TRAWLER AGROUND SOUTH OF CAPE CAMPBELL

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1947, Page 5

TRAWLER AGROUND SOUTH OF CAPE CAMPBELL

CREW ASHORE SAFELY BUT VESSEL HEAVILY POUNDED

(Press Association) BLENHEIM, March 19 The New Zealand Fisheries trawler Futurist ran aground at Long Point, about seven miles south oi thc Cape Campbell Lighthouse, on the coast of Marlborough, early this morning. The keeper of the Cape Campbell Lighthouse saw a distress flare at 4.30 a.m. and later received a wireless message which slated that the (Futurist was aground with her bow pointing towards land.

Available information suggests that the trawler is in a precarious position. Up till late this afternoon it was impossible to contact members of the vessel’s company except by an unsatisfactory telephone line at the homestead of a settler where the crew made their way after landing from the wreck.

According to information secured from the head keeper at Cape Campbell Lighthouse, Mr. S. Schofield, who had been in toucii with some of the' ship-wrecked men, the Futurist piled ashore at 3.50 a.m. The spot where she struck is an exposed piece of coast just north of Mount Flaxbourne River. It is understood there is scant chance of salvage as the vessel is hard and fast on the rocks and is being pounded by a big sea.

Mr. Schofield said he was told it was a bit misty and drizzly at the time of the mishap. He thought the ship might have been edged off her course by the set of the tide against the south-wester that was blowing. Apparently there was little warning of danger. WAVES BREAK OVER VESSEL

As the Futurist struck bow on to a shelf of rock lying only about 100 yards from the shore, waves commenced breaking over her. Luckily the crew was able to launch a lifeboat and got safely ashore. Late to-day the trawler had been dropped by the falling tide on a flat reel. One report is tnat it is almost possible to walk out to her. Before she reached her present position, however, she was apparently poqnded over several reefs by heavy seas and the hull must be in a badly battered condition.

The first news that a wreck had occurred was received at Cape Campbell Lighthouse about 7.30 a.m. when the trawler Maimai came close inshore, blew her whistle and sent off a boat. Its crew reported being attracted by distress signals to the scene. After inspection ol the abandoned vessel they made for Cape Campbell to obtain iltviaving gear and report. Subsequently a second trawler, thc Phyllis, stood in and signalled that the crew of the Futurist were all ashore. The Futurist’s owners requested the Maimai to stand by until advised by ■ the skipper, Captain Sutherland, if it would be possible to get his ship off. Two members of the Futurist s crew tramped along the coast to Cape Campbell. They stated the remainder of the party were on the beach opposite the wreck. Besides Captain. Sutherland and Mr. W. Bary, mate, the Futurist’s complement comprises

G. Battason, W. Dalziell (Napier), H. W. Paton (Hastings), A. Ingham, P. Gilliland, W. Whatnaugh, B. What-naug-h and P. Bourke (Wellington).

The’ two members of the Futurist’s crew who completed the 10-mile tramp to Cape Campbell Lighthouse about 12.30 this afternoon stated that the trawler struck a reef near Long Point at 3.50 a.m. Visibility at the time was practically nil, and until the crash ■ came the eleven men aboard did not realise that they were near the reet. I The trawler was held fast by the bow, although she continued to rise and /all with the sea. As it was impossible to manoeuvre the ship’s boat over the reef in the dark the crew had to stay aboard until nearly 6 a.m. A southerly swell was Battering the unprotected ship and several heavy seas broke over the stern and set the deck awash. LITTLE HOPE OF SALVAGE Lowering the boat was a tricky business, but it was tinaily accomplished and once over the reef calm water was encountered. As soon as the boat landed two of the crew set off* on the long tramp to Cape Campbell, which took them nearly six hours. In the opinion of these men it will be impossible to get the Futurist oft the reef until the southerly swell subsides. They did not think that the Maimai had enough power to do the job and a tug will probably be necessary. Meanwhile the Futurist is receiving I a pounding which will probably cause considerable damage. 1 The Futurist is a 237-ton steam trawler-and was built in 1920 by the I Jos. L. Meyer Co., of Papenburg. She I has been trawling off the South island for many years and has become well •known to many Wellingtonians. Durjing the war she served with the Navy for four and a-half years as a mine- ■ sweeper.