A MISSING VESSEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10305, 9 November 1911, Page 1

A MISSING VESSEL.

FEARS FOII MARY ISABEL. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, November 8

Tidings of .the iron barquentine Mary Isabel are sought of all vessels arriving in the dominion or Australia, but nothing can bo gathered excepting what is already known. TSio Mary Isabel left Whan gape for Sydney on September 8, and is now some fiitv-nine days out on a voyage ordinarily accomplished in less than a/quarter of that time. In shipping circles grave fears aro entertained for her safety, and a feeling that something has happened her is becoming very general. Seen by a reporter this morning different officers who have had extensive experience on. sailing craft in these waters expressed various opinions as to what had befallen the Mary Isabel. Captain Stenbeck, who has commanded several vessels during tho last twentysix years on the" run between Australian ports and New Zealand and was master of 'the St Kilda when sho entered Whangape harbour with the first cargo ever taken to that port, asked for his opinion, said that he took a serious view of tho vessel's non-appeav-ance. His opinion was that the vessel had struck one of the numerous logs often to be found floating off the New Zealand coast. Under ordiuary circumstances any water that she mads couid be pumped out, but in tho event of bad weather being encountered the position would become serious. Captain Cooper, who commands the Mary Isabel, was for several years mate under Captain Stenbeck on tho sailer Wosnng. Ho was a splendid seaman. Captain Giovanni Antoniani, of the Italian ship Australia, wilich arrived in Auckland a few days ago, after a passago of twenty-eight days from Wellington, expressed tho opinion that the Mary Isabel had not been blown out of her course, as was suggested in some quarters. The Mary Isabel was heavily laden with green kauri, .and'dittifi'difficulty would in' consequence bo experienced in keeping her on her course. He considered it remarkable that if sho was still afloat she had not been sighted by one of tho numerous vessels passing to and fro between the Commonwealth and New Zealand. He thought it likely that as sh'j was carrying ti quantity of deck cargo, if struck amidships bv a gale, she would be liable fa overturn.