HARBOUR MASTER’S STORY

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 5

HARBOUR MASTER’S STORY

JIBED AT BAR CAPTAIN’S CHANGE OF MIND [Pa* United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 16. Captain Mitchell, harbour master at Hokianga, and his assistant, Mr Byers, witnessed the wreck, but were powerless to, do. anything, being alone on an isolated coast line. It was at 4 o’clock in the afternoon that the disaster occurred.. Inward bound from Onehunga, the vessel attempted to cross the bar with the tide running almost full in. Why she hesitated and did not come through is baffling all, seamen at Hokianga. Es-masters of vessels say that perhaps it was because the rudder became loose or because the steering chains broke. ,

That the captain changed his mind is indicated by the statement of the hat-bom master, who described how the vessel seemed suddenly to sweep her hofv round after she had started to dip

into tho channel. When the vessel was on her back no rudder was seen.

Captain Mitchell sighted the schooner at 10.45 in the 'morning coming from the north under sail. 11c signalled her at LOO p.m. to keep to the south. Ten minutes later he saw that her engines had been started, and he signalled ‘‘Wait for the lido” at 1.50. He then observed something that appeared odd. The vessel was under the power of her sails again; then the engines were restarted, and she went on the port tack. A. M. 40 the crew look in the mainsail, and a quarter of an hour later the vessel took to (ho south channel. Captain Mitchell signalled to tarn inward and come in over the bar. No nolico was taken of this signal. The vessel turned outward, then suddenly made lor the bar. She jibed when almost on the bar, and, taking a run on the sea, it appeared as if she would never stop. Then she went broadside on, and did not seem under control. Tire booms swung across the decks, the vessel listed and was hit by a swell; then she turned over. Captain .Mitchell rushed to his home and telephoned the police to spread the news around, while livers, through Ids telescope, saw the vessel spring up from the sea, only to shudder and ho lost for ever. TRAPPED LIKE RATS VESSEL REAPPEARS LIKE GHOST AND SINKS FOR EVER Trapped like nits in a hole (says another account) eight gallant men met their death, while the great green waves battered on the hull of their vessel. For twenty minutes the helpless vessel drifted near the deadly bar, her hull showing black against the green and foam of the seas washing over her. Deck cargo and odd timber bobbed about the wreck, and the gulls, sweeping low and screaming as they circled above the flotsam, were Ihe only living tilings within a mile of the doomed craft. Nearer shallow water the schooner was drawn, until her dragging masts scraped the iloor of the sea. Hailed in her drifting course, the hud of the Isabella De Fraine shuddered as (ho heavy sea swept down on ho,' stein. The swell Jut her broadside on, and like a ghost from (he dt'p’hs ;ne toappeared, her white sails (hipping weakly about the mastheads, and torn ropes swinging in the wind. Her hare docks were stripped of all oqnlament. and her cargo was wet wita the sea. In the fading light of the selling son the craft's battered lurm was siihouetted sharply against the sK.vluio for a minute. The derelict locked cn the swells, then she staggered, reined slowly over again, and vanished beneath the surface. It is believed that the hull of the schooner is being held below the surface by the anchors, which wore thrown off the deck when the .Isabella De Fraino capsized. Jt is thought that tlic anchors are caught Cast in the rocks. WRECKAGE COKES ASHORE NO SIGN OF BODIES Croups of searchers made a systematic search of the coast line, walking to within u short distance of Wiiangape, (ifteen miles, of bleak wild land throughout the darkness, without food or shelter. They found no trace of any survivors. Pieces of the hatchway and portions of the hull were strewn over the sixteen miles.

By noon 4DO people wore searching the shore without further success. Captain Berridgo and the unite, Teixeira, were known as experienced and cautious sailors. The Isabella De Undue carried between forty and fifty tons of cargo. The vessel is insured by the Hartford Insurance Company.