NARROW ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1193, 19 November 1873, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK.

THE BRIG ALBION AT THE THREE

KINGS

Captain Robertson, of the brig Albion, which arrived from Newcastle this morning, has obligingly furnished us with the following report of a narrow escape from shipwreck which his vessel experienced when off the Three Kings : — On the morning of Sunday, the 16th, when about eight miles north of the Kings, the wind died away, and the strong current with a heavy swell from the west set the ship right in shore towards a place marked on the charts " The Caves." When about 100 fathoms from the cliffs, which rise here to a height of about GOO feet perpendicularly, we got soundings in 24 fathoms of water and let go an- anchor with but faint hopes of it holding. Fortunately it did so, and at 45 fathoms chain the ship swung round, head to sea, her stern being 200 feet from the rocks, and in this perilous position she lay from five a.m. till two p.m., when a light breeze came from the N.E. By means of a spring from the starboard quarter we carted her broadside to fill all sail. We slipped the chain and -just cleared the land, losing the anchor and GO fathoms of chain, kedge, and 300 feet of warps, and two hawsers. Before the anchor Avas let go we had the boats out and got water, provisions, and other requisites for saving the crew, as in the event of the ship striking there was no chance of saving anything, as all this side of the island is without a landing place.