WRECK OF THE LIZZIE BELL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 29 July 1901, Page 4

WRECK OF THE LIZZIE BELL.

Inquest on the Bodies.

(per press association.)

Hawera, July 27. Chappell’s body came ashore yesterday.

At the inquest verdicts of death by drowning or exhaustion were returned. The funeral takes place in Piharaa cemetery to-morrow afternoon. Capt Rees is still weak, hut is recovering-

The others are improving wonderfully, The vessel has almost disappeared.

At the inquest on Friday on the bodies from the wreck of the Lizzie Bell, the Captain stated that he made Stephen Island about 5 p m, and then shaped his course for Cape Farewell which he expected to see about 12 o’clock. He was on deck the whole time from when the officers started taking the usual watches. He sent the second officer aloft several times to see if he could discern Cape Farewell light. The last time he noticed the log it registered 43 miles from Stephen Island. He went down and marked it and the ship struck just as someone called out “ Land on lee bow.” He kept the same course from leaving Stephen Island. The compasses adjusted at Glasgow. He was going from nine and a half to ten knots when ho was wrecked. The reef was l-£ to 2 miles from the shore. The night was partly clear and there was a moderate sea. Ho had a man on the look out. He could not account for the disaster unless some current took the ship out of her course. The crew were quite sober. Glen, the look-out man said he told the second mate at six bells that he thought it was land on the starboard bow, but the mate said it was not. It was twenty mintues later that the ship struck. Ho could not see breakers till then.

The jury added a rider that a light house should be erected at the mouth ol the Oeo.