An Eerie Vigil

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 314, 11 July 1930, Page 7

An Eerie Vigil

WATCH ON STRANDED SHIP OLD BARQUE REWA UNEASY (Special to “Chronicle”) AUCKLAND, July 10. An exciting experience i. efel Mr G A. Bennett, who ,/as acting as caretaker on the barque Rewa, when the vessel suddenly developed .. list as it lay on the reef at Moturekareka Island, where it has been stranded for use as a breakwater. The Rewa was beached at the Island on June 28. It was with a premonition that some thing might happen that Mr Bennett boarded the vessel. So he decided to sleep in the cabin on the poop instead of in the captain’s cabin, which had been prepared. At about two o’clock the next morning the baiquo started to list slightly and there were mysterious rumblings and a sound of falling material almost continuously throughout the night. At about fiv o’clock there was a crash, the bowline parted with a loud report and the barque heeled over to port, her mo\ement being accompanied by a rattle of things falling below. It was an eerie sound to one sleeping alone on the ship, and thoroughly aroused, Mr Bennett ran on co the deck, which sloped at such an angle that walking was difficult. Scrambling over the rail he whistled to the cottage on the shore for assistance to be sent. Mr G. E. Wahlstrom, who had been visiting the island, came to the door, but the boats were high and dry on the beach. Fearing that th barque might heel right over, Mr Bennett started for the shore, climbing hand over hanci on the land line from the stern, assisted by a torch light shone by Mr Wahlstrom from the shore. Clad only in his pyjamas and with bare feet, Mr Bennett struggled askore. He had, not gone far before the rope sagged and he was up to his armpits in water. For about 20 yards he waded, gripping the oyster-covered rocks with his bare feet. He reached the cottage safely, cold but little the worst for his experience.