ANOTHER SCHOONER WRECKED'

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13652, 23 July 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANOTHER SCHOONER WRECKED'

ALL HANDS LOST. GISRORNK, July 19. The schooner Sir Henry was wrecked near East Cape, and all hands lost. Mr A. T. Ngata. M.U.U., Port Awatuii, telegraphed this aftornoon to the chief post master, Gisborne: —It is reported by .Maoris who have just crossed the Waiapu River from the East. Capo that a threemasted schooner was wrecked there on Monday night or Tuesday. The name is tho Sir Henry. None were saved. There were supposed to have been live on board. Three were seen on a nlank, and were washed oil'. The Sir Henry was bound from Auckland lo Napier with hardwood timber. . Sho sheltered at 'J'ohijra Bay on Sunday and Monday, and when tbc wind came in from tho eastward on Monday evening boat out of the bay, takimr two hours, hard battling to do so. Tho fearful storm made the Tolaga peoplo anxious, and they telegraphed as to her safety. The Sir" Henry is believed to have been commanded by Captain Chile. The. line connecting with tho East, Capo being down, information is not obtainable direct regarding the wreck of the Sir Henry, but the following report was obtained to-night from Mr Ngata, M.H.R.: —" All our lines being down] information has had to be brought by message across the ferry. The particulars available are as follow":—At 7.30 a.m. on the 17th of July the Sir Henry was struck by a heavy sea when about one mile and a-haif off the East Cape. It is impossible to say how many men were on board, but three men were seen on tho Tuesday morning, and there may still be bodies in tho hold of the vessel. A big wave washed the three men overboard, and of these two were seen on a plank struggling desperately for life. They got within about, a quarter of a mile of the island, when a m'g wave struck the plunk, and another of the men wa.s washed oil. Tim. third man made frantic struggles, but be, too, after a great fi.ght for life, was washed off. No bodies have been discovered. The vessel is close in. opposite tho cape, sinking in the sand. Mr Hansen, of To Araroroa. visited the place this morning, and reports that no licdies have been found. The vessel is full of timber, which may be saved if prompt, action is taken, and instructions in regard thereto are now being awaited. Tho vessel ie bottom upwards. An elfort will be made to-morrow to see if any bodies are aboard." Mr Ngata adds that his information is that the vessel was going north, in which case sho must havo been running back again. Information as to the whereabouts of tho schooners Waiajm and Kaeo and tho scow May (the latter bound from Auckland to Tokomaru) are sought. The anxiety about vessels that were sheltering is the greater because during the storm the wind was very changeable at times. AUCKLAND, July 19. The ketch Sir Henry left Auckland with the following crew:—Captain J. Goomes, master, aged 18; E. Quimar, A.8., aged 32; Adolph llichtcr, A.8.. aged 22; Anton Callas, A.8., aged 37. All belong to Auckland. The schooner was 95 tons gross measurement, being 90.1 ft long, by 20.8 ft beam, and 6.7 ft, deep. Sho was surveyed in Lyttellon three years ago. Although a small craft, she was seaworthy, and was considered a very useful type of vessel. The Sir Henry left Auckland last Thursday morning at 8.30, at the same time as the ill-fated Aolea, and the boats were expected to accompany one another down the coast. The Sir Henry was bound for Napier, with a cargo of timber and pipes, and. nr. far as is known, neither boat nor cargo was insured. Captain Goomes had the reputation of being one of the most cautious and thorough skippers on tbe coast, and was never known to run his vessel into unnecessary danger. Captain Goomos's wife and child reside in Wollesley street, Auckland. PALMERSTON N., July 19. A local firm of sanitary engineers. Messrs Ilolben and Kirk, has 150 tons of drain pipes on board the Sir Henry. The loss will not fall on them, however, for the consignment w'as f.o.b. Napior. Messrs R. 0. Clark and SOll6, Auckland, were the consignors.