ASHORE AT PENCARROW HEAD.

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1913, Page 5

ASHORE AT PENCARROW HEAD.

HARD AND FAST ON ROCKS

FAILURE OF LIGHTS ON BOARD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. During southerly weather last night the ocean liner Devon, bound from Auckland to Wellington, was driven on to the rocks at the eastern headland of the Wellington Harbour entrance, right under Pencarrow lighthouse.

At latest advices she was lying hard and fast on the rocks about a hundred yards from the beach.

The first news of the wreck was received by telephone from the lighthouse at Pencarrow, which reported that the keepers first saw the ship at 8.4 0 p.m.. She was right on the rocks, hard and fast, lying bow j on. ! The Lyttleton ferry steameer Wahine stood by the Devon until 9.45 when she proceeded on her way south after wirelessing that she was unable to read the Morse signals from 'the stranded vessel. The captain of the Wahine considered it was impossible to render any assistance owing to the tremendous sea running, and the position of the wreck. The harbour ferry steamer Duchess left for the scene last night with the harbour master and others. It is also reported that a party is endeavouring to make its way overland Further wireless from the Wahine states that the Eievon had reported that she had only one boat left. A late telephone message from Pencarrow states that no lights were visible on the Devon- at 10.30 p.m. The only signal successfully despatched up to 12.40 a.m. was from the lighthouse asking the Devon if she was going to send her boats ashore. The reply was "no." Further signals from the ship seemed to indicate that something should be done ashore but the full meaning of the signals could not be made out. The weather, though rough, was not in the nature of a storm or even a 1 gale. The Wahine was able to go out and incoming steamers this morning ! had easy passages.

THE POSITION' AT MIDNIGHT. At 12.40 a.m. the lighthouse keeper at Pencarrow reported that the Devon appeared to be a hopeless wreck, but that all the men on board were probably in no limmediate danger. The after part of the vessel appeared to be breaking up. Some wreckage was coming ashore. The bow of the vessel was high and dry and to all appearances firmly fixed on the rocks. The electric lights seemed to have failed but the masthead light and a few others were showing. Three or four attempts'had .been made to get lines ashore but the lines had all fallen short. There is no sheltered water but a boat might live while a line was sent ashore, but it would have to pass over the sharp Pinnacle Rocks.