WRECK OF A SCOW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2376, 17 December 1908, Page 5

WRECK OF A SCOW.

THE KIA ORA LOST AT KAWAU.

THREE MEN DROWNED

[Pkess Association.]

AUCKLAND. Dec. 16. The scow Kia Ora struck a rock off Kawau last night. Three lives were lost, viz., Captain Edward 'Pierev. aged 55, a- married man, whose wife lives in Auckland; his son, James Piercy, about 30 years of age: and the cook of the vessel,

One sailor was saved. The Kia Ora is owned by Alaclow Bros., of Auckland, and was bound from Nguuguru to Auckland, loaded with -logs. The name of the cook is Thomas Young. He is a son of Archibald Young, shipwright; of Auckland.

THE SURVIVOR’S STORY. A FEARFUL NIGHT. Later. The ‘'Herald” correspondent at Leigh telegraphs that about midnight on Alondav, during the heavy gale that raged on the -coast, the Kia Ora went ashore on a jutting reef on the outer side of Kawau Island. The sole survivor states that she struck at- 12.10 o’clock in an intense darkness and with a heavy sea running at the time. It was impossible t-o see the bow of the vessel.

The captain, thinking himself well clear of Kawau Island, and wishing to keep clear of the Canoe Rock, altered his course two points to the starboard. Almost immediately after the scow struck a submerged rock and was immediately swept by a huge sea which smashed her against the rocks, carrying her spars overboard. The cook was swept away by the same wave and was never seen again. The vessel started to break up. The captain and his son, with the survivor, found themselves clinging to a rock which was being swept by occasional seas and a ceaseless spray. The tide was falling, and so. later oil, they were less in danger of being washed off, but the cold wind and. spray kept them in a state of helplessness and misery. At length, when daylight broke, the survivor said ho would not stay there to be drowned by tlie incoming tide. He struck out for the shore, and, after 20 minutes’ swimming, he landed ashore at the foot of tlie steep cliff fairly exhausted. He looked back after clambering up the cliff a litle way. but- could see nothing of the other two. either in the water or on the rocks, and it can only bo surmised that they followed his example and tried to swim ashore or were washed from their hold by a big wave. They were not seen agaiu. The survivor climbed painfully up the cliff on what little precarious holding he could find, and eventually reached a cottage, where he was received and welcomed, and news scut into Kawau mansion house. Tlie survivor is naturally much ex>liausted, but was reported well at the time the s.s. Kawau left. Kawau Island for Omaha. The scow is broken into several pieces, one part of the hull being upside down, while the forepart is aslant inside the rock which she struck, and the deckhouse is ashore further along.