WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2143, 27 July 1907, Page 1

WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

STORY OF THE SURVIVOR.

Press Association,

,AUCKLAND, last night. A Tairua message states the steamer Onslow Visited the scene of tho wreck of tho scow Surprise again yesterday. Constable Brown and party searched tho, beaches hut could find no bodies. They secured a flag, some broken life-buoys and tho name board. Tho steamer called at Ohui and brought'Harry Jackson, tho sole survivor, to Tairua.. Ho is still weak. As showing tho fury of the storm dozens of crayfish and dead fish were thrown up on the beach, also tons of seaweed. The ships dog was found lying on tho Pnwanui boach. AUCKLAND, yesterday.

Harry Jackson, sole survivor of th 0 wreck of the scow Surprise, relating his experiences, said: “When off Slipper Island 011 Friday night tho scow started to drag, with three anchors out. 'The captain ordered the crow to set tlie staysail. Immediately afterwards she struck tho'south end of tho Watchman rocks. Captain Gallicnue sang out ‘Good-bye.’ Thai was the last I saw of him, and of the boy Frank Kelly. “The scow was bumping very hard when Alf. Stewart, Edward Johansen anl I took to the forerigging. We stayed there a little, time, then came down and went aft. The ship came stern off the rocks and capsized. I lost sight of Stewart and never saw him again. “Johansen and I stuck to the main rigging after which tlie scow drifted midwav between tlie Watchman and the coast. I swam ashore, but never saw Johansen again. I am a good swimmer, but the breakers wore very large and rough. One breaker took 111.! ashore. Others came immediately and smashed in? 011 tho rocks. That is how I was so much cut and bruised. I had been in the water five or six hours.

“I climbed about half-way up tlie cl hi and then collapsed from exhaustion. I stayed there the whole of Sr, 11 dav and at night felt ill and unable to go further. Next morning, feeling a little better, I crawled up over the cliffs, and eventually reached J. McGregor’s house, where I received every kindness. I was put to bed and carefully nursed.

“My position on Sunday was terrible. It was a wild stormy day. I was stuck half-way up the cliffs, with only a small singlet on, reaching to my thighs. I was unable to move further. The cliffs were below me, arc, high perpendicular hills above. I thought I was done for. I lay there in the storm all Sunday, and in the night the pain was so severe and unbcareable that I wished I was dead.

“The weather appeared bettor on Monday morning, and having gained a little extra strength I started to crawl along, not knowing exactly where I was.”