THE WRECK OF THE TEKOA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 17

THE WRECK OF THE TEKOA.

LONDON, August 29. A passing vessel has reported sighting the Tekoa's lifeboat floating empty.

WELLINGTON, August 29. The family of at least one member of the Tekoa's crew resides in Wellington, and its case came before the Benevolent Trustees this afternoon. It was reported that the wife of one of the engine room hands and her two children were iv dis-

tressing circumstances here. The chairman said that the woman was under the impression that her husband was drowned, but he thought there was still some hope of the missing men being found. The chairman said an effort would be made to raise help for the family outside of what could be given by the trustees. It has now been ascertained that there were 53 souls on board the Tekoa. The whole crew, with one exception, were engaged in London. August 30. The Meat Export Company's cargo by the Tekoa is insured with an insurance syndicate at Home. None of the local offices are interested in that portion of the cargo. One of the engine-room hands, named Shea, whose name appears in the list of those on board, turned up yesterday. He stated he had deserted her at the last moment. Roughly calculated, the insurances on the Tekoa's cargo amount to £70,000. A practice has grown up recently amongst a certain section of exporters to insure their lines outside of New Zealand, mainly with Llo3'd's, and, therefore, the greater portion of the loss by the Tekoa wreck will fall upon the Lloyd's underwriters. The insurances telegraphed from "Wellington last week did not include the whole of the losses made. The National Insm-ance Company had a risk on the cargo of some £5000, while the Standard was also interested to the extent of about £1000. The popular theory in Wellington regarding the wreck of the Tekoa seems to be (says the New Zealand Times) that the vessel has attempted to pass through the Strait of Le Maire, the passage between Staten Island and Tierra del Fuego — quite a usual procedure in' fine weather— <vnd had suddenly become enveloped in one of the intensely thick fogs ! which prevail in that locality during the winter months. Rocks abound on either side of the j passage, which is about ten miles across at its narrowest part. In fine weather the navigation of the strait is a perfectly safe proceeding, though the current is very strong. But if the weather becomes thick or a fog ! comes down from the hills, the position of any vessel in the strait would be the cause of great anxiety. So safe, as a general rule, is the passage considered, that sailing vessels bound from England or the east coast of the United States often use it in fine weather to shorten their passages to the west coast of South America. During the winter months Staten Island is covered with snow, and, but for the lighthouse keeper and his family, is uninhabited.