RETURN OF THE HEROFROM THE WRECK of the TWILIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 414, 9 May 1871, Page 2

RETURN OF THE HEROFROM THE WRECK of the TWILIGHT.

A MAN DBOWKED.

The cutter Hero, which was chartered to bring round the gum saved from the wreck of the schooner Twilight, returned to port this morning, and we regret to learn that one of her party was drowned by the upsetting of the boat. Captain TJrquhart has supplied us with the following particulars of the passage : —The Hero" left , Auckland on Thursday, the 27th ultimo, and carried a fresh easterly breeze round, arriving in the bay at Cape Maria Van Dieman on Saturday at two p.m., after a capital run of forty-eight hours. The weather being fine, Captain Meiklejohn, who was a papsenger in the Hero, went ashore, and the surf-boat at once commenced to convey the gum off to the schooner. During the afternoon about twenty cases were shipped, and when the boat was going ashore at eleven p.m. a melancholy accident occurred. When within 10 yards of the shore a heavy brake rolled in and swamped the boat. Three of the men were thrown upon a rock, and the other, Joseph Connor, who it is believed could not swim, was carried out by the strong current which sweeps round the bay. He was seen for some minutes clinging to a rock, and several attempts were made by the survivors to save him. The poor fdlow leaves a wife and family in West Queen-street unprovided for. The other three men, named George Turtle, James Cameron, and Frederick Evans, succeeded in reaching the shore, and at once went in search of their lost comrade. They travelled along the bay for several miles, and upon their return found their boat at about one and a half resiles from the -spot where she was capsized, the oars being washed out to sea. On Sunday, a heavy sea came in from the S.W., and the cutter put out to sea, returning again on Monday afternoon. The surf-boat then came off again, the men having made a pair of oars during their stay ashore. On Tuesday and Wednesday there was a strong breeze from N.N.E., but the men were enabled to bring off gum, having on board at this time about thirty tons. On Wednesday evening the cutter went off to anchor, and rode out a strong N.N.E gale. On Thursday she lost her anchor, and had at once to put to ssa. Captain TJrquhart determined to come on to Auckland with what he had. During the return passage experienced fine weather and Hiiht winds. The Hero may possibly return to the wreck after discharging what she has on board.