A DESERTED BARQUE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 12723, 15 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DESERTED BARQUE.

PICKED UV BY THE TAKAPUNA

FOUNDERS WHILE BEING TOWED TO PICTON.

(From "The Colonist" Nov. 22.)

There was oonsidc<rable anxiety in town on Saturday owing to the noncrrival at Picton of the steamer Takapuna, which left Nelson on Saturday morning at ten o'clock for Picton and Wellington It transpired in the evening that there was no cause for alarm, word being recived by Mr W. H. Price (local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company) that the steamer-had picked up a derelict, and her arrival had been delayed in endeavouring to tow it to Picton. When, near Forsyth Island, wtluch is about half an hour's run from the French .Pass, and near the ■ ©nibranee to Pelorus Sound, a vessel was observed by those on board the Takapuna, with some saUs set, flying signals of distress. Captain Stewart immediately bore down -on the stranger, which proved. to be the barque Hippolas. All the boats were gone, and there was not a soul, on baaid, -tlie orew evidently having left the vessel, which was in a, leaky condition, and sought safety in the Sounds- '. A boat's crew was sent fawn the Takapuna to the barque, end a tew line was fixed. Under easy steam, and with the barque in tow, tie-Taka-puna continued the journey to Picton. All went well until eight o'clock . in the evening, when nearing P.'g Island, in Queon Charlotte Sejiinc' (twelve miles' from PictoH), iJse"derelict foundered in 30 $ aithotxs of watr-ir, and the Takapuna had to. cut her adrift. „ In tlie opinion of nautical men feie barquo was driven by westerly weather to the vicinity of Shepherd's Island or Jackson's Head, and eiitlbar struck one of the many sunken recks in the vicinity or became strained; in buffeting with 'ho heavy seas The theory Ln ieg;cd to the depar- ' tua-e of iblie crew is tli.it the vesseQ being in a leaky condition, they weire able to keep the water down with the pumps,- and fuidiirr, that she was sinking . under their feet, they were ordered to take to the bz-n.is, and made for some of the s-ofclloments in the Sounds.'' ■ „ The local telegraph office closes at eight o'clock on Saturday night, but as no word had been received up to that hoitir of the safe, arrival, at.. Piston of the Takapuna, Mr R. Bcoih, the officer in- oharge of the telegraph office, very kindly weuit on duty and got into .communication with Picton-. It was then learned tliat-the Arahura. had been sent to meet the Takapuna, • which was approaching Picton at reduced .speed. Shortly afterwards all anxiety was (relieved, when the cause of the delay was ascertained.