FURTHER DETAILS.

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

FURTHER DETAILS.

A DIFFICULT TOW

[United Pbess association.]

Wellington, Nov> 21.'

Tho Takapuna. , which arrived today from" Nelson, via Picton, picked up* the barque Hippolas in ballast and watorldgged at 3 p.m. on Saturday on the Jackson's Head side of tlbe Firerioli Pass. The Hippolas had 6ft of water in her, and she was flying signals, ; "Lmmediate assisitence;" arid when boarded by the chief officer of •ilhe Takapuna aud a party of her crew she was found to be deserted ; a quantity of used distress signals were lying about. There was every indication that she had been left in a hurry. The barque's boats and belongings of the crew had gone. V The Ta&apuna used the barque's ware line and her own hawser as a safe guard. : : She slipped . one of the: barque' s>- anchors and heaved the

other on board, and commenced the tow. This she did for five hours:

when the water ill the barquegaine rapidly on the ship's pumps. The Hippolas gave an ugly lurch, which acted as a warning te the skeleton crew on board her from the Takar puna. AU hands took to the boats, ajid the alarm was sounded to the Takapuna to leave towing _ as the barque was sinking. Captain Stewart- stood by at the stern of the Takapuna, and with a hatchet severed tlie" tow lines just as the Hippolas" took her final plunge. The Hippolas sank opposite Pig Island homestead, within three-quarters of an. hour's nut to Picton, in 35 fathoms of water; 1 The Takapuria's crew doing' dutv on the' Hippolas had just time to leap over "info tho steamer's boat alongside before the Hippolas disappeared bow first. It is believed the barque's crow have reached one of the homesteads in tlie Sounds, or may have been picked up by some steamer. Tlie • Hippolas was bound from Timaru to Kaipara in ballast. She was commanded by Captain Norris, formerly of! the barquentine Jap. Captain Norris joined the Hippolas recently at Clarence River. j