CALM AFTER THE STORM

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3287, 5 March 1926, Page 7

CALM AFTER THE STORM

SARD’S SKIPPER , TELLS THE TALE Back on Course For Seven Hours VAIN EFFORTS TO SAVE THE SHIP The ten survivors of the crew of the Karu came on to Awanul last evening by motor-car. after a 75-mllo run down Ninety Mile beach. .All are in good health and Spirits, considering the harrowing experiences through which they have passed. | [Per Press Association.] AW AN UI, Wednesday. I According to Captain Richmond f and his three officers, shortly after they left Whangape the wind increased to a gale, and after having made ■> a fair offing, the vessel was hove to. ' Soon after midnight an unusual quantity of water was reported In the en- > gine-room and the hold. The sea was . very heavy, and a whole gale was i blowing. The cuutain ordered the j steam pumps to he started, but it was found that the water was gaining. 1 Listed and Down !>y Stern. The steamer was vainly endeavour- , ing to round Capo Regina to the shel- [ ter of Spirts Bay or Parengarenga Harbour, and was bearing roughly south-south-west of Cape Maria Van Diemen. At 3 a.m., all efforts having ) failed in this Intention. Captain Richmond put his ship about, and made for land, with the object Of beaching her. Ho found, however, that the vessel was barely manageable, and after seven hours of running back on her course, she developed a heavy list to starboard, and was well down by ; the stern. 1 Boiler Fires Put Out. !! To make matters worse, the engineroom became flooded, and the boiler 1 fires went out. | The engineers, who had been work- ! ing like Trojans with water up to 1 their waists were then obliged to COme on deck and lend a hand in preparation for abandoning the ship. All hope of saving the steamer was 3 then dismissed, and the captain gave orders for life belts to be donned, and as much clothing as possible removed. Sail was hoisted ito help in the operation of beaching the vessel on Twi- • light Beach, but a powerful tide was ■ running, and the ship was carried in 1 a northerly direction to the point ■ where she sank. The Lifeboat Launched. - When miles from shore, and i with breakers in sight,, one of the ship's lifeboats was launched, and all twelve members of the crew got into the boat, the captain being the last to enter. The falls were cut with axes, and the boat got away safely : on top of a huge wave. As the lifeboat left the abandoned steamef ■floating helplessly and nearly awash, it was about 9.30 a.m. The men set to rowing In the precipitous seas, and everything went sp'endidly until the boat was halfway ; through the surf. The rowers experienced great difficulty in keeping her I head on to the breakers, and without warning a tremendous wave caught the boat and turned it completely over. Capsized in the Surf. All was then confusion. Some cf the men wore trapped for a moment beneath the boat, and managed to free themselves only after a great struggle, j It is surmised that Frank Saun-1 dors, who was drowned, was struck either by the boat or by a flying oar, and rendered unconscious. B. R. Ravenswood is reported to have been seen swimming soon after the boat, capsized, but he never reached . the land. I Exhausted by the Struggle. The first to climb through (he breakers to the shore was a Maori able seaman, Dennis Cochrane, a youth of about 19 years of age, whose home is at Rawene. The others followed at interva's, but so severe was the buffeting they received in the breakers that it was some time before any of them was able to take much heed of th e others. Several of the men were unconscious long before , they reached dry land; and others dropped from exhaustion on touching the sand with their feet. Most of them were stripped of their clothing whil 0 battling in the breakers, and lay on the sands naked. Upon recovering from their fatigue, those who could do so administered help to the unconscious,’ and in an hour or so all were able to move about. Body Washed Up. While they were still on the beach th e body of Saunders was washed up by the surf. His lifebelt was still round him. When it was realised that all hope of reviving him was useless, Ills remains were laid in a shallow ' grave in the sands. Th e mate’s party slept out in the open on Monday night, and discover- I ' ed Te Hapua next evening. They were accommodated at the residence of Mr Cheeseman, the local storekeep- | ' er. This party was escorted yesterday | to Te Paki, and all ten men were ‘ brought south last night. ( CAPTAIN WATCHLEV’S LOSS. 1 AUCKLAND. Yesterday. Captain A. P. Watchlin, owner of the Karu, estimates that his loss will * b e about £3OOO. He bought the stea- * mer in Sydney for £ISOO, and the fit-| ( ting out of the vessel at Sydney and I £ Auckland coat another £2OOO. In ad- j

the loss of the steamer will entail him In further heavy expenses. Able to Swim. It is stated that the two unfortunate men who were lost were able to. swim. Both are single men. i The body of Ravenswood has not yet been recovered, although a party has been engaged in an exhaustive search. An Inquest was held at Te Pakl on Wednesday prior to the departure of the party by motor car. Mr Cheeseman acted as coroner, and Constable Thornell, of Houhora, was present on behalf of the police. Evidence was taken and a verdict was returned of accidental drowning.

The body of Mr Saunders has been removed from its temporary grave and is being conveyed to Te Hapua for burial in th e local cemetery.

KAHC UNMANAGEABLE.

WHEN CREW TOOK TO BOAT. AUCKLAND. Last Night Survivors of the crew of the wrecked steamer Karu are expected to reach Auckland to-morrow by train from the North. Questioned after his arrival at Awanui. Captain Richmond said tho steamer was not abandoned until all hope of saving her had gone. [ When the end come she was quite unmanageable and the only chance ! would have been to tow her on to beach with a lifeboat. That would have been a fatal task for the crew, and it became a question of assuredly * sacrificing lives in a lost attempt to beach the ship, or of taking a reasonable chance of getting a lifeboat alone through the surf. When the survivors left Te Pakl on Wednesday afternoon, the Karu was plainly visible on the rocks at tho northern end of Twilight Bay. Her funnel had disappeared and a portion of the bulwarks had been smashed in, while the superstructure had been completely washed away. Constable Gosman Is patrolling the coast in search for the body of Ravenswood.