AT MANA ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13493, 21 May 1907, Page 5

AT MANA ISLAND.

THE EMMA SIMS ON THE

ROCKS.

CAPTAIN AND CREW RESCUED.

[by telegram.-—own correspondent.]

Wellington, Monday. The ketch Emma Sims, bound from Brook- | lyn Bay, l'olorus Sound, to Lyttelton with a 1 cargo of timber, consigned to Messrs. Reece ! and Budd, of Christchurch, ran for shelter ''under Maria Island during the southerly ' gale on Saturday night, but owing to the ' heavy sea. prevailing the vessel was driven ' on shore, her anchor parting, and she went broadside on to the rocks. Captain McDonald and the crew of four men landed on the island, after a perilous : experience. This afternoon the Government steamer • Hinemoa came into port with the captain ant crow of the ketch, who had passed a miserable night on Mana Island. STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN. Speaking: to a Post reporter to-day, the master said that his vessel was bound from Brooklyn Bay, Pelorus Sound, to Lyttelton, with a cargo of timber. The schooner cleared tho Sound last Saturday week at seven a.m., and got up to Cape Campbell on Sunday evening at twenty minutes to six. Then the boat commenced to run into stormy weather, and the crew were kept hard at work. Eventually the captain put into Worscr Bay for shelter, and left on May 16 at half-past eight p.m., with a sixknot breeze. Once outside, however, the vessel was the plaything of a fierce southerly. The wind varied eight points between south-west and south-east, and its moods were most malicious. It would rise to half a gale, then drop and spring up again. The elements were doing their best to ruin the little craft. * The captain finally tried to take shelter under Cape Terawhiti. All he could do was to reach Mana Island, and he just managed to get inside the south-eastern rocks. He was forced to anchor five and a-half cable lengths out or go ashore. He let go both anchors, 45 fathoms on the starboard side and 15 on the port, but the lines apparently failed to hold the vessel off the rocks. At halfpast one on Saturday morning the schooner struck, swinging broadside on to the rocks. A DOGGED HERO. At -past five in the morning, while it was yet dark and misty, one of the men, Munro, endeavoured to get ashore. A lifebelt was put around him and a couple of lines were fixed to him so that he could be pulled back when in distress. He went over the side, and immediately disappeared. Then a voice was heard: " For God's sake, haul me in!"and his mates tugged him back to the vessel. After a rest Munro determined to' make . another attempt, though lie was strongly counselled to remain on the ketch for a time. By now the bleak dawn gave a light, and in the gloom the seaman again gave himself to the rollers. He fought his way to hard ground, and after half an hour's rest lie was able to assist his mates to land. A line was got. ashore, and Munro made it fast around a rock, thus enabling the other three sailors to creep to safety.

The captain, however, stuck to his ship for many hours alone. Huge seas were breaking over the vessel, but he would not budge while a ray of hope remained. In the end he too was forced to join his crew on,the dreary island, where they had .to shiver in their sodden clothes till the Hinemoa came to the rescue.

In the'darkness, after the schooner struck, rockets were fired to attract assistance, but none came. When Captain McDonald left the schooner there were only two rockets and two blue lights left dry. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 4 BLAMED. The captain had the trying experience of seeing his snug little vessel getting into the jaws of the rocks, while there were engines aboard to save her. He lays some blame on the Government regulations for the present plight. of the Emma Sims. ; ; As an auxiliary oil engine is installed, the vessel is required to carry a certificated mate if it is desired to supplement the sails with mechanical power. The master was detained in Wellington ten days trying to get a certificated! man, but none would come for the salary, which he considered good, £12 a month. . One man did appear, but vanished when he heard that the vessel was mainly worked by sail. Before the vessel left port that -time a Government officer sealed down the works, and later on the captain shipped the idle propeller, for it was serving only the purpose of catching weeds. This regulation, and a belief that the starboard cable snapped, are held responsible'by the master for the striking of the vessel. The schooner was full of water when the Hinemoa departed, but Captain McDonald was of the opinion that the vessel could be salved if measures were promptly taken. In this opinion, however, he differs from Captain Bollons. SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR OF THE MEN. The master gives ■ all possible praise to his men. He says that they behaved splendidly throughout the trying voyage, and in the final crisis. Better men, he declares, never set foot on a vessel. The lifeboat of the Emma Sims was s*tovein by the great rollers. If there had been twenty boats they would . have all been crushed, the master said. A HOPELESS POSITION. The ketch is in a hopeless position. She is ashore on a rocky bottom, broadside- on to the south-eastern side of the island.