DISABLED VESSEL

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12256, 1 October 1902, Page 3

DISABLED VESSEL

SIGHTED OFF EAST COAST. Gisborne, Tuesday. Turehau station, ten miles north of Gisborne, reports sighting a large vessel with only one mast standing, and with topsail and jib set, heading south. The steamer Beatrice left port at 9 30 for the vessel, which is described as a large barque. Her position is about twelve miles off shore near the Aiiel Reef. A light north-easterly wind is blowing. The vessel appears to have difficulty in steering. It is thought sho may be the overdue Timatu The dredge John Townley left to search for the disabled ship at noon, taking provisions. The steamer Fanny left at 2 p.m. on the same mission. All the steamers returned unsuccessful. Frank Knowle»„ who was on the Beatrice, states: 11 The vessel was about 22 miles square off Tatapouri, running before a north-east wind. We had no chance of boarding her, as we could not get near enough. We gained on her at the start, but then the breeze freshened and instead of us catching up to her she was showing better pace than we could, We signalled, bntdo not know whether any reply was made. They apparently had no means of making a reply, as there was practically nothing for them to signal from. She had only two topsails and foresail set. We could see something dangling from the stump, but could not make out whether it was canvas. We sighted the vessel directly we ronnded Tuahine Point about 10 o’clock. We could not tell if there was any connection between the vessel and the one reported as having been seen on fire off Hick's Bay, or that it in any way resembled the missing barque Timarn, I could not even say if it was a barque. I know that it was a big ahip of some sort, of about 1400 tons, painted black, and I believe built of iron. She looked

like a vessel that had been tumbling about a good bit, but we could see no sign of lire. The course of the vessel would be’set for about Portland Island. She should be all tight unless the wind changes. She is well off the land, with every prospect of being able to reach Hawke’s Bay. The steamers leaving Napier to-night ought to sight her, but I should not think that she would requite any aid."

[bt thi.bgba.ph,—special to hbbalb.J Gisborne, Monday. In view of the fact that the ChiUt-ohuroh-owned barque Timarn i« overdue some teven wests from Lyttelton to Ki ‘ id ih anxiety i« being

Kaipara, and much anxiety is being felt concerning her, conaiderable interest waa created by a report which reached here thia morning ftomTnrehan, stating that a large vessel, partially dismasted, was sighted off the coast. Steps were at once taken to send her assistance, and three vessels went in search. Unfortunately the wind freshened at noon and bore the ship away too rapidly from the pursuing vessels, which returned to port. There are hopes that she may be picked up to-night off Portland Island by one of three steamers, the Omapere, the Te A nan, and the Fanny, which are travelling between Napier and Gisborne. The steam trawler Beatrice which left Gisborne at 9.30 a.m. returned to port at 330 p.m. When off Tuahine point a sail was sighted on the port bow to the southward and outside of the Ariela. It waa very misty and there waa a heavy swell. The Beatrice slipped along at the rate of about 8 knots. At noon the disabled vessel waswithin four miles distance, and could be seen plainly to bo a ship in distress, bhe had lost her main and mizzen masts. On her foremast she had the following sails set: — Foresail, lower and upper topsail, and fore staysail. The fore royalmast was gone, and from the top of the broken mast was flapping what was either a piece of broken sail or a signal of distress. As the Beatrios drew nearer a man could be seen standing at the wheel. The ship was standing on the starboard taok towards Mahia, and was about 25 miles distant from Gisborne. As the Beatrice approached the wind freshened, and the ship’s head slewed round to the southward. Signals were made to arrest her attention by blowing the whistle, but no attempt was made by the ship's company to lower sail or to respond to the signal. The disabled ship was an iron vessel of about 1800 tone, painted black, but rusty, with a white poop and deckhouse. She was heavily laden. The davits were seen, but no boats, and there was no sign of the stamps of the broken masts. The ship was running to the south-west before the wind at about 8 knots, and the Beatrice, after a good spin, found herself unable to keep up with her. The course she is shaping should take her about 10 miles off Portland Island to-night. There was a heavy sea outside and she' was rolling heavily. At 12 20 the trawler gave up the ohase and returned to port. Those on the Beatrice were unable to identify the ship, which they believe to be too large to be the overdue Timaru. They incline to the opinion that she is a coalladen vessel from Newcastle to San Francisco, which has been disabled and blown on to the New Zealand coast.

The s s. Omapere which left Napier at noon yesterday {or Bast Coast ports, had not reached Gisborne at 10 o’clock last night. She should have arrived there at 8 o’clock, and it is believed that she has come across the disabled vessel on her way north. In that event, and in view of the unfavorable weather conditions prevailing on the coast, it was considered quite possible that the Omapere would bring the vessel to Napier,