SCOW STRIKES REEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17948, 28 November 1932, Page 8

SCOW STRIKES REEF

CREW TAKES TO BOAT VESSEL TOWED TO FORT DAMAGE NOT ASCERTAINED (Pwr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, lust night. Caught in a series of fierce southerly squall's about 11 o’clock on Saturday night, the scow Elcho coming front Blenheim to Wellington was drived ashore oh the Pinnacles rocks off Seatoun, add the crew came ashore in the,' Ship’s lifeboat. Later the, scow floated off, capsizing, and drifted up the harbor. As soon as the crow landed, the. Harbor Board whs communicated with,; Dial the pilot launch ArahiiiA despatched but the weather, which had abated foY: a time, again becafne stormy and the scow could n'rtt be found. About midnight the tug Toia was sent oUt ail'd - she also failed to locate tlm Echo, which was floating on its skip almost submerged. The Toia returned to port, but left again at daybreak, and very soon sighted the Echo about half a mile south of Somes Island drifting in the. direction of the island. A line was attached to the. Echo, and the Toia to\ved her to Clyde Quay Wharf, arriving about 10.30 a.m. The Echo still lies there on her side. Members of the N.Z.11.A. at Fort Dorset were able to reinlev valuable help to the crew of the distressed vessel while she was 'on the Pinnacles, and after she had drifted off towards' Somes Island. DISAPPAERED FROM SIGHT Some of the artillerymen were cm their way home from the pictures when the news reached them and'they made all haste to the fort. The searchlight plant was put into rtpevtVtion at once, and a beam was directed on the boat at about 11.30 run. Tho. searchlight was of considerable value in enabling the sailors to leave the vessel, which \vaS accomplished about midnight. The crew landed on the Sea’toun wharf

and wore then taken into the fort where accommodation and other hospitality was readily offered for the, night, but ns the crew liacl their lump's in Wellington, the Harbor Board authorities obtained taxis and sent thorn to their homes. According to information given at Fort Dorset, the vessel got into trouble soon after passing Pencnrrow Heads, And was disabled. She, then went on the reef off Seatoun. After the crew cAmrt ashore, the Echo was kept under the light, but drifted •slowly off towards Soames Island until she tinned over and disappeared from sight about 1.30 a.m. Owing to a heavy southerly tho principal lights at, Fort • Dorset were out of action. This supply is from the city mains and is frequently affected by heavy sontheiTy winds. For-. Innately, "the searchlight is worked from

an independent unit m ttie fort, having a portable engine. This plant is in the way of making history for itself, as it was the first plant to bo sent to and set up in Napier following the earthquake, which put all the Hawke’s Bay plants out of action. It was also sent to Christchurch for the landing of Sir Kingsford Smith. Altliough lie landed in the daytime, the plant was working and was ready for action. 150 TONS OF CARGO ABOARD The Echo when towed in, was tied up at the wharf. The wharf staff and the local agents of Levin and Company, Limited, together, with men from S. Wood and Son, Limited, commenced to remove the vessel’s rigging. The extent of the damage was not known this evening.. The Echo is to be righted to-morrow morning by tlie floating' crane. ’ A collision mat will then probably be put round the vessel, covering any holes in the hull, and she will then lie pumped out. The vessel will then he put on the patent slip for survey. Mr. Anderson, of Levin and Company, flew to Blenheim to-day to pick up flic copv of the cargo manifesto, aiid arrived hack at Wellington in the afternoon, lie told a Dominion reporter that K,ck- - ford and Company, Limited, Blenheim, were immediately recommissioning tlieir; motor vessel Opawa, at present laid up •it Blenheim, and she is to leave theto next Thursday and will maintain the Echo’s service between Wellington and Blenheim. Arrangements were also bein,? made for the steamer John to bring cargo from Blenheim to Wellington on Wednesday. The Echo which left Blenheim on Saturday morning had on hoard 150 tons of cargo, principally wool, chaff, and butter. Some of the'hatch coverings had evidently come adrift ns a number of boxes of butter from the vessel wore washed up on the I’etone beach. The remainder of the cargo is apparently still on the Echo and will he unloaded today before she is taken on the patent slin.