HOKIANGA DISASTER

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10889, 17 July 1928, Page 5

HOKIANGA DISASTER

SECOND EDITION

A MODERATE SEA THE WRECK OF THE ISABELLA DE FRA INK Electric Telegraph-—Press Association AUCKLAND. Fact Night. The Isabella de Eraino was carrying between 46 and 56 tons of cargo, including i. small quantity of fruit and some case-oil. Last year the Isabella de Frame was nearly sunk in Hokianga Harbour, when, on 30th May, she struck a submerged lock off Karaka Point, a hole being knocked in the forward part of the bull. Pumps were manned. but as the vessel continued to make water tlie captain beached her, and plugged the hole with a .sack or flour. It us fourteen years since the Hokianga bar claimed its last ship. On 7th August 1914, the barque Joseph Craig was being towed outward lor Melbourne by the tug Oliineinuri, when the towline parted and tlie barque became a total wreck inside the bar. The crew landed safely without much difficulty, but a southerly gale blew with hurricane force in the night, completely breaking up the barque. Tlie harbourmaster at Hokianga states that the sea was moderate at the time of the disaster. The schooner was insured for £1750. It lias been established that able seamen K. Licwedahl ancl A. Suvanto. belonging to the ill-fated schooner, have relatives in Helsingfors, Finland. The owners of the ship communicated with them by cablegram to-day. Until a year ago Captain Kennedy, agent for Frankliam and Company, was master of the Isabella de Frame, which was under his command for four years. “She was the finest little craft any man could wish to put his foot aboard.” lie. said. “She was as seaworthy as the next ship, and fast. It is a mystery to me how the disaster occurred. She would take this bar with ease. She was particularly groel in bar work, but this bar is generally known by men of tlie sea to be the worst in the Dominion. Captain Borridge was a sure and careful master.”