DISTRESS CALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 8

DISTRESS CALL

THE SCOW RANGI ANCHORS DRAGGING SEAS BREAKING ABOARD TUGBOAT DESPATCHED An appeal for assistance to he sent immediately to the Auckland scow Rangi, which was in difficulties off the western coast of Tlakino Island, some 13 miles from Auckland, was flashed by Morse lamp from the coastal vessel Vesper to the Mount Victoria signal station late last night. The Harbour Board's tug Tc Awhina, in charge of Captain D. Prober t, was immediately despatched.

There was a south-easterly gale raging with heavy seas running up the harbour as the tug left port shortly after eleven o'clock. It was expected she should reach the Rangi about half an hour after midnight. Ship With Heavy List

The Rangi, when last seen by the crew of the Vesper, was <lll the western side of Rakino Island with anchors out but with a heavy list. Large logs were seen to be floating off her deck and heavy seas were breaking on board.

A report from the keeper of the lighthouse on Tiri Tiri Island at 7.-1o last evening stated that the Rangi was in sight, but that she was dragging quickly. Later she was lost to sight in a rain squall. A wooden schooner of £6 tons, the Rangi is owned by the Leyland-O'Brien Timber Company, Limited. She was bound from Tauranga to Auckland. In charge of Captain I'. Patcrson. a scowmaster with some 40 years' experience, she carried a crew of five.

Logs Probably Freed IJv reports of the gale received from Tiri Tiri and Mount Victoria late last night it was estimated that the Rangi would drift clear of land out into the deep water of the gulf between the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and the mainland. It, was also considered that should the scow have been labouring in the heavy seas the logs which were seen floating away from her had probably been cut free from their lashings on deck by the crew in an endeavour to lighten the craft. Wind of Gale Force At an early hour this morning the signalman at Mount Victoria reported that the Te Awhina had been lost to sight shortly after midnight. No further advice had been received from Tiri Tiri. The wind was still of gale force with thick rain squalls, although the visibility between the squalls was good. Heavy seas were running both in the harbour and in the channel.