WARKWORTH WRECK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13751, 16 May 1908, Page 5

WARKWORTH WRECK.

PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. THE CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT. GALE AND HEAVY SEAS. Captain J. Brown, and the crew of two men, of the cutter Warkworth, which was wrecked off Kaipara Heads on May 7, arrived in Auckland by the train from Helensville yesterday morning. The crew of the vessel had a perilous experience, having been at the mercy of the winds and waves for one night and two days, without shelter and very little food during that time. Interviewed by a Herald reporter yesterday. Captain J. Brown, who was in charge of the cutter, and who is one of the bestknown coastal masters, stated that the Warkworth left Kaipara for Auckland on May 5, the wind then blowing from the north-north-east. At eight p.m. the wind shifted into the north-west, blowing a gale, and the vessel was headed out to sea. At midnight it was blowing with almost hurricane force, and the vessel was put tinder easy canvas. During the morning of May 6 it was still blowing hard. The wind had gone into the south-west by this time, with a very heavy sea running. At two p.m. the wind suddenly hauled into the southward, still blowing a gale, with a heavy sea, and the vessel was then put on the port tack.

At nine p.m. a tremendously heavy sea was shipped, which broke the main boom, stove the boat in, and filled the cabin. Shortly afterwards another heavy sea broke on board, parting the port chain plates, and Lite forestav went over the side.

At this time continuous seas broke over the side of the vessel, and as she was practically beyond control she began to drift towards the shore.

The master and crew hardly expected the vessel to reach the shore. Their position was a most perilous one, for with the strong gale blowing and the heavy seas which were breaking on board, it seemed almost certain she would founder.

Fortunately at one a.m. on the 7th the vessel stranded on the beach. The master and the two men remained on board until daylight. The sea had then gone down, leaving the vessel high and dry. All were enabled to get ashore in safety. •

There they remained until May 12, suffering terribly from the exposure. Having been wet through for 36 hours, their feet and legs were terribly swollen and very painful. On the 12th they started for Mr. Buckland's station on the coast. On their arrival there the manager of the station did everything possible for the distressed mariners, and they left for Helensville on the 13th by trie steamer Awaroa, reaching Auckland yesterday morning by train.