A KETCH FOUNDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14473, 13 September 1910, Page 5

A KETCH FOUNDERS.

THE CREW SAFE.

A NIGHT ON A ROCK.

[BY TEI.KGBAI'H. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington - , Monday. The ketch Felicity struck a rock at the Heads on Sunday evening and sank in. a few minutes. The little vessel, which for. the past week had been lying in Evans Ray, sailed about 11.30 on Sunday morning, bound for Havelock and the Sounds to load timber. Sho proceeded out in the strait, but Captain Anderson, who was in charge of the little craft, found that the north-west gale and tlio confused sea were too much for the Felicity to contend against, and decided to return for shelter. All went well until the entrance to the harbour was reached, when at about 6.30 p.m. the vessel struck a rock about 100 yds from the low-level light at Penearrow. The Felicity sank in a few minutes, and Captain Anderson and his crew of two men scrambled on to a rock. The ketch had about 10 tons of cargo aboard, including an oil launch. There was also the ship's boat, but this and the launch were washed overboard bv the waves and carried out to

The rock on which the crew managed to get a footing stood high out of the water, and was about 12ft wide and 30ft long, and on this they remained all night expeeed to the gale and rain. Their perilous plight was noticed by the principal lighthousekeeper, Parkes, of Penearrow, about six o'clock this morning, and ho immediately put off in a boat to their rescue and brought them ashore.

The men were much exhausted from exposure to the weather, but were kindly cared for by Mr. Parkes. They managed to save a chest of clothing, and thus were able to change into dry clothes at once. The rock was high out of the water, and they were able to keep out of reach of the waves which pounded it. With the exception of tho chest of clothes everything was lost. The tops of the masts of the ketch are visible just above water.

The men left the lighthouse this morning to walk to Day's Bay, and will come across the harbour to town by this afternoon's fern'.

The Felicity was a smart-looking little vessel of 25 tone, and was built in Nelson in 1885. She is owned by Captain Sommerville, but it is not known whether she is insured. The circumstances of the mishap will be inquired into by the Collector of Customs.