THE SCHOONER KAEO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2551, 12 July 1909, Page 4

THE SCHOONER KAEO.

ASHORE AT'TOKOMARU BAY.

BEACHED TO SAVE THE VESSEL

• The auxiliary schooner Kaeo ; which left this port on Tuesday morning last with a general cargo tor and Auckland, As on the beach at iolcomaru Bay. Owing to the rough weather, she had been unable to woik s ■ eral ports, but the weather moderating a little she returned to Tokomaru irom ICahukura on Friday. She was anchored in the bay on Friday night about three-quarters of a mile from tne shore, when a gale of most exceptional severity sprang up, causing the sea to rise rapidly. The storm increased in violence throughout the _ night, and grave, fears were entertained for the safety of the vessel. She rode the storm out, however, and with close on 100 fathoms of chain was dragging slightly when day broke. The position was becoming very serious, and all hands were called on deck and supplied with lifebelts, in case the worst should come to the worst. At 10.30 a.m. Captain Skinner signalled that he could not hold out any longer, and as it was impossible to get out to sea, and fatal to stay where he was, the skipper decided to run his vessel ashore on to the beach. He followed out this plan with wonderfully accurate seamanship, and succeeded m beaching the vessel at high tide close enough to the jetty to enable a hawser to be got out from the stern and made fast. Her bow is now pointing towards the shore further out from the jetty than the stern, at which from latest advices last night, there is 5 feet of water. The vessel is practically undamaged, and at low tide her forepart will be high and drv. so that she will probably have to be towed off. No fears are entertained for the ultimate safety of the vessel, unless the weather becomes unusually severe from the southward. The wind had dropped consideraly last night and the sea had gone down' a good deal, and it is not anticipated that any difficulty will be experienced in getting her off after her cargo has been transferred to lighters. The members of the crew are loud in their praise of Captain Skinner ’s action; as the,only way to save the vessel from total doss and probably the lives of those aboard her. They claim that it was a truly wonderful feat of-sea-manship to beach the vessel in such an excellent position without serious damage. The Kaeo is practically a new vessel, of 155 tons, and since being launched has been under the command of Capt. Skinner, who is part owner. She is valued at £7OOO. and is insured.. The vessel was specially built for the East Coast trade.