JOSEPH CRAIG WRECK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 5

JOSEPH CRAIG WRECK.

STORY OF THE ACCIDENT.

VESSEL BROKEN IN PIECES.

CREW ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND.

Sixteen members of tlio crew of the illfated barque Joseph- Craig, which was driven ashore on the North Head Spit at Hokianga on Friday afternoon last, arrived in Auckland yesterday morning. Captain G. W. Airey, master of tho wrecked vessel, will return to Auckland this evening in company with Mr. D. Ryan, local manager for the Huddart-Parkei Company. »

Messrs. W. E. Sanders .and D. S. Bull, chief and second officers of the barque, came to Auckland with the crew. Mr. Sanders, when interviewed last evening, gavo an interesting account of the mishap. " Wo were getting close to the bar in tow of tho Ohineinuri," he said, " when the stout hawser parted. A heavy squab was blowing, ,md as tho ship was sagging considerably owing to the heavy cross seas, the tow rope could not 6tand the strain. The Joseph Craig immediately began to drift towards tho rocks, but Captain Airey made an effort to get the ship clear by ordering the square tails to bo set. The ship, however, would not move before the high wind and heavy sea., and the starboard anchor was then dropped to prevent tho vessel from striking the rocks. This had the desired effect, but tho barque continued to drift inshore, and within half-an-hou* after tho tow-rope parted, she grounded on a sandy beach. The ill-fated vessel continued to drift inshore, and was bumping heavily with each sea which broke clean over the ship. The crew then started to throw the deck cargo overboard so as to lighten tho barque, but as tho mrsts gave every indication of coming down owing to the violent bumping, Captain Airey called the crew aft, and ordered the after deck load to bo thrown over. It was then realised that the vessel had no chance of holding together, and at 3.30 p.m. it was decided to abandon her. A& the two lifeboats had been smashed to matchwood by tho heavy seas, tho small remaining boat was launched over the side. Pcfore the crew took their places in the boat, oil was poured on tho sea. The captain, officers, and crew, numbering 17 hands, and the two ship's cats then went over tho side, and tho boat made for the beach. Tho little craft was almost awash, but after a perilous row of about 300 yds, they landed safely. Tlio crew lost all their belongings, but before leaving the wreck tho second officer went ito his cabin, which was then half full of water, and recovered his sextant, while the chief officer succeeded in securing his watch. Some of the crew landed in Auckland without boots and socks. After reaching the beach Mr. Brigham, manager for the Northern Steamship Company at, Hokianga, and soveral settlers and Maoris lit a large firo, at which the sailors dried their clothes. The shipwrecked party was then conveyed by launch to the Opononi Hotel. 1

Oil Friday evening the weather became worse, and by sunset a heavy southerly gale was blowing. The doomed ship was exposed to tho full force of the seas, which wero rising at every moment. The ves'' bumped heavily, and at 8 p.m. the main and mizzen masts went over the side. The ship was breaking up fast, and by daylight on Saturday, the poop lwd completely disappeared.' Half the ship, from the 'tween decks to the main deck, came ashore full of timber, tho fore part from the forecastle-head drifted ashore, with the exception of the starboard side, which had disappeared. The vessel appeared to split up the centre, and all that remained on Saturday morning of the once fine barque was the fore castle head still hanging by the anchorThe beach in the vicinity is strewn with broken spars, timber, and other geatf