SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13291, 21 May 1907, Page 5

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

LOSS OF THE EMMA SIMS.

Per Press Association,

WELLINGTON, May 20. The southerly gale, which has been raging - for the past two or three days, shows signs: of abating. Beyond the -dislocation of .shipping arrangements iio damage is reported. The Emma Sims, a small sailing vessel, which had sought shelter under Mana. Island, lias been driven ashore there, but the ski was too heavy to permit any assistance from shore .last night. Those connected with, the vessel were sending up rockets, and burning flare-ups. . It appears that during the gaie on Saturday, she . sought shelter under Mana Island, but after lying there for a time the anchor parted, and she drifted broadside on to the rocks.; Captain McDonald and the crew pf four got ashore, with difficulty. The Government steamer Hinemoa, which, was sent out last night brought the captain and crew to Wellington this morning. The ( stranded' vessel is said to bo full. of wajJM The Emma Sims, is of 61 to® register, and is owned by Mr E. £}. Pilcher, of Wellington. The schooner was ' bound from Brooklyn Bay, Peloi'ous Sound, to Lytt-elto-n with a cargo of timber consigned to Messrs Reese and Budd, ■of Christ-church. She was under- the command of Captain McDonald and her completsment- of sailors was four. The Emma Sims cleared the Sounds on Saturday the 11th and got up to Cape Campbell on Saturday evening at 5.40. Then the boat commenced to run- in with stormy weather. Eventually the captain put into .Worser Bav for shelter and left on the 16th May at 8.30 p.m. with a six knot breeze. Once outside, however, the vessel was a plaything of the fierce southerly wind, which varied eight points between south-west and south-east, and its moods were most malicious. The captain then finally tried io take shelter under Cape Terawliiti. , All lie. could do .was to reach Mana- Island and just- managed to get inside south-eastern rocks. He was forced to anchor five and half cable lengths out or go ashore. He let go both anchors, with forty-five fathoms of cable on the starboard side and la on the port side, but the lines apparently failed to hold the vessel off the rocks. At 1.30 on Saturday morning the schooner struck swinging 'broadside on to the rocks. Signals of distress were hoisted, but nothing could be done from shore o W in<v to the liigli .seas running, and assistance was asked from Wellington. The Hinemoa was despatched by the Marine Department and she returned to Wellington this afternoon with the members of the crew all of whom had reached the island safely. The Emma Sims is not insured and it is believed will become total wreck. Her owner and a salvage party leave for the- scene of the wreck in the morning, with an endeavour to save as much as possible.. Whether the cargo is insured is not known here.