MEN'S KITS RECOVERED. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 6

MEN'S KITS RECOVERED. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 28. The personal effects of the deck hands and firemen of the Devon were recovered to-day. Tho kits, which were packed on Tuesday prior to the men leaving the vessel,, were lowered into the Karaka s boat by means of a derrick and safely transferred to the harbour steamer. Owing ' to there being still some sea on, the latter steamer was unable to moor alongside the Devon. The liner is lying without a move in her, and the whole of her deck is quite dry. Salvage operations will be commenced at the earliest opportunity. The engineers have to resign themselves to a total lose as their quarters are smashed and submerged. Some of the juniors estimate the value of their" gear" at £50 or £60, and the seniors will be still more out of pocket. Two or three of the men took a whimsical delight in the finding of some of their underclothing yesterday on the beach. It was a few shillings worth to set against many pounds, ' but they were thankful far small mercies. Last night the only sentinel on the ship was the father of the cat family (saved on Tuesday). This animal refused pressing invitations to accompany the others, and was proof against even the lure of a Tat that lad been trapped. INCIDENTS OF THE WRECK. The Post gives an interesting account ' of some incidents in connection with the wreck. All the engineering staff was. on duty on Monday night according to the usual rule for entering port. When the vessel crashed on the rocks the chief coolly gave the necessary orders, and the subordinates hastened to .obey, but the water did not wait for them. One says that a flood surged in within a minute, and the light failed. Then all of them escaped quickly forward. The first rip was under the engine room, The vessel bumped hard several times before the tempest, and wedged the bow into a lucky position. The nerves of the crew were steady, and they gave the officers no anxiety. In tho dense darkness, amid a roar of wild water and a raging gale, the men were worried for a time as the liner had taken a list to port. They feaied that she P might topple over on that side, but : gradually they became confident of safety, and several nonchalant souls made an effort to sleep. All had sundry creature comforts, as the cook' 6 galley was intact. Coffee was available, and there was r.o lack of solid food. . Cigars were also abundant.

The following letter has been sent on behalf of the Minister of Marine (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) to the Chairman of the, Wellington Harbour Board (Mr R. Fletcher) with reference to the wreck of the Devon " I shall be glad if you will convey to Captain Johnson the thanks and appreciation of the Government for the promptitude with which he arranged to proceed to the wreck to tender assistance to the shipwrecked crew, and for the manner in which he worked and supervised the arrangements for getting the crew from the ■wreck, which Tesulted in their being rescued. I shall be glad if you will also convey to the other officers of your Board who accompanied Captain Johnson the appreciation of the Government for the manner in which they assisted bim." i

CAUSE OF THE DISASTER. . CONFLICTING THEORIES. (From Ocr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 28. inoculation as to how the wreck happened is being narrowed down to two main theories. The first theory is that the ship, being of moderate horse power and riding light, waa swung out of her course by the combined force of wind and wave from the south-east and driven on to Pencarrow rocks. The other theory is more interesting and in some ways more full of possibilities. Briefly it fastens the blame upon the riding light of the Delphic, which was lying at anchor in Quarantine, off Somes Island on the Petone side. It is stated that the vessel was groping her way along the coast and had picked up Pencarrow light and sometime later picked up Pencarrow low-level light. It is understood that a course had been set to clear the low-level light by half a mile fully. On approaching the harbour mouth the red Falcon buoy light was picked up over the port bow, and also what was taken to be the white section of the Somes Island light was also picked up. With these lights as a guide, according to the chart, it was presumed that a safe entry would be made to port. With everything considered safe a sudden alarm was caused by the look-out man suddenly crying out "Rocks ahead." The fourth officer called out at the same time to the same effect. The captain immediately shouted "Starboard your helm," but before the quartermaster could act upon the order the ship had struck the rocks, and the seas were driving her hard and fast upon them,

It is considered on the basis of these suggestions that the bright riding light of the Delphic, which was only a few points away from the white section of the Somes Island light, was mistaken for it and led to ihe disaster. When the rocks were Been the green section of the light, which is •the danger zone, glowed tip, showing that the vessel was out of her oonrse. How it happened 1 that the green light was not so long before this remains a mystery, as the vessel was within its radius practically when facing for the haibour entrance. A reliable authority considers, however, thai it was an absolute impossibility for those on board the Devon to see the Delphic's light. In view of all these facts the inquiry will be particularly interesting..

SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY. £250 AUTHORISED. In wply to tho mftssags forwarded by the socroiary of the Shipwreck Relief Sutkty al fcUawuig

telegram was received from Wellington vrsteiway afternoon: —" Local eonanittae roughly 'estimate Devon relief will require £200 to £250. Please -wire credit and authority to disburse. Meeting to-morrow morning." Mr Wilson accordingly wired:—"My executive authorises your' committee to draw on Ha through. Bank, of New Zealand up to £25(X Advise if further ielief necessary." '