JANE DOUGLAS LOST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 10

JANE DOUGLAS LOST.

SINKS IN FIVE MINUTES.

CAPTAIN'S NARROW ESCAPE. TRYING TIME IN THE BOAT. NELSON, January 10. The Hokkika-owned steamer Jane Douglas, commanded by Captain Vendore, was wrecked on ths Saddle Rock, D'Urville Island. The crew were saved, and were bsing brought to the French Pass in a launch by Mr Maud, of the island. As the vessel was going along the passage between Stephens and D'Urville Islands she struck the Saddle Rocks end on. The crew managed to escape, but nothing was saved, as the vessel sank in five minutes, January 11. The shipwrecked crew of the coastal steamer Jane Douglas reached Nelson by the Pateena this morning. Captain Vendore states that the vessel was beating through the Strait, on her way from Wellington to Hokitika, against a blustering south-easter. Boisterous weather continued till entering the passage between Stephens and D'Urville Islands, where thei'?. are several rocks. Here the vessel piled up on Saddle Rock, where the Watnui struck some years ago.

The captain declares that Steeple Rock and Saddle Rock were wrongly marked on the chart, the names being transposed. At midnight the vessel was steaming beneath heavy clouds, all hands being on deck. At 12.20 she struck, and sank in five minutes.

Despite the black darkness the crew showed no panic. The captain ordered the boat to be lowered, and the mate took charge, while the captain stayed aboard. The engines were racing furiously, telling of a snapped propeller. Rapidly the hull listed sideways, and slid off the rock. As the water came level with the decK the captain grasped the lifeboat, but was sucked under some depth. He came up half-drowned, clinging to a lifebelt, as he was unable to swim a stroke. Aftc." some search the boat found firm, and ho was in rather a bad way. The captain thinks the vessel turnel turtle before reaching the bottom. The plight of the shipwrecked crew was deplorable. Almost all were half clad. Some were without boots, and others without shirts or coats. A course was set in the boat for Port Hardy, the heavy sea soon tiring the rowers, who took four hours to struggle to the land. Here also they were unable to get ashore, owing to the tide being against them, till at 5 a.m. they effected a landing, tramping, mostly shoeless, over the rough country to Mr Lord's homestead, where they received evei-y kindness. Here they stayed till 3 o'clock in the afternoon resting, as the captain was far from well after his 'immersion. Then they wtere taken on to the French Pass in a launch joining the Pateena and coming on here. Wellington, January 10. The Jane Douglas left Wellington at 5.20 p.m. yesterday in charge of Captain Vendore, for Hokitika with 45 tons of general cargo, including a number of transhipments ex Home steamers. The passage where the steamer struck lies between D'Urville and Stephens Islands. Strong tides run in the passage.

The Jane Douglas was an iron steamer of 95 tons gross and 75 tons net, owned principally by Mr Malfroy, of Hokitika. She was built at Dunedin in 1875, and was formerly owned by the Ivlanawatu Shipping Company. The Post states that the Jane Douglas has had a long lease of life, but it has not been unattended by misfortune. Hers hae, indeed, been an exceedingly chequered career. As early as the 7th October, 1885, the little hooker was stranded on Long Point, Kapiti Island, and, by a remarkable coincidence, repeated the performance at the same spot in October of the following year. All went well with her then until the 3rd August, 1901, when she grounded on the South Spit in the Okura River. Less than 12 months after she again stranded, this time at Hokitika. This happened on the 25th June, 1902, and before the new year Mas ushered in history had repeated itself at Hokitika. Five years' immunity from any mishap was enjoyed by the hardy little steamer, but the 23rd May, 1907, saw her again stranded at Hokitika on the South Spit, and June of the same year on the North Spit. More Tecent strandings Avere in 1909. The vessel grounded once more at Hokitika on the 2nd June, and five weeks later at the North Spit, Okarito River, and now comes news of her final mishap. She has had, in cricket parlance, a long innings with numerous chances, and now that she has been finally " bowled out " there will be many—especially those who had perforce in the days when railways were not to make frequent use of her as' a passenger ship—who will miss her familiar little figure. GREYMOUTH. January 10. The Jane Douglas was a schoonerrigged steamer. Captain Connor, harbour master at Greyrnouth, states that 25 years ago, wh?n he was captain of the steamer Maori, the Jane Douglas was running in the passenger trade between Wellington and Wanganui. She afterwards ran on the east coast to Kaikoura, and subsequently shj was engaged on the West Coast, trading principally from Hokitika in what is known as the long south trip. She was useful in that run, as h?r shallow draught enabled her to enter the various ports along the southern part of the West Coast. The career of the little steamer has been one of the most eventful in the nautical history of the Dominion.

RELIEF FOR THE CREW. Mr E. S. Wilson, secretary of the Shipwreck Relief Society, telegraphed to the Collector of Customs at Nelson on the 11th authorising him to draw on the society to the extent of £lO for the immediat3 relief of the crew of the Jane Douglas, and asking him to advise what relief was nee3S£arj\