Wreck of the Barque Halcione.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 160, 9 January 1896, Page 2

Wreck of the Barque Halcione.

THE CREW SAFE. (Per Press Association). Wellington, This Day. The barque Halcione (Captain Boorman), from London to Wellington, ran ashore at Wellington Heads, near the lighthouse late last night. The vessel is in a critical position. The crew are safe. Later. The Mana returned from the wreck this morning. She was unable to get witbin a couple of cables' length of the Halcione, which Captain Bendall declares is a hopeless wreck, being fall of water and with the seas breaking over her. The vessel is standing upright, with her sails still set. The crew bad no time to furl them. The Halcione came through Cook Straits with a fresh northerly wind, and was standing off two or three miles from . and a little to the eastward of the entrail C 3 to the harbor when suddenly the wind swept round in the south, beginning to blow hard, and at the same time she came on in the thick weather. The captain wore ship for the purpose of standing for the harbour, but in some manner — as yet unexplained- she got into Fitzroy Bay, lying to the eastward of Pencarrow Head, and struck one of three rocky points at the head of the bay at 10.30, and there she lies surrounded by the rocks. The sea had not made to any extent when the first boat which came to town was launched but rapidly increased and the occupants of the boat were anxions for the Captain and others left on board as landing at the scene of the wreck was dangerous. However a second boat was launched successfully, bnt on nearing the shore was smashed against a rock. The occupants were thrown out, but all managed to scramble ashore safely. They then walked about four miles to a small bay on the harbor side of Pencarrow lighthouse, where they were picked up by. the Mana and brought on here. She has 722 tons cargo (including 1700 packages of gunpowder and 500 barrels of cement) for Wellington. It is too early to decide what cargo can be saved, but nothing can be done while the present sea is running. It it moderates another visit will be made to the wreck to-morrow. The crew saved only what they stood up in. The Halcione is 878 tons register, built in 1869, and is owned by the Shaw, Saville Co. Nothing is known of the insurance.