THE WRECK OF THE SPEKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7973, 26 February 1906, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE SPEKE.

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY A SAILOR.

Reoeived February 24, 9 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 24

Oaptaiu Tilaon, of the ship Speko, which was wrecked on Phillip Island, states that ho signalled for a pilot, but the steamer failed to reply. The hurricane gradually carriod the vessel closer to laud. When he found that the ship would not wear, he ordered the boats to be got ready, and kept the lead going. On reaching fifteen fathoms, the anchors were lot go, but the cables parted after a few minutes. He theu ordered the boats ou*. The first capsized shortly after launching, owing to the terrible sea; the ether wad not launched. Porter, one of the crew, states that when the anchors parted the vessel began to drift on the rocks. She came down stern on the reef and bumped heavily, the waves breaking over the decks. She then drifted bioadside on. A boat was lowered, and four men entered it, but it was capsized by a huge wave. Three of the occupants reached shore after a desperate struggle, but the fourth, Henderson, was drowned. The other boat was swung out, but when the first was capsized, it was taken in again. A few minutea later a sea swept the boat away. A call was made to take a line ashore. The second mate, Mr Cook, volunteered, and started amid ringing oheeis. He was buffeted by the waves, aud hurled in all directions, but finally a breaker threw him on the rooks, and ho made the line fast. The men were afraid to face the heavy «ea. The captain was the first to cross, then the chief mate, the men following.

Everytbiag was orderly aboard. Though the men were much knocked about, they landed safely. Details are still meagre.

A PLUCK? CABIN-BOY.

MELBOURNE, February 24

The Speke lies on the rooks a hundred yards from the headland. There is no hope of saving the vessel; heavy seas are battering ber to pieces.

A cabin-boy named Kingcross accompanied the mate in bis plucky swirr with a line ashore. One man came ashore under an upturned boat. He eacapoi by kicking a hole through the planking. After landing the crew obtained assistance at the but of a shepherd, and then tramped eight miles in an exhausted condition to Cowes. Borne of the men resent the captain's statement that he was compelled to give|them a lead in leaving the vessel. ,