SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13484, 26 July 1907, Page 5

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

ASHORE ON A REEF.

United Press Association. — By Electric

Telegraph. — Copyright. SYDNEY, July 25. NeAVS has teen received that the steamer Ysabel is ashore on a reef at Tamu Island, in the Gilbert Group. The vessel's position is precarious.

A SCOW ASHORE.

Per Press Association.

AUCKLAND, July 25. The scow Waikonini is the vessel reported yesterday to be ashore at Pakiri. Messrs. W. & G. Winstone, Limited, the owners, have received a telegram from the master, Captain McDermott, who says the vessel is ashore in a safe position. The crew is safe.

WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

STORY OF THE SURVIVOR.

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

AUCKLAND, July 26.

Harry Jackson, the sole survivor of the wreck of tho scow Surprise, delating his experiences, said: —

"When off Slipper Island on Friday night, the scow started to drag with three anchors out. The Captain ordered the crew to set the staysail. Immediately afterwards

SHE STRUCK on the south end of the Watchman rocks. The Captain sang out 'Goodbye.' That was the last of him and of the boy Frank Kelly.

"The scow was bumping . very hard when Alf Stewart, Edward Johnsen, and I took to the fore rigging. We stayed there a little time and then came down and went aft. The ship camo stern first off the rocks and

CAPSIZED. I lost sight of Stewart and never saw him again. Johnsen and I stuck to the main rigging. Afterwards the scow drifted midway between the Watchman rocks and the coast. I swam ashore,' but never saw Johnsen again.- I am a good swimmer, "but the breakers were very large and rough. One breaker took me ashore. Others came, immediately after and

SMASHED ME ON THE ROCKS. That is how I was so much cut and bruised. I had been in the water five or six hours. I climbed about

HALF-WAY UP THE CLIFFS and then collapsed from exhaustion. I stayed there ihe' whole Of Sunday, aad at night felt ill and unable- to go farther. Next.jmorning, feeling a little better, I crawled up over the cliffs and eventually • reached J. McGregor's house, where- I received every kindness. I was put to bed and carefully nursed.

• "My position t>n Sunday was terrible. It was a wild stormy day. I was stuck half-way up cliff with

ONLY A SMALL SINGLET on reaching to my thighs. I was unable to move further. The cliffs were. below and high perpendicular walls above. 1 thought I was done for. I lay there in the storm .ajl Sunday and in the night the pain was 9b*severe and unbearab^v that I wished- 1 were dead. The weather appeared .better pn Monday morning, and having gained a tittle extra strength, I started to crawl along, not knowing exactly where I was."