LOSS OF THE TETEKO.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2028, 14 August 1920, Page 5

LOSS OF THE TETEKO.

VESSEL A COMPLETE WRECK. Tress Association. AUCKLAND. August 13. The steamer Daphne, which arrived from Mercury Hay early this morning, brought ■with her the crew (if the scow Tctcko, which ■was wrecked on Slipper Island, near Mercury Hay, on the night <>l" Friday last. With her also returned Captain Hammond, of the Northern Company, who has been to Mercury Bay to examine the wreck and report on theopossibility of salvage. It .seems that the scow, which was on her way from Whakatanc to Auckland, ran into exceptionally heavy weather on Friday night. The wind was high, and it was impossible to see where the vessel was going. In these circumstances the vessel inn on the south-east corner of Slipper Island, and began to break up almost at once. It was impossible to launch a boat, and the crew took to the rigging. Later, when tiie breaking up continued, two of the engineers and a deck hand swan) ashore, but Captain E. Sellers, who was in charge of the vessel, mil the remainder of the crew remained in the rigging all night. In the meantime the three men who had been able to laud had cone to the homestead of Mr Leightoii, who lives on the island. With his help they were able to rescue the other members of the crow in the morning, when the tide was low. The disappearance of (iolibie remains a mystery. He apparently climbed into the rigging with the. other members of the crew, and no one remembers seeing him lca've it. The three who swam ashore thought that lie remained with the others, while the captain thought that he had gone with them. It is possible that he made an attempt and was unable to reach safety. Jle may have been struck by a piece of wreckage and rendered insensible. A search was made vesterday for his liodv in the vicinitv of the wreck, but to no avail. Captain Hammond reports that he went over to the.island yesterday to view the wreck, and found the vessel completely broken up. "Wreckage is strewn along the beach for live mill's," lie -said this morning. "It may be possible for us to salvage one of the engines, the winch, and the Anchors, but they are in a very difficult position. The port engine is under water, while the starboard engine "is not yet located. Attempts to salvage the machinery will lie made by launch and puiit when the weather moderates." The mails that the vessel carried were lost, but ■ some cargo, principally tinned dripping, casks, and personal effects were washed up about the shores of the island, and have been brought up to Auckland by the Daphne.