VESSEL ASHORE

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 48

VESSEL ASHORE

DEVON AGROUND AT PENCARROW HEAD. TREMENDOUS SEA RUNNING. I WELLINGTON, August 25. The Federal-Houlder-Shire liner Devon went ashore near the low-level ligM at Pencarrow Head about‘B.ls to-night in a very strong southerly wind and a thick driving rain. The spot is very inaccessible, but information from the lighthouse indicates that the vessel is hard and fast on the rock about 100 yards from the shore. A tremendous sea is running, and it is impossible to lower a boat. The ferry steamer Wahine stood by until a quarter to 10, when it iirocoeded on its way south, after despatching a wireless message that it was unable to read the Morse signals from the vessel. The captain of the Wahine considered it impossible to render any assistance owing to the tremendous sea and the position of the Devon. The harbour ferry steamer Duchess is proceeding to the scene with the harbourmaster and others. It is reported that a party is also endeavouring to make its way overland.

The first intimation received by the postal authorities that the vessel was ashore came from the Delphic, which is lying in quarantine off Somes Island, opposite the entrance to the harbour. She reported that a distress signal had been observed in the direction of the heads. A further wireless message from the Wahine states that the Devon had repoi'ted that she had only one boat left.

A telephone message from Pencarrow stated that no lights were visible on the Devon at half-past 10 The spot on which the steamer Devon has gone ashore near Pencarrow lighthouse, at the eastern entrance to Wellington Harbour, is one of the most inhospitable about Cook Strait. The shore ,;s a very rocky one, and is exposed to the' , • full force of the southerly gale which sprang up at an early hour this morning and which has Been raging with increasing force all day. The day has been the wildest experienced for the past two months at least.

A telephone message received from the PencaiTow lighthouse at half-past 11 tonight stated that a tremendous sea was running there and that the Devon was bumping hoavilv on the rocks. No men had then landed and no lino had been got ashore up till that time. The Devon will be well remembered in connection with the despatch of the New Zealand contingent to South Africa during the Boer war. The North Island division of the Ninth Contingent sailed from Auckland in this steamer on March 19, 1902. August 26. The captain and members of the crew were got ashore after some difficulty, and they reached Wellington at a late hour this evening. All the men refused to say anything aboui the wreck to reporters. Captain Caunce remarking;—“You will hear all about it at the inquest.” The chief officer has been left in charge of the vessel. That the vessel is a total loss is stated to be beyond all possible doubt. She has already commenced to show distinct signs at the stern of speedy destruction, and a good deal of wreckage has been washed ashore.

The Devon is a single screw steamer of 6059 registered tonnage. She was built at Newcastle in 1897. She arrived at Auckland on Friday from Montreal, via Australian ports, and left for Wellington on Saturday