SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12909, 24 February 1906, Page 5

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

TOTAL LOSS OF THE SPEKI-

A PLUCKY CREW.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copvright. j MELBOURNE. February 22. j News reached Cowes late last night of I the wreck of Hie ship Speke off Port! Phillip Island. The Speke was a steel sail- j ing ship built- by T. R. Oswald and Co.. j at Milford Haven in 1891. her owners being '• the Leyland Shipping Companv. Her toa-i nage (gross register), was 2875. and shej was rated Al .at Llovd's. Her port of reJ gister was Liverpool. She arrived at Sv<F' ney from Tollendo a fortnight ago. and was subsequently ordered to Melbourne to load wheat for the United Kingdom. The dis-l aster happened at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon during a fierce south-west gale*. FIRST NEWS OF THE WRECK.

The first intimation of the wreck was the arrival at Cowes of a number of .survivors, who were.driven into the township by a settler. Relief was at once i-ent. According to the story of ■ the' survivors, who number twenty-five\iH told, the Speke missed stays during a gale, and despite every effort of the officers.and crew, crashed on to the rocks, the coast there being very dangerous. She immediately swung broadside on to the reef.

Two boats were put out. but both were soon smashed; The men had a- terrible time, but managed to get a *ine ashore, and most of the crew were saved bv this means.

The second mate and cook readily followed a request of the captain to go over the side of the vessel, and carry a lifeline ashore. This most perilous undertaking was most pluekiiy and succesarollv accomplished. They got to the land." T»"d passed the line round the rocks! All the crew, excepting a sailor named Henderson, were saved. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. *'" Nor.e of the men would venture to pass along the ,"ine," says Captain Tilson. who asked them to do so. " It was nscessary to. hearten them in view of the most, imminent danger of all betnir drowned, and I. therefore, .led the way. and the remainder followed. Of course 1 wanted to he the lasi to leave the ship, but fe!t it my dnSv to give the men the necessary lend. Whc-t the vessel struck, the seas. dashed <ver iicr top-gallant vard." THE CHIEF MATES NARRATIVE. Mr Williams, the chief mate, said :—ll was only by God's mercy thai matters were not worse as regards the loss of life. Both anchors parted, and it wns nnt possible to do anything to save the ship, as ;she went right up alongside the rocks. •The gale blew all the time, and anyone .who knows the coast thereabouts will understand what it meant to be wrecked there. We lost everything. All we have left are the things we stand in. We sighted Wilson's Promontory on Tuesday night, and land was sighted at noon to-day. When we tried to wear tb» ship she would not answer to Iter helm. fell Kick on the port tack. She then struck. She.has Income a hopeless wreck, and is fast breaking »p. •- -•- ; • DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. Received 1 a.m., Febr»arv 24th. MELBOURNE. FcbVnary 25. The. Speke's captain states that be sdgnv.lled for a pilot but. the steamer failed t>. reply. The hurricane gradually carried tfee ship closer to hind, and when be found the shin would not wear, he ordered the boats to be got ready. The lead was kc»t going and on reachin? fifteen fathoms, tin- .< '.ichoi s were let no. The cables parted ;n a few. minutes, and he ordered the boats cni. 'The first boat capsized shortly after la-whing owing to the terrible se.i. Tl;o other boat was not launched. P'ntor. one of the crew. st.ite* lint r, jj ■••.•} th" anchois naried the vs , s>el heipni s»» d:«'t on to the rocks. She caw «?nwn w ;, l> her stern on the reef .did buiniitd i:>-.'vi!v. UiO waves hre.ifciii;; over ib" «'eck«. She drif»e<' i»r<virlsi'!c nr>. A boat was lowered and; fo»r men enteted. A huge wave capsized the boat, and three men reached the shore after a desperate struggle.. The fourth .(Henderson) was

drowned. The other boat. was swung out, but when the first capsized was takes in again. A few minute* Liter a sea swept the boat away. A calj was made to Jake a line ashore. The second mate volunteered, and started amid ringing cheers. Ho was buffeted by the waves and hurled in all directions, tOl, finally, a breaker threw him on to the rocks. He made the line fast. The men were afraid U> face the heavy sea. The captain was the first to cross, then the chief mate and the men followed. Everything was orderly on board. and though the men were much knocked about they landed safely. The details of the wreck ara stil! meagre. A LEAKING STEAMER. MELBOURNE. February 23. The steamer Winfield has been docked owing to a sudden and heavy leak, suitposed to have been caused by contact with a boulder in Geelong Channel. FIND OF WRECKAGE. HOBART, February 23. A large deckhouse of Oregon and teak, belonging Jo a wooden vessel, has been found at Bruna Island. Owing Jo the heavy sea further search has been delayed.