WRECK OF THE BENVENUE

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 609, 16 May 1882, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BENVENUE

and the CITY OF PERTH. SEVERAL LIVES LOST. (By Telegraph.) Timaru, May 14.

This afternoon a terrible calamity happened to the ships Benvcnue and City of Perth, resulting in their total wreck, and also in the loss of several lives. D'jriv.g tho night a heavy sea was running, but it, moderated about eight o'clock this morning, but again increased afterwards. At one o'clock the Benvenue broke adrift, and the crew then, in their own boats, left her, and tried to reach the City of Perth. The last mentioned vessel rode by a single hawser, and continued to do so till 3.45 p m., when the hawser parted.

Both wrecks are within a short distance of each other.

Before the City of Perth parted her hawser all the crew left in their own boats The mate had both legs broken by the recoil of the cable. Great anxiety was felt for the safety of the boats, as a heavy sea was running. All, however, succeeded in safely getting inside the breakwater.

Soon aterwards Capt Mills, harbor master with a full boat's crew, put off from the shore, as also did two other boats. Capt Mills got aboard one of the vessels, but soon after the hawser parted and the three boats left to return to the shore. When they had nearly reached the breakwater the sea was breaking heavily, and one of the boats was swamped by a terrific wave. The other two boats turned back to her rescue. At this time from the shore the men could be seen standing up in the swamped boat. The excitement was intense, as the accident, was witnessed by hundreds of people. When the two boats returned to the rescue one of them succeeded in getling some of the men from tho swamped boat on board. A terrible sea, white with foam, now caught her and again swamped

her. When the sea had passed, those who had been left in her were seen stripping.

A lifeboat was now got out and sent to the rescue, but after getting some on board, the same fate overtook her. She was seen to right and to be full of men, but apparently helpless. Later. The lifeboat has just come in. with Captain Mills and Bill Collis, of the Harbor Board Co., and Swan, a brave old Yarmouth boatman. These are safe, and some others, apparently in numbers not exceeding her own crew. Four boats weninvolved in the disaster, and their crews must have numbered not fewer than thirty men. Tho surf boat is still out helpless. The lifeboat, with a fresh volunteer crew of brave fellows, is just going to her rescue.

It is impossible to say how many livos are lost, but it is conjectured that they number from six to twelve. The men who went out in the lifeboat tho first time were nearly exhausted, being carried up to the Royal Hotel in blankets, and were vociferously applauded by the spectators, who numbered two or three thousand. It is now ebb tide, and a fearful sea is breaking in the harbor. There is intense anxiety respecting the safety of the surf boat, as it is a most dark, and it has apparently lost all its oars.

6 p.m

The lifeboat has just returned with part of the crew of the surf boat. A heavy sen struck the lifeboat and she capsized, but lost none of her crew. She was compelled, however, to leave the surf boat, which still had three or four men on board. A fresh crew has gone off.

It is reported that seven or eight lives have been lost.