An Eerie Vigil

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 93, 11 July 1930, Page 4

An Eerie Vigil

WATCH ON STRANDED SHIP OLD BARQUE ~REWA UNEASY AUCKLAND, July 10. An exciting experience i el'ef Mr G. A. Bennett, who ~as acting as caretaker on t'ie barque Kewa, when the vessel suddenly developed list as :1 lay on tbe reef at Moturekareka Island, where it has been strat.ded for use as a breakwater. The Itewa wis beached at the island ou June 28. It was with u premonition chat something might happen that Mr Bennett boarded the vessel. So he decided to .sleep in the cabin on. the poop instead of in 'the captain's cabin, winch had been prepaieu. At about two o'clock the next morning the barque started to list slightly and there were mysterious rumblings and a sound of fading material almost continuously throughout the night. At about fiv o'clock there was a crash, the bowline parted with a loud report and the uarque heeled over to port, tier mo, ement being accompanied by a rattle of tilings falling below. U was an eer.:; sound to one

sjoepmg alone on the ship, and thoroughly aroused, Mr Bennett ran on ,i>o I die Jock, ivliicu siopeo at such an angle ■ that waiking was difficult. Scramukng lover the rail ue whistled to the cottage on the shore for assistance to be scat. Air G. K. Waliistrom, who had j been visiting the island, came to the idoor, but the boats were high and dry on the beach. Fearing that th barque might heel right over, Mr Bennett (started for the shore, climbing hand ' over hanu on the laud line from the i stern, assisted by a torch light shone by Mr Wahlstrom from the shore.- Clad duly in his pyjamas and with bare feet, -Mr Bennett struggled ashore. He had I not gone far before the rope sagged and tie was up to .'..is aimpits in water. l-'or about. i!(j yards he waded, gripping the oyster-covered rocks with his bare feet, lie reached the cottage safely, fcoid but' little the worst for his ex- | perience.