WRECK OF THE ERROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14818, 27 April 1910, Page 5

WRECK OF THE ERROL

CAPTAIN HOLFORD'S SERVICES RECOGNISED. PRESENTATION BY SWEDISH GOVERNMENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY,' April 26. The Norwegian Consul, on behalf of his Government and in the presence of a representative gathering, presented Captain Holford, of the steamer Tofua, with a silver coffee service in acknowledgment of liis meritorious conduct in rescuing the crew of the barque Errol from the Middleton Reef,' and expressed his gratitude and admiration of Captain Holford's action throughout the affair.

Tho Errol was wrecked on the Middleton Reef at midnight on June 18, 1909, while on a voyage from tho west coast ports of America to Sydney.' Sho left Champoto on March 15, awl ma-do a fairly good run to the vicinity .of Lord Howo Island. Hero boisterous weather set in, and the Errol was buffeted by Severn squalls _ and swept out of her course. Tho captain bcliovjtl that lie was hundreds of milos from MidtWeton Roef. The vessel struck during the night, and though the weather was fair a big. sea was breaking. Tho vessel quickly commenced to go to pieces amidships. Tho chief mato was washed overboard and drowned shortly after the Errol struck, and two more members of the crew disappeared, while throo others succumbed aboard before morning. 'Whon tho midship section collapsed somo of the castaways were imprisoned in tho fore part, and tho others, including the captain, his wife, and children, in tho after end. Two days later tho men in the fore part managed to get to tho after part. No water or food could bo obtained aboard, tho being submerged. Some days elapsed, before'the crew was able to get the r't constructed. The captain and second mate wore drowned while tho work was in progress, the survivors in the nreantimo enduring groat privations owin|> to lack of food and water and oxnosirrc to the weather. Two days after tho death of tho captain tho raft left the wreck for tho reef, carrying five men, but before proceeding far on'B was driven crazy through drinking sea water, and he jumped overboard and perished. Tho remainder of the party suffered terrible privations, and beforo tho rescuing steamer oamo along the captain's wife and children perished, and' onlv five of the original company survived. They were secued nearly a month after the wreck took plao?. -