A MYSTERIOUS SCHOONER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 78, 16 March 1923, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS SCHOONER.

SIGHTED UNDER BARE POLES. SIGNALSIGNORED. Auckland, March 15. A strange story has been brought to Auckland concerning the unaccountable behaviour of an American schooner sighted about 190 miles west of Cape Maria van Diepien. If surmises are correct the vessel, at present unidentified, should prove to be the fourmasted schooner Lottie Bennett, which sailed from Wanganui on March 6 with a local crew, admitted by the captain to be largely inexperienced. It has been reported to the Collector of Customs that the Waihora on Sunday signalled to the Wanaka that at five that morning a schooner was sighted without a sail set and carrying no lights, though it was not then daylight. No attempt was made by the schooner to signal the steamer. At 6 a.m. the next day the same schooner was sighted by the Manuka. All sails were furled, though there was a light breeze from N.N.E. The schooner was apparently travelling slowly W.N.W. Again the smaller vessel made no signal.

The master of the Manuka describes the ship seen as a five-masted American schooner. The Lottie Bennett has four inasts, but as the schooner was seven or eight miles away visibility not be too favourable. The detail may quite likely be subject to revision. At least one observer on the steamer made the ship out as having four masts. There was sufficient wind to render the use of auxiliary engines superfluous and it is pointed out that even if the engines were being run it would be customary to have a sail set to steady the ship. There is no information to indicate that the ship was travelling by the auxiliary, engines, however, and it is significant that the Lottie Bennett is without such auxiliary power. The report of the captain of the Manuka has been forwarded to the Marine Department and steps have been taken to discover the identity of the schooner.