WRECK WEAR MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5832, 24 February 1906, Page 5

WRECK WEAR MELBOURNE.

SHIP SPEKE STRIKES ROCKS. EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF Till-: CREW. ONE SAILOR MISSIXG. MELBOURNE, February 23. X(.'.\>* r.'.a-hrd Cmvcß V- -• t fil l' place on Phillip Whikl) Into 'met night of the wreck of the ship Speke off Port Phillip I .-land client fifty mile-. souUioast of Melbourne. All the crew, excepting a sillier named Hrmli'ison, were sand. Tho Speko arrived at Sydney from Tollendo n. fort night ago. Sho to Bclwriuently onlcml to .Melbourne to loud wheat; for the United KingdomTiio disinter happened at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon, during a fierce south-west sale. The lirst intimation of iho wreck was the arrival at; Cowes of a number of the .survivors, who were driven into the township hy a settlor. Relief was at once sent.

According to the otery of the survivors, niimherins twenty-live all told, the Speke missed stays during a pale, and despite every- effort of the eliieers ami crow crashed on to the reeks. The coast hero is very dangerous. The vessel immediately ravung bread, ide on to the reef.

Two boats were put out. but both were soon smashed.

Tho men had a terrible time, but eventually they managed to get a lino ashore. .Most of tho crew were saved hv this means.

Tho second mate, Mr Cook, readily followed this rennest of this captain to go over this si'li) jikl carry n life-line ashore. Thitt perihuui undertaking mis most. placidly and successfully accomplished. Caok got to laud, and pawed the linn round tho reeks. ’’None of the nun would venture to pass along tho line,” says Captain 'Jlltian. who allied them to <!<> so. "It v.r,;necessary to hearten them, in view et tho most, imminent danger cl' all hein;: drowned. I led the way, and the remainder followed. Of course. I wanted to ho tins last to leave the ship, hut I felt it my duty to give the men the necessary load.” When tho vessel struck, tho seas dashed over her high topgallant yard. Mr Williams, tho chief mate, said it wan only »y Ocd’s mercy that matters were not worse :u regards !oo> of life. ■‘Jloth tho anchors parted, and it was not possible to do anything to stive the ship. She went right up alongside the recks. Tho grits blew all the time. Anyone who knows tho coast thereabouts will understand what it meant to he wrecked there. AVo lest eUTything— all we have left is; tile things we .stand in. "Wo sighted Wilson's Promontory on Tuesday night,’’ added .Air AA’illiams. “L-snd was .sighted at noon to-day. AA’iien wo tried to wear ship she would not answer, but fell hack on the port tack, Tho vessel then struck, and became a hopeless wreck.” Tho vessel is breaking up.