SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 580, 28 April 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. SAILED. April 28 —Colonist, schooner, 43 tons, Bailey, for Russell, Bay of Islands. April 28—John Knox, barque, 291 tons, Davis, for Sydney. Passengers —Messrs Lawder, Page, Cadle, and Sweeney. Owing to the rough weather the s s Ladybird did not leave Port Chalmers until 6 a.m. this morning. She will therefore not arrive until early to-morrow morning or late to night. ALLEGED SUICIDE AT SEA. (‘•West Coast Times, April 17th.) It to be feared that the schooner J. G. Colesont which had left Westport on Saturday week for Hokitika, to load timber for Lyttelton, had met with some serious accident during the gale of the succeeding day and night. It was stated that she had sailed somewhat lightly ballasted, with some of those on board scarcely fit for duty, and it was reported by the captain of the Mary Campbell, which afterwards arrived at Greymouth, that while off'the same coast on Sunday, he had experienced a terrific gale from the north, the wind chopping suddenly round to south-west in about three minutes, accompanied by a tremendous sea. He also reported having sighted, on Tuesday last, the wreck of a schooner’s topmast, with topgallantmast and all gear attached, twenty miles N.W. of the Grey, and .t was feared that this might prove to be some wreckage from the J. G. Coleson. The propriety of having some steamer sent ont in search for any survivors was being discussed, when, fortunately, the vessel appeared in the roadstead, and on Sunday she was towed in by tlie Titan. She brought, however, the news of the drowning of her commander and part owner, Captain Chapman, by his own act, while in a state of temporary insanity. When she arrived she was in command of the chief officer, Mr Allan, and lie reports that after leaving the Duller the vessel encountered a north-east gale, with very thick weather, which made it impossible for her to make the land. This was followed by a heavy southwest gale, before which she ran back for Capo Foulwind. At four o’clock on the afternoon of Thursday. the 11th inst, Captain Chapman, in a supposed lit of insanity, and without warning, jumped overboard. Every effort, it is said, was made to save him, but without avail Afterwards there was a succession of heavy south-west gales, driving the vessel as far north as Rock’s Point on Thursday night. With light and variable weather she afterwards made her way south, and reached the roadstead. The schooner had for some time been trading on the Coast, and the sad death of her captain, who was known to many, is ranch regretted. He is understood to have been a married man, with a family.