Wreck near Wellington

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 36, 1 September 1888, Page 2

Wreck near Wellington

THREE LIVES LOST. 1 PKB UNITKD PBESS ASSOCIATION, i Wellington, August 31. The ketch Colonist, bound from jyttelton to Waitara, went ashore off he old pilot station about eleven this noruing. Three of the crew, includng Captaiu Bailey, were drowned, .here is one survivor, who stated that he vessel lost ber rudder off Cape Dauipbell yesterday. The captain derided to run for Wellington before ;he southerly gale, and made for the old pilot station this morning, dropped anchor aud rode at anchor for a short time. She was riding safely when the Tarawera passed about 9.30. About an hour afterwards the anchor dragged, and the vessel went on ta the rocks in a heavy sea and immediately broke up. The captain's body has been washed ashore. Tbe survivor lies in an exhausted condition at a fisherman's hut near the scene of the wreck. Later. Captain Bailey, when the vessel struck, made a determined effort to swim to shore, but missed the line thrown to him by some fishermen on the beach, and was dashed against the rocks. He breathed for a few minutes after being washed .ashore. The body has been brought to town. Captain Bailey leaves a wife and a family, who reside at Waitara. The survivor jumped overboard before the vessel struck ; aud, after swimming about 100 yards, he clambered on to a rock, from which he was rescued by means of a line passed out to him by the people on the shore. The man was considerably knocked about when he was brought to shore, and there was a great cut ou his temple ; but he had not lost concsiousness, although somewhat dazed. The other persons on board did not care to follow his example, otherwise they might have saved themselves.