THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Manawatu Standard, Issue XLI, 17 December 1908, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

FURTHER DETAILS. (Pek Pkess~ Association.) AUCKLAND, December 16. With reference to the wreck of the scow Kia ora the Herald correspondent a-t Leigh telegraphs:—- f 'About midnight on Monday during the heavy gale that raged on the coast the Kia Ora went ashore on a jutting reef on the outer side of Kawau Island.

"The sole survivor states that she struck at about 12.15 in an intense darkness and with a heavy, sea, running. At the time it. was impossible to see the bow of the vessel. The captain, thinking himself well clear of Kawau Island and wishing to keep clear of Canoe Rock, altered his course two points to * starboard.- Almost immediately after the scow struck a submerged rock and was immediately swept by a huge sea which smashed her. against the rocks, carrying her spars overboard. The cook was swept away by the same wave, and was, never seen again. The vessel started to break up, and the captain and his son with the survivor found selves clinging to a rock which was being swept by occasional seas and a ceasless spray. The tide was falling, and so later on they were less in danger of being washed off, but the cold wind and spray kept them in a state of helplessness and misery. "At length when daylight broke the eurvivor said He would not stay there to be drowned by the incoming tide, so he struck out for the shore, and after 20 minutes' swimming he landed ashore at the foot of the steep cliff fairly exhausted. He looked back after clambering up the cliff a little way, but could see nothing of the other two either in the water or on the rocks, and it can only be surmised that they followed his example and tried to swim ashore, or were washed from their hold by a big wave. They were not seen again. The survivor climbed painfuly up the cliff on what little precious holding he ©ould find, and eventually reached a-' cottage, where he wae received and Welcomed, and news sent in to Kawau Mansion 7 House. «--•,- " The survivor is naturally much exhausted, but was reported well at the time. " The vessel is broken into several pieces, one part of the hull being upside down, while the forepart is aslant inside the rock she struck, and the deckhouse-is ashore further along."

A SURVIVOR'S TALE. AND FORTUNATE ESCAPE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 17. Fred Gosset, sole survivor of th* wreck of the scow Kia Ora, arrived in Auckland last night. He etates Captain Piercy was at the wheel when the vessel struck. There was a furious gale with squalls of drenching rain, and it was impossible to see fifty yards. The Captain evidently thought "he had passed Kawau. The. scow suddenly crashed upon the rocks and broke her back. Gosset called the cook from his bunk, and directly he reached the deck he, was washed overboard. Gosset never saw him again. The other three men were washed off the scow, but scrambled oh to the ■rock. The Captain and his son had lifebelts on, but discarded them owing to the difficulty of clinging to the rocks. Gosset was washed off the rocks, but returned with the backwash. The Captain's son was twice washed off, and the captain was washed off once, but both got back to their perilous refuge. It wae midnight when the scow struck. From then till seven in the morning the three men remained on the rock. Then Gosset shook hands with the skipper and his son and struck out for the shore not far distant. • When halfway ashore he heard them call, but he was too exhausted to stop. When the chances seemed all against him he felt sharp rocks under his feetj and crawled to the cliff. He looked for the captain and his eon, but saw no sign of them. He made his way to a cottage and_ received every attention. The captain, and his son must have been washed off the rock or drowned in attempting to follow Gosset's example of swimming ashore. A search party has been unable to find any trace of the bodies of the missing men.