THE BRIG RIO GRANDE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE BRIG RIO GRANDE

J EXCITING INCIDENT IN 1884. I Thus the “Telephone” of May 1884, in recording the stranding at Gisborne of the brig Rio Grande, 200 tons of Newcastle, said to have been ; worth £I6OO. | “During the heavy weather wihicli j set in on Wednesday night from the ’ south and east t.hc Rio Grande parted from one of her cables and commenced driving rapidly towards the shore. Seeing the imminent danger in which the brig was placed Mr. H. E\ Johnstone despatched tho steamer Eosina to her aid, but on arriving alongside,.the captain of the brig declined the proffered help, saying that lie could hold on by liis other anchor. The Rosina accordingly left him to his own resources. During the whole of the day the brig continued to drag and by 4 o’clock, the tide being ouC and having got into the inner breakers, she began to strike. Tho strong flood, assisted by heavy squalls and a high sea, soon had the effect of beaching her and when the morning broke, she was to he seen lying oiT her beam ends on the papa rocks which flank the southern end of the bar, with the sea making a clean breach over her. Early in the morning the Rosina again got up steam to go out, but it was found too rough ‘ for her to render any help. The

lifeboat went out about S o clock and brought the. crew safely to land, lti the captain could have managed to bring the vessel further along the beach into the sandy part it might be easy to get her off. as in the case of the Loclinagar, which was a much smaller vessel, and others that have been similarly situated. There are 165 tons of coal still m her for Mr. Johnston but this will not.be lost, as at low water she will be almost-high-and dry and the coal can be easily cot at. It is a somewhat- strange fact that notwithstanding that the vessel was dragging all day no attempt was made bv those on board to send down topgallantyards or mast. If this had been done it must-have" increased the vessel’s chances.” •

When Tote was a Novelty,

The working oi the tote at the Turf Chib’s February meeting in .1882 is thus described by the “Stan-dard”:—-“Although it- was freely criticised during the' day its remarkable fairness was freely admitted. Mr. W. Stock, of Napier, was in charo-e. So mu h satisfaction did the maclnne give to the public that although the sum of £349 was put through it, the tickets at £1 each, not a single instance of any dispute occurred, nor was any doubt, raised as to the fairness of the decisions. The largest dividend was £5 18s, 99 tickets being sold, but only 15 on the winner, Romeo, the event being the Tradesmen’s Handicap.