THE WHAKAPAI WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 241, 19 October 1901, Page 2

THE WHAKAPAI WRECK.

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY COMMENCED. .By Telegraph—Press Association.] Auckland, last night. A nautical enquiry commenced to-day before Mr W. 11. Brabant, S.M.. concerning the capsizing ot the scow Whakapa: between tne East Island and the mainland. on September 29th. in which four , numbers c-t the crew, including Captain Bonn. r. were drowned. ,i aines Bertie, the only survivor, stated that while the seuw was bring beached at Toll n. ivu to discharge cargo soc bumped on some boulders, a coupie of holes being | knocked in her bottom. -After the disI charge of the timber she was temporarily j repaired, and then put off to Gisborne. Alter being out to sea for some time they , found tile vessel leaking considerably, and soon after Captain Bonner sighted the i steamer Te Anau. He hoisted signals ol j distress, but no notice was apparently taken of mem. It was foggy, and pro- , bablv they wore not disoernabie to tne iTe Anau. When tlu* Te Anau was j almost out of sight, the scow capsized, j Tin- crew clung to the upturned vessel i until the mast broke away, and Bertie • stuck to it. He was rescued by .Maoris, j Tile enquiry was adjourned until Monj dav so as to enable the evidence of Cap i tain Lambert, who was in charge oi' the Te Anau, to be taken.