WRECK OF THE MIZPAH

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1933, Page 7

WRECK OF THE MIZPAH

LAMENTABLE EPISODE,

TRIBUTE TO LOST COMRADES.

DEATH FACED HEROICALLY

(.special to “Northtin Advocate.";

AUCKLAND, This Day.

‘ ‘ They all died like men, if a- yachtsman has to lose his life at sea L should imagine that he would prefer to die as they died. bight up till the time the seas crashed on top of us there was never any suggestion of abandoning the ship or mention of personal fear.”

In these words did Mr Clifford C. Harris, of Oaklands Road, Mount Eden, pay tribute to his three companions, Messrs J. Harrell, J. I’. Kelleway and T. N. Taylor, who lost their lives when the Auckland keel yacht Mizpah was wrecked near Porangahau, on the East Coast, early on the morning of Anzae Day. Mr Harris, who has now recovered from the effects of his struggle in the breakers and exposure to howling wind and driving rain, returned to Auckland by motor car last evening.

The Mizpah, according to Mr Harris, was.well found, and adequately equipped for the trip to’Wellington. All the running gear had been renewed and the crew had made it their business thoroughly to acquaint themselves with the yacht, as she was new to them. “1 can only say that it was just sheer bad luck that the tragedy occurred,” he said. “Jt is easy to be wise after the event, but reasonable precautions were taken, and everything that could be done was done.”

It was true, said Air Harris, that the crew had been - warned that dangers might be encountered, but experienced yachtsmen had told them that they would be all right. No matter what trip was contemplated there was always someone who would raise the question of danger. Mr Harris admitted that probably the boat should have carried lifebelts, but added that, in his opinion, it was extremely unlikely that any of the crew, with the exception of Mr Harrell, who had gone on deck to work the pump, would have been wearing the belts at the time of the accident. Driven Ashore.

From six o’clock on Monday evening the yacht had been riding out the storm well to a sea anchor, rigged from a headsail. About an hour before the tragedy Mr Holloway had said that ho thought the boat was drifting inshore, but Mr Harris had assured him that he thought everything was all right. With the wind blowing almost a hurricane the crew had made themselves comfortable down below, going outside only every hour or so to pump out the rainwater and spray.

Owing to the bad visibility the crew were unable to tell whether they were near the shore, and when they first got. into the breakers they believed that the breakers were unusually heavy seas well out from the land. When it was realised that the boat was near the shore, half a. ton of'iron ballast .stored under the bunks was thrown overboard to lighten the boat, it being quicker to do this than to bale and pump. The unballasting had been completed and Mr Harris and.Mr Kollowe-y were discussing the advisability of altering the sea anchor, so that the boat would ride better, when disaster came. Drawn Into The Depths.

The report that one roller swamped the boat and another turned her over was denied by Mr Harris. ‘‘She was riding well, with her bow to the storm, when a. huge sea crashed on top of her and smashed in the cabin top,” he said. ”1 was using a basin as a baler when the sea hit us amt 1 was .sucked down among a swirling mass of pieces of wood and loose gear. I was cot about the legs and chest; and did not think I would come up again. When T did I caught a glim pie of the boat. I saw her nose sticking out of the

water, apparently held up by imprisoned air. I held on to the boat for a few seconds, and then grabbed something on which to drift ashore. 1 did not see any of the others again.

It would have been impossible, said ! Mr Harris, to ran for shelter, as there was none to be got anywhere in the vicinity. It had been suggested that the boat should have put into Napier, but, lie said, when the yacht was off there the wind was blowing a gale off the land, and it was doubtful whether the yacht would have been able to make port if the crew had desired to do so. The boat made good speed across Hawke’s Bay, and when she picked up the coast again experienced calmer water. None of the crew had been in favour of calling at Napier, as they wore all delighted with the progress the boat had made. “We were congratulating ourselves that we would be in Wellington on the Wednesday,’’ said Mr Harris. Mr McCauley’s Regrets.

None of the crew, said Mr Harris, was to be paid for his services, it being dearly understood by all that the trip was a pleasure one. Provisions were provided by the owner, and return train fares from Wellington were to be arranged. Mr Harris produced a letter ho had received from the Wellington buyer of the Mizpah, Mr .T. .McCauley, written after the tragedy. A paragraph in this read: “There was no insurance on the boat and though my wife and 1 have lost our entire savings, and some money we had borrowed besides, wo could stand the loss if the crew had been saved. I feel that I am responsible for their deaths and it is a terrible load on my mind. You would have made a fast trip if the southerly had held off, and it had to catch you right on a lee shore. I can understand how even the best sailors and boats can come to grief under these circumstances. ’ ’ Mr McCauley, said Mr Harris, had done everything possible and had authorised him'to claim for himself any salvage that was possible. The residents of Porangahau were worthy of the warmest praise for all they had done. Every sympathy had been displayed, .and for Mr HurrelPs' funeral there had been a large gathering and numerous wreaths. The daughter of the postmaster at Porangahau had herself made three wreaths--one on behalf of Mr Harris, one for Mr sen., and one for the owner of the boat. The Maoris of the district Jiad placed a special burial mat on the collin.

“I don’t know why I alone should have boon saved,” said Mr Harris. “ [ suppose it must have bec'n just luck. ■Mr Kolloway was an experienced yachtsman and did everything possible. Jack Hurrell and Tom Naylor did not know much about boating, but they had got into the way of things splendidly, and had been almost too eager to get into their oilskins and do any job that was ordered. They certainly died like real men.”