captain Bonnor and his creWj came to grief, bemg driven in between East Island and the mainland on to the rocky ledges that put out from the coast at this point, and where the sea, sweeping through a narrow strait, breaks in great turmoil. The crew of the little vessel, consisting of five men, were discerned on tho deck, hanging on for their lives, the seas occasionally sweeping over them. Tho Maoris state that when the vessel struck three of the crew attempted to float ashore on a raft, which probably consisted of hatch coverings, but they were one by one swept off and drowned before the natives, who were ready to plunge into the sea as they had done "before with the former wreck, were able to help them. Two of the crew were seen by the lighthouse people swimming, and they made a brave struggle, succeeding in reaching within a quarter of a mile of the shore, but they were overcome in the heavy breakers, which were of sufficient force to dash to pieces any human flotsam on the rocky coast. No bodies have been recovered. It was at the Whakapac wreck at this spot that young Kohere, -who subsequently went Home with the Coronation contingent, earned the Royal Humane Society's medal for conspicuous bravery. The Sir Henry left Auckland with the following crew :

Captain J, Goomes, master; aged fortfeight, E. Quimar, A.8., aged thirty-two. Adolph Richter. A.8., aged twenty-two. Anton Dallas, A.8., aged thirty-seven. All belong to Auckland. The schooner was 95 tons gross measurement, being 90.1 ft long by 20.8 ft beam, and 6.7 ft deep. She left Auckland last Thursday morning at 8.30, at the same time as the ill-fated Aotea, and the boats were expected to accompany one another down the coast. The ketch was bound for Napier with a cargo of timber and pipes, and, as far as is known, neither boat nor cargo was insured. Captain Goomes had tho reputation of being one of the most cautious and thorough skippers on the coast, and was never known to run his vessel into unnecessary danger. Captain Goomes's wife and child reside in Wellesley street, Auckland A Palmerston North firm of sanitary engineers, Messrs Holben and Kirk, had 150 tons of drain pipes on board. The loss will not fall on them, however, for the consignment was f.0.b., Napier. Messrs R. O. Clark and Sons, Auckland, were the consignors. THE AOTEA WRECK. / It has been arranged that the 6.5. Tuatea is to proceed to Waipiro Bay as sood as the sea moderates there, to bring the bodies of Captain and Mrs Nicolas to Gisborne. They will probably be brought down on Saturday, and the funeral bo held on Sunday. The late Captain Nicolas was always regarded in shipping circles as a lucky skipper. When in the schooner Awanui he "seemed always to enjoy the best of weather, and made many fast trips. The schooner Aotea, his new command, on the other hand, was an unlucky ship. She had a narrow escape at Kawakawa, when her oil launch wa.-> sunk. There was a fire on the vessel, which Captain Skinner and his crew fought valiantly for several days, and she went ashore at Waipiro Bay a few months before her final disaster in, the same bay. A subscription of £IOO has been given to the Nicolas relief fund by one donor, a resident of Poverty Bay, whose munificence has been extended on many like occasions. The gentleman referred to, who is a country settler, did not wish his name to be published. The Nicolas children are living in Gisborne, and the public, recognising the case as a'most deserving one, are subscribing liberally to provide for their maintenance. Captain Nicolas is to be given a Masonic burial here.