SCOW ASHORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 1

SCOW ASHORE

BEACHED BY WESTERLY GALE CREW MAROONED Although two anchors had been paid put they did not hold, and the scow Hero was driven on to the beach at Wairoa Bay. The crew scrambled ashore through the surf, and for nearly a week cgmped in an old shingle hopper unt-l two launches from Auckland arrived to tow the show off at high water and bring her back to Auckland. On the evening of June 20 the scow was anchored at Wairoa Bay, near j Cape Colville, ready t.o • load sliinjrl». . After a calm evening a westerly gale sprang up at midnight, and before long a. heavy sea was running, driving straight into the bay. The anchors failed to hold and the scow went ashore amid raging surf. The port bulwarks were splintered to matchwood and the dinghy shared the same fate. A desperate effort to save the ship had been made by the crew of three. Captain A. Aspden and j Messrs. L. and J. Stillwell, but when it was seen that their effort had been fruitless had been fruitless they bundled up their personal belongings, took some food and scrambled through the surf to the beach. During the night they sheltered under an old shingle hopper and at daylight found the scow high and dry. Tor nearly a. week the crew camped in the hopper, food being obtained from a farm, the only one within miles. When advice of the mishap reached. Auckland two launches were dispatched to tow back the scow to Auckland. The Hero arrived back in Auckland early this morning and was put on the slip at Freeman’s Bay for repairs. - i