THE SCHOONER FLIRT IN A GALE. -THE MATE DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 435, 2 June 1871, Page 2

THE SCHOONER FLIRT IN A GALE. -THE MATE DROWNED.

The schooner Flirt, Captain McKenzie, arrived at Lyttelton on the 23rd ultimo.' She left Mercury Bay on the 13th May. and had moderate weather for. the first twodnys. On Tuesday, the 16th, ufc 4 a.m., the wind shifted to the Bouthward ; at 9 a.m. veered to the south west, blowing heavy ; hove to with her head to the 5.3. E. ; on the 17th the wind hauled to the W.N.W., blowing fresh ; in lat. 41 deg 25 rain., on the ISth, the wind hauled again to the S.W. ; at- 5 p.m. put.the vessel under close-reefed fore-and-affc canvas ; wore ship, and headed in W. by N. to W.N. W., blowing a heary gale. On Friday, the 19tii, at 2.45, a.m., a very sad accident occurred. The vessel shipped a very heavy sea aft on the poop, and washed George. Major, the mate, overboard, and smashed in the fcabin skylights, half filling the cabin with water. A very heavy sea running at the time,..and it blowing a gale of wind, nothing could be done to save him; at 9 a.m. had moderate wind from N.W. j stood on her course at noon, when tho wind again went into the S.W., and blew a furious gale; hove'the vessel to with mainstay-sail for twenty-four hours, when it moderated, and the wind hauled to tho W.N.W. on Sunday, tho 21st, at 6 a.m.; at 11 a.m. made all sail, steering S.W., with fine clear weather ; at midnight made Lyttelton.— Lyttelton Times, May 24.