WRECK OF THE EVA AND ADA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 52

WRECK OF THE EVA AND ADA.

INTERVIEW WITH THE SURVIVORS.

The shipwrecked crew of tho Eva and Ada arrived at Hokitika from the south overland on June 30. Soon after their arrival a representative of the West Coast Times called on them and got a personal narrative of tho misadventure which placed them in thoir piesc-nt position. Captain Petensen did not come up with them, being called back from Okarito to attend the inquest on the body of Henry Johnson, tho seaman who was drowned, which was washed ashore on Sunday morning. The rest of the crew as follows arrived: James Addison male; Richard Hensen, cook; and Samuel Puikorton, George Nagel, and William Westlund, A.B.'s. Josiah White, a passenger, bound for Christchurch, also arrived. D&nxte the great hardship they have undergone the men look well, and with the exception of sundry bruises and cute they state they are none the woroe for their mishap The following particulars were gleaned chiefly from Mr Atklieon, the mate: — On Sunday morning, the 2J.st June, ifc was blowing a gale from the north-east, and tin; vessel was hove-to. About 6.30 that morning a tremendous sea struck the rudder, bent the tiller, and carried away the lower gudgeon of the rudder. The steering gear was on thi3 account considerably disabled, and the vessel became very difficult to navigate. On Monday they made the land, and it was blowing a severe gale from west to liorth-weet, with a very high, rough sea running. That morning she sprang a leak, and started to fill rapidly. Two hands were put on to the pumps, and a hole was cut in the foc'slo deck, from which she was baled with buckets, and also from tho fore hatch. They saw the land, but it was blowing suoh a gale and was so equally tltat they could barely distinguish th© coast line, so stood off as far as the wind — which was northerly and north-west — would allow them. They stood away all Monday night, and about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, the 23rd, the sea rose and the gale increased from wwt to north-wefffc, to use the mate's expression, " something terrific." On Tuesday morning they eightec! the land again, but could only make out the coast line, as before, owing to the dirty weather. The water was gaining on them all the time, and tho greatest difficulty was experienced trying to work the ship with

the sails. By 1 p.m. on Tuesday the water was level with the foc'sle floor, and it was then decided that the position was hopeless, as the ship was foundering, and the helm was put up and she was run for the beach.

Prior to this oil was put over the stem, which broke the foroe of the eea, and had it not been for that the vessel would never have got near the beach. Tho mate was steering for the beaoh, and called for a band to help him, and Johnson (who was drowned) came and took the other side of the wheel. When the ship struck and the captain sang out " Look out." all hands were knocked over, and washed about the deck by the first big sea. that came over. The mate turned round to get hold of a rope, and Johnson, who was at the starboard side of the wheel, was knocked over, and was never seen alive again. He was a good swimmer, but with the big sea on, that fact would have availed him little. The force of the first eea that came over was 80 great that it carried a water tank weighing a too off the ship on to the shore. This eea cleared the deck, and the second landed the vessel on the beach.

All ran forward, and the mate got a line over the bow, and then, watching their chances so as not to be caught in the undertow, they got ashore safely. The mate was washed under two or three times, and had a narrow escape. It was still blowing hard, west- nor' -west, with a tremendous sea, equally, and raining. All had lifebelts except the captain, who gave his to the passenger, afterwards securing a life-buoy. The place- where the vessel struck is Hear South Gillespie's Bluff, on Cook's River beach. It is a sandy beach, and it w fortunate the vessel struck at Uiis particular point, beLnj a good place for beaching her. The ship now lies high and dry, but is breaking up fast. It is altogether creditable to the discipline of the ship that excellent order was maintained throughout the trying expeTicnco. Tho Sydney Daily Telegraph says:— The •ve»el wae insured for £1300 in the United lufluranoo Company, and tho cargo was covered in the came office for about £1000. Re-insuranoae were effected in other local offices. The Ada and Eva was a comparatively new vessel having been built at Port Mftcquarie in 1902, and she had done good work trading along this coast. The wrecked yeseej had been principally engaged in carrying timber from the. northern river 3, generally fche Manning, to Sydney, but recently her owners accepted a charter to take a cargo of hardwood from the Manning River to Greymouth (N.Z.). The Ada and Eva •waa owned by Messrs A. W. R Settree I and F. F. Hayw&rd. Her registered tonnage was 156 tons, and her principal dimensions were: Txv^tk 109 ft 4in ; breadth, 25ft 4in ; and depth, 7ft 3!n.