WRECKED ABEL TASMAN.

Wairarapa Age, 21 July 1936, Page 6

WRECKED ABEL TASMAN.

DEBRIS UTTERS NORTH BEACH SHIP WRECKED ON ROCKS. HEAVY SEAS POUNDING OVER VESSEL. GREYMOUTH, July 20. North Beach is already littered with debris from the wrecked Abel Tasman. The hatches had been securely fastened and covered but the buffeting of the heavy seas soon smashed them open and yesterday morning timber was strewn freely along the beach together with smashed lifeboats and other deck fittings. When the vessel broke away from her moorings at the wharf the crew were either preparing for the evening meal or rbsting. When they came off the wreck in a drenched condition they were scantily clad but were quickly transported to Greymouth and provided with a change of clothing. The captain and the first mate were on the wharf inspecting the mooring lines when the vessel broke adrift. The first jnate, Peter Dalziel, just failed to get on board and it was perhaps fortunate, as he proved capable in directing the rescue operations from the North Tip head. He was soon on the scene and directed and assisted in the operations of securing the lifeline and in hauling the nineteen men ashore. As she approached the bar on her drift downstream the vessel’s stern was pitched towards the north breakwater. The stern struck a partly-submerged portion of the wreckage of the Kaponga. She then remained stationary for some minutes, later swinging broadside on across the rivermoutb After coming off the wreckage made a bare clearance of the South Tip and got well clear of both tips. The northerly drift and high seas, however, veered the vessel back towards the North Tip, at the same time slewing her right around. Each succeeding breaker drover her gradually shorewards into the apron fringing the north side of the north breakwater, where she grounded. It was barely three-quarters of an hour between the time the ship left the wharf and when she became lodged against the rocks. The captain was the last to leave the vessel. The Abel Tasman is now lying wedged against the rocks parallel with the breakwater. Seas are still breaking over her and she appears to be developing a greater starboard list. Although the seas remained high yesterday the weather was fine and thousands of people from all parts of the district thronged the beach and breakwater viewing the stricken vessel.— (P.A.)