WRECK OF THE RED PINE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 24, Issue 19, 11 March 1913, Page 5

WRECK OF THE RED PINE.

STEAMER FOUNDERS ON ■ D’URVILLE’S ISLAND. I NO LIVES LOST, i News was received in Nelson on , Saturday* morning reports the “ Colonist ” that the steamer Red Pine, bound from Greymouth to Wellington, struck Cape Stephens on Friday night about eleven o’clock and sank to the bottom in a few minutes. All hands were saved. The crew, who got away in one of the ship’s boats, stayed in the vicinity of the wreck until day-break, when they made for Patuki, on D’Urville’s Island, where they received everycomfort and attention at the hands of Mr L. Stuart. The latter with his oil launch towed their boat to the French Pass, where they remained until they picked up the Arahura, and were brought on to Nelson. A HEAVY FOG. Captain Eden, master of the Red Pine, reports that at 7.45 p.m. on Friday, when about 20 miles east of Farewell Spit light, they ran into a heavy fog, which, however, lifted at intervals, and they were able to discern bush fires on D’Urville’s Island. A course was set which should have carried the vessel well to the north of Stephen’s Island. A sharp look-out was kept, a man being stationed at the forecastle head, and the captain was on the bridge with the man at the wheel. Although the fog was heavy, the captain thought he could see the loom of the Stephen’s Island light occasionally. The vessel was kept at half-speed and about eleven o’clock, without any warning, she struck, on what proved afterwards to be Cape Stephens, the most northerly point of D’Urville’s Island, The shock was ,nqt a severe one, but the steamer commenced to settle very rapidly.

CREW LOSE EVERYTHING Owing to the suddenness of the whole affair, the crew were unable to save any of their belongings, those on deck escaping with what they stood up in, while those below were even less fortunate, having to take to the boat clad in scanty attire, as they were sleeping in their bunks. The crew have lost the whole of their personal effects, and in addition many of them lost their wages, as they were paid only on Wednesday last. Captain Eden lost and Mr D. McDonald, the third engineer, £4O, which was in his cabin.

DESCRIPTION OP THE VESSEL The Red Pine was a new single screw, wooden vessel, of 364 tons register, and was built in Sydney last year under the supervision of Captain Willis, late Lloyds’ surveyor at Lyttelton, for the Pina Shipping Company, Ltd., of Westland, with headquarters at Grey mouth, by Mr Roderick Davis, a well-known ship builder of Blackwall. Her dimensions were: Length 153 feet, beam 30 feet. She sailed on her maiden voyage from Sydney in Bth October last, and since her arrival in New Zealand has been carrying timber from the West Coast to Onehunga, Gisborne, Wellington, andother parts of the Dominion, THE SHIP’S COMPANY Captain Eden, the master of the vessel, who was formerly in the service of the Anchor Company, had with him the following ship’s company : Chief officer, N. R. Robertson ; second officer, W. 0. Jarman; chief engineer, S. 0; Chamberlain ; second engineer, Keily; third engineer, D. McDonald; cook and steward, A. H. Burls ; A.B.’s, T. Armstrong, A. McGowan, F. Kraening, E. Anderson; ordinary seamen, W. Campbell; firemen, J. McOready, A. Waterfield, W. Fox.

LOCALITY OP CAPE STEPHENS Cape Stephens, where the Red Pine struck, is about two miles from the Saddle Rocks, which are on the passage between D'Urville’s Island and Stephen’s Island. It will be remembered that the steamer Jane Douglas struck the Saddle Rooks while negotiating this pas* sage, and went to the bottom. On that occasion all hands, as in the case of the Red Pine, were fortunately saved. The cargo consisted of over 850,000 feet of timber, and 40 tons of coal consigned to Wellington. The cargo was insured at Greymouth in the British Dominions Marine Insurance Company. A preliminary inquiry into the I cause of the wreck will be held by the Collector of Customs to-day.