WRECK OF THE SURPRISE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 44

WRECK OF THE SURPRISE

A TERRIBLE TIME. STORY OF THE SOLE SURVIVOR. AUCKLAND, July 26. Harry Jackson, sole survivor of tho wrecked scow Surprise, relating his experiences, said: The Surprise, when off Slipper Island on Friday" night, stai-ted to drag with, three anchors out. The captain ordered the crew to set the stay-sail, but immediately afterwards she struck on the south end of the Watchman rocks. Tho captain sang out, “Good-bye.” was the last I saw of him and or tho boy Frank Kelly. The scow was bumping very hard, Alf. Stewart, Edward Johansen, and I took to the fore-rigging. We stayed there a little time, and then came down and went aft. The ship came stern hrst off the rocks, and capsized. I lost sight of Stewart and never saw him again. Johansen and I stuck to the main rigging, after which the scow drifted midway between the Watchman rocks and the coast. I swam ashore, but never saw Johansen again. I am a good swimmer, but the breakers were very large and rough. One breaker took me ashore. Others came immediately afterwards and smashed me on the rocks. That was how I was so much cut and bruised. I had been in the water nve or six houis. I climbed about half-way up the cliffs, and then collapsed from exhaustion. I stayed there the whole of Sunday, and at night felt ill and unable to go further. Next morning, feeling a little better, I climbed up over the cliffs and eventually reached J. McGregor's house, where I received every kindness, was put to bed, and carefully nursed. My position on Sunday was terrible. It was a wild stormy day, and I was stuck half-way up the cliffs ’with only a small singlet on reaching to my thighs. I was unable to move further. The cliffs were below me and high perpendicular hills above. I thought I was done/ for I lay there in the storm all Sunday, and in the night the pain was so severe ancT" unbearable that I wished I was dead. The weather appeared better on Monday morning, and having gained a little extra strength, I started to crawl along, not knowing exactly where I was. VISIT TO THE SCENE. AUCKLAND, July 26. A Tairua message states that the steamer Onslow visited the scene of the wreck of the Surprise again yesterday. Constable Brown and party searched the beaches, but could find no bodies. They secured a flag, some broken lifebuoys and the name board. The steamer called at Ohui and brought Harry Jackson, the sole survivor, to Tairua. He is still weak* As showing the fury of the storm, dozens of crayfish and dead fish were thrown up on the beach, also tons of S6&WG6<I. The ship's dog was found lying on the Pawanui beach.