A VESSEL IN DANGER.

Star (Christchurch), 30 September 1893, Page 5

A VESSEL IN DANGER.

I-»-The Janet Bamsay Towed to Port. At abont half-past nine last evening a telegram waa received at the Christohurch Police Station from the constable at Akaroa, to the effect that information had j reaohed him from Mr Masefield, of Gough's Bay, that the Janet Bamsay, a schooner of forty-six tons, was drifting on to the rocks at Gough's Bay. There was a heavy aea running, with a tremendous gale blowing, and no assistance conld be rendered from the shore. Unless help arrived promptly from Lyttelton grave fears were entertained that it would be impossible to save Captain Pleasant and his crew. Immediately on receipt of the news Sergeant-Major Mason telephoned to Lyttelton, in order that the tug might be sent to the assistance of the vessel. Gough's Bay is at the eastern point of Banks Peninsula, about twelve to fourteen miles from Akaroa Heads, and about forty miles from Lyttelton. At a late hour last night no farther particulars could be ascertained. Lateb. The schooner was towed safely to port thia morning by the tug, having managed to ride out tbe gale at her anchor. Captain Clark, the Harbour-maater, got intimation of the danger of the vessel at 10.30 p.m. on Friday, and at once went to give ordera for the tug to proceed to the scene. The tow boat, however, was "blown down," and waa undergoing a periodical overhaul to her machinery at the time, but all haste waa made to get up steam and under way. . At 3 a.m. she made a start, and even if ehe had been ready to go earlier, it would have been extremely unwise to have attempted to make the trip round the Long Look-out in Bearch of a vessel close in shore on sach a night. When the tug got to Gough's Bay, she found the schooner, which is owned and sailed by Ja__e3 Pleasant, snugly lying at anchor in tho middle of the bay, having succeeded in riding the gale out, but noc without the loss of one of her anchors. Thia fact led those on board to fly the distress signal, for if the Becond anchor had gone there would have been little hope for the safety of tlie vessel.