WRECK OF A SCOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10680, 29 January 1913, Page 6

WRECK OF A SCOW.

RELIANCE STRUCK BY TERRIFIC SQUALL. NARROW ESCAPE OP THE CREW. [Per Pbess Association.] AUCKLAND, January 28. Tho storm predicted by Mr Bates ami. other weather prophets made its. ap« pearance yesterday on tho Manuka ik. harbour with the force of a cyclone, and. resulted in the <■ wreck of the acow Reliance, owned by the Onehunga Saw* milling Company, on the Manufeau bar. Captain Palmer and his crew had » most trying experience, being for two hours in an open boat, and notwith< standing their united efforts they could make no headway, but drifted steadily out to sea. A sudden and terrific squall struck the Reliance, snapping off both mastand tearing up the deck fore and aft. The masts fell right across the ship and were held there by the rigging. All the ship's tools had been washed overboard, or she might have been saved, as a few blows from an axe would have freed everything and sent it overboard. The main anchor was immediately . dropped, but failed to hold. The othe? anchor could not be got out, as it waj jammed by spars lying across ,it. Th« crew got a kedge and bent the liawsei; on to it arid put it over the side, but even that did not hold; and the vessel, continued to' drift outward with the tide until she got on to the north side of the Emma bank. The crew then took to the boat, and after a narrow escape from disaster were rescued by the steamer Claymore. ' The scow subsequently worked liei way across the Emma bank into tho south channel, finally going ashore under the lighthouse at South Head at seven o'clock this morning. VESSELS HELD UP BY THE STORM. Three steamers left Onehunga yesterday, namely, the Rarawa, for New Plymouth; the Haupiri, for New Plymouth and Wellington; and the Claymore for Raglan and Kawliia, but they were' all held up by the storm. The, Rarawa eventually got out about ten . o'clock last night, but the other steaii" era had to wait until this morning.