The Barque Weathersfield.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 137, 9 December 1895, Page 3

The Barque Weathersfield.

A PERILOUS VOYAGE. (Per Press Association.) Wklungtoh, December 7. The barque Weathersfield, which has been oat 148 days in all, had an exciting and in the end 'extremely perilous voyue. She began with heavy winds and dirty weather in the channel, and in the Bay of Biscay, and on the 10th of October got into rough seas again. The cargo sot loose, and two days later considerable damage was done to the rigging. On the 80th the fore topsail yard, a new ■ spat obtained in London, fell down and broke in two. Captain Halcroft thought of patting into Adelaide, but decided to come on to his destination. On November 38rd, Stephens Island was sighted, but the thick and dirty weather came on and she had to run through the Straits, two attempts being made to heave to without success. On the 29th once more sighted the Island and this time the wind fell to a dead calm. The tide and currents nearly drove her on shore, and for two days she was engaged trying to claw off, the crew expecting her to strike every moment. Several times she drifted by the rocks within half her own length. The boats were got ready and provisioned and part of the crew got into them. At 9 p.m. on December 1 she was driving between the Saddle Rocks and the island when a light wind sprang up. All sail was made atonce and she scraped the xocks at the north; end. The breeze freshened so quickly that the boats could not be got on board again, and eventually the lifeboat and another was cut adrift. The ship ran out of the Straits and Captain Holcroft decided to make for Lyttleton, as the water was rnnning short, but 30 mileß from that port ihe wina first fell calm and then changed to the south. finally enabling the vessel to make Wellington. Most on board are suffering from the effects of exposure and hard work. _