AN ABANDONED VESSEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 188, 16 August 1901, Page 2

AN ABANDONED VESSEL.

STRUCK A REEF.

FLOATING ABOUT IN A WATER LOGGED CONDITION.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. The steamship Gulf of Ancud, which arrived late last night from Newcastle, brought to Lyttelton tho captain and crew of tile locally-owned schooner Jessie Niccol, which had been found by the steamer in a water-logged condition, and had been abandoned after a determined attempt to tow her into port bad failed. The Jessie Niccol left lvaipara for Lyttelton last Thursday with a cargo of 75,000 feet of timber. At 5.15 a.m. on Tuesday the vessel struck on Cape Campbell reef. She did not stick, but after she became clear of the reef it was found that water was rising fast in her hold. Cape. Brown had the deck load thrown overboard, with the idea that if the wind remained fair the schooner would be able to make Lyttelton. A strong wind sprang up next day from the westward, and the vessel went over on her beam ends, and became unmanageable. The steamer Gulf of Ancud coming up took the schooner in tow, but the wind coming away strong from the southward the waterlogged vessel was burying herself in the waves. The crew refusing to remain longer on her, they were taken on board the steamer. The schooner, when abandoned, was floating with a strong list to starboard, and, being buoyed up by the timber in her hold, she may continue afloat for a long time. It is considered improbable, from her position, that she will go ashore. Tho Cygnet left Lyttelton this afternoon to look for tho abandoned vessel.