THE SCHOONER KAEO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2554, 15 July 1909, Page 2

THE SCHOONER KAEO.

HER REACHING AT TOKOMARU. Mr A. h. Fraser, purser of the auxiliary schooner Kaeo, which'was beached at Tokomaru on Saturday last to save > her from loss, gave a “Times” repre- £ tentative yesterday a most interesting account of the vessel’s trip and her experiences prior to and at the time she was run ashore. The vessel left Gisborne on Sunday, 4th July, at 5 p.in. She laid at Tologa Bay on Monday S and worked there on Tuesday, being only able, however, to land cargo on the south side of the bay, owing to a al fairly heavy sea. She went on to Tokomaru on Tuesday evening and lay -under the south head. The sea was then improving, but later on in the or evening Capt. Skinner did not care to hold on any longer, as there appeared -- a likelihood of the wind getting up, and he decided to run on to Waipiro for shelter. It blew fairly heavily that I night, but the vessel was able to work 1 Waipiro on "Wednesday 7th, and the same evening left for To Araroa, which port and Hicks Bay were worked successfully on Thursday Sth. On Friday the vessel came back and worked Fort Awanui, and came on to Tokomaru, where she had almost finished working at nightfall. That night the wind camo up strong from the N.F., but from this direction good shelter was obtainable in the hay. Capt. fjkinner says that the wind, by all the accepted laws of' the weather, goes round from N.E. to N.W. and then to W., but only on a very rare occasion does it go hack to oast. This however, tho wind did on that fateful occasion, and blew with a vengeance. There was a strong N.E. gale up till between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., and the vessel with her patent anchor out and forty fathoms of chain, was dragging slightly. At 2 a.m. the wind was coming from the eastward, and increasing in every moment. There was iv this time an exceptionally heavy sea ro'lirig in, and the big anchor was let go, the vessel being given a further fifteen fathoms of cable. Between 2 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. tho vessel was given all the possible cable, amounting to about 7o fathoms. At this period tho wind was still from the* East with a slight tendency to the southward, coming in great squally gusts accompanied by heavy showers of rain, and with a tremendous sea running. The night was fairly light and, -although tho moon was shrouded in the clouds, those on hoard, although three-quarters of a mile from shore, could elear'y discern the outline of the coast. From 4.30 a.m. until 9.30 a.m. the wind still further increased in strength, and at the | latter hour was blowing a howling gale. Both of the vessel’s engines' of 30 horsepower each wero started, full speed ahead at 4.30 -a.m., and with a man at the wheel keeping her head to sou, all the engines wero able to do was to practically keep al] strain from tho anchor cables. The engines wero kept going constantly, as had they been stopped tho -gale and sea were so strong .as to make it almost certain that the schooner would have dragged her* anchors, and been driVen ashore. At tho same time there was absolutely no hope • of getting out to sea, as even n id the engines been capable of giving headway ” to the vessel, there was a very strong possibility of her being driven on to ! one of the numerous reefs in the hay, owing to tho violence of the sea. Neie' ther would tho schooner, being very light, (practically in ballast, have stood enough sail to enable to beat out liad there been room for her to tack, and had she attempted to beat out it is not considered possible that she could havo safely passed tho end of the dangerous h e southern reef. In this perilous posiid tion and with the seas breaking all of round ibis vessel, -Capt. Skinner ordered 't- all hands to put on lifebelts, and giving up his heroic struggle with the raging le elements, decided to run tho scho-.-nor fit ashore, • as the only possible chance of saving her and the lives of those on board. The mizzen was hoisted and as to soon as tho chains wero ready the outer and inner jibs wore also raised. Tho engines were Ikept going and at the word of command the anchors were unshackled from the keelson and the gallant little vessel, which had successfully braved the fury of both wind and sea, started off at high speed towards the shore, the lives of those on hoard practically in the hands of the cool, determined skipper.who had charge of tho wheel. There was a heavy breaking sea between where tlio vessel had been ly- , ing and the wharf, the vicinity of •which i was Capt. Skinner's objective. Crors- . ing this turmoil of water the schooner, | despite her .‘•ails, rolled very heavily, hut negotiated the passage with safety. > From the anchorage to the wharf was ‘ only a matter of a very few moments, I hut to those on hoard it seemed a much f longer time. Nearing the wharf the 4 vessel was muming in an oblique direc- . tion and apparently straight for the wharf end. Excitement, was intense , both on hoard and amongst the onlookers from the shore. Just at this I point the engines wore stopped, and the sails were, lowered, and a great cheer arose from the assembled watchers as it f was seen that Capt. Skinner, with tm--erring judgment anil almost incredible seamanship, had succeeded in clearing the wharf bv about two feet at one portion. of the vessel, and so close that the stern just knocked a small piece of timber from the outer end of the structure. By running so close to the wharf Capt. iSkinuer was enabled to run the vessel on io.n flat rock covered with sand. Only fifty yards away from where she struck the rock is much more shelving and in places jagged. Stvapge to say comparatively no shock was cx- ! porienced hv those on hoard when the vessel struck and this is accounted for by the ripping off of the false keel, the sensation being described as “just like running along on a sledge.” She came to a standstill with her stern about 10 foot off the wharf and the next tide j carried her about a chain further, where she remains still with a heavy list to port. There was nothing approaching panic or fear of any sort apparent, amongst the members of the crow during the storm, ovofi when the danger appeared greatest. They all took it quite coolly and speak in high terms of tin.' resource--1 illness of Capt. Skinner. There were two passengers on board the Kaeo. Messrs Smith anil Patterson,

and they were safely landed by means of the schooner’s oil launch.' The s.s. Victoria from Auckland called in as close as possible to Tokomaru yesterday and ’anded an expert in launching operations into the schooner’s launch, and the s.s. Squall came right in to unload her launching and salvage gear. Captain Skinner stated yesterday that there is every chance of getting the ve-seli off safely, but that he is inclined to -wait a tew days 'until the weather is more sotted. Attempt was to have been made yesterday afternoon t-o pick up the. vessel’s anchors, which had to be let go in the moment of peril. As far as can he seen at present little damage is done to the vessel. All the lighter cargo consisting of skins, fat, hides, etc., has been-taken out of the vessel, as we! > as about 250 sacks of barley. Her cargo consisted of 550 sacks of barley, 40 sacks of maize from Tologa Bay, and 3 tons of engine and accessories, 70 or 80 cases of bottles from Te Araroa, and skins, hides, and wool from Port Awanui, Te' Araroa, and Hick’s Bay.