JAMES DOUGLAS DISASTER.

Northern Advocate, 12 January 1912, Page 5

JAMES DOUGLAS DISASTER.

WRONG CHARTING ALLEGED.

CAPTAIN ABOARD TO THE LAST

CREW'S SORRY PLIGHT.

NELSON, Jan. 12. The shipwrecked crew of the Jane Douglas arrived in Nelson by the Pateena yesterday. Captain Vendore states that the vessel was beating through Cook Strait, bound from Wellington to Hokitika,, in a blustering south-easter. On entering the passage between Stephen's and d'Urville Islands, where there are several rocks, the vessel piled up on Saddle Rock. The captain declares that Steeple Rock and Saddle Rock are wrongly charted, the names being, transposed. At midnight the vessel steamed beneath heavy clouds, with all hands on deck. At 12.30 she struck, and sank in five minutes. Despite the blackness the crew showed no panic. The mate took charge of the boat, the captain staying aboard. The engines were racing furiously, and soon snapped off the propeller. Then the steamer listedl and slid off the rock. As the water came level with the deck the captain grasped a lifebelt, but was sucked under to a considerable depth. He came up half drowned, Tjut still clinging to the lifelaelt, as he was unable to swim. After a search the boat found him. He was in a bad way. A course was set for Port Hardy, and after a difficult landing had been effected, the party, shoeless and half clad, tramped to Mr Lord's homestead, j where they received every kindness. They were then taken to the French Pass in a launch and joind the Pateena. The crew were-in a hapless plight, and some of them were coatless and shirtless.

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Association.)