A VESSEL IN DISTRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1424, 22 May 1886, Page 2

A VESSEL IN DISTRESS.

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 2

A schooner is outside, Hying a signal of distress. Tho Harbor Board tug has gone to her relief. Later. The vessel signalled as in distress is the Star of Mersey, and is water logged The crew have been taken off her and landed at the breakwater. Tho vessel is anchored outside, and will be towed into port when the sea subsides.

THE YES’EL LOST. Later, The Star of the Mersey, 253 tons, Captain Christian, from Kiipara to Dunedin, sprung a leak yesterday aftorno m in her bow. and being unable to keep tho water diwn with the pumps, it was decided to make the New Plymouth harbor for shelter. She had eight man on board, and although pumping all night tho water so increased that the vessel became waterlogged and unmanageable. Tho captain th-m hoisted a tiag of distress, which was seen from the shore, and the Harbormaster in the tug boat went out to her. Tim captain and men were thoroughly exhausted, and say but for

the New Plymouth harbor they would all have been los‘. Two anchors were let out, but the veasd is drifting towards the shore. The captain and crew wore brought in, they having abandoned the vessel >She has a cargo of timber for a Dunedin Wood Cumpiny, The captain is part owner, but declines to siy what tho insurance is on the vessel. Later.

The vessel is insured in the Equitable Insurance Association of Now E laland *or L4OO. She left Kdptraou Wednesday, with 11,000 ft baulk limber and 5000 ft ordinary. When the vessel was abandoned she was tilled with water up to tho hatches. Tho tug was not powerful enough to tow tho vessel into tho harbor. The wreck has accordingly drifted ashore opp >site the town.