WRECKED SCHOONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15766, 14 November 1914, Page 9

WRECKED SCHOONER.

ATTEMPT AT SALVAGE.

ASHORE ON AN ISLAND.

A launch which was despatched by the owners of the wrecked fore-and-aft schooner Gem to the scene of the accident yesterday morning, returned to port in the afternoon, when further particulars concerning the "easel's position were obtained. A party, under Captain King, master of tho Gem, and Mr. T. Sharp, shipwright ; n the employ of the owners, Messrs. J. J. Craig, Ltd., landed at the wreck and succeeded in recovering several sails, one anchor, the steering wheel, and a quantity of rope. It was found that tho Gem was partly submerged, the afterpart being out of water, and the fore-part well under water at high tide. Most of the crew's effects were also recovered. It was not possible to make an examination of the hull to ascertain tho extent of the damage, but it is considered that should the weather remain fine there may be a chance of towing tho Gem off the beach.

Th© Gem dragged her anchor during a heavy squall at 1.45 a.m. on Thursday. As the schooner sank some time later, itis believed that her hull was pierced by a rock. The Gem lies in an exposed position on the south-east side of the Noisies, an island situated between .Motutapu and L'oromandel.

A launch party will probably be despatched to the stranded vessel to-day to make an attempt to salvage the schooner.