THE WRECK OF THE QUEEN BEE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 977, 13 August 1877, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE QUEEN BEE.

ARRIVAL OF THE MISSING PASSENGERS AT NELSON. [By Telegraph.] Nelson, August 11.. Several thousands of people assembled at the port'this afternoon to meet the Naval Brigade's boat Aurora, with Mr and Mrs Maunsell and family, the two Misses Fosberry, and four of the crew. The Volunteers mustered in force, and there was a perfect storm of cheers from the crowd which lined the sides as the Aurora pulled up the harbour, the band playing "Home, Sweet; Home." The passengers were but little the worse for their adventures. The Maori boat, with the other passengers, lias not yet arrived, but is expected to-night. The following is Captain Davis's account of what occurred after passengers left the ship, which, he said, they did in defiance of his orders, as he wanted them to remain alongside: — " We set to work and constructed a raft, as I thought we should be too many for the only boat that was left, and we finished it about 4 p.m. At this time the sea was becoming rougher, and the wind was blowing very hard from the W.N.W., and increasing in force. Such a sea was rolling in that we could not get anything into the boat but a bottle of water, " a tin of biscuits, tmd two tins of meat, the latter of which .were washed overboard in beaching the boat. I was afraid to bring her close alongside, lest she should be stove in, or I would have put more provisions on board. Eventually we contrived to scramble on to her and the raft by watching our chances, nine getting into the boat and six on to the raft, which we towed after us. It was then blowing hard from the same quarter, and just before dark, finding that it was impossible for the men to remain on the raft all night, we got under her lee and took them in. The whole night it was blowing frightfully, and how we escaped with our boat so heavily laden is to me a perfect miracle. I did not know where we were going, and all I could do was to keep her head to sea. At daylight we saw Stephen's and Durville's Islands, some six or seven miles distant, and as we got closer we saw several little bays, as they appeared to be, and these I tried to make for, but could not on account of the currents. All this time the boat was leaking badly, and we had all we could do to keep the water down by bailing, and, finding that she must sink if we remained at sea, I determined to beach her. At five o'clock I saw a small indentation in the coast line where the mountains were very precipitous, and the base of them only about 10ft from low water mark. There was a fearful surf on, but there was nothing I for it but to make the attempt. So we rah. 1 A tremendous sea caught and lifted the boat j right on end, bow downwards. We were thrown ashore and the boat turned right over, keel uppermost, and in two minutes she was smashed to atoms. On mustering, J our number we found that the carpenter ( was missing, and he must have been drowned. I Shortly afterwards one of the men } started off, on his own accord, over the j hills, and was followed by Mr Helliard, who in climbing the hill fell down the side of the cliff and hurt his feet very severely. Wo made for the snuggest quarters we could find, and tried to obtain some rest by lying down on the stones, but the tide came over us at high water, and we had to get as far back as wc 3 could, but even then could scarcely get out of reach of the water. Wo passed a miserable night—no sleep, nothing to drink, and nothing to eat. The next morning the steward procured a box of matches, which had been saved, but they were saturated with water. However, the mate fortunately had a burning glass with him, and by its aid we ignited one of the matches, and lit a fire with some driftwood which was lying about, and dried the rest of the matches. We spent the whole day on this little patch of land, which was certainly not 100 yards in length. We were fortunate enough to find water, but looked in vain for birds or fish of any kind. We could see vessels in the distance, but none noticed our smoke. During the day Mr Mason, the third mate, who is now missing, went over the hills; we saw no more of him. Thursday night was » repetition of the previous one, and a wretched time it. was, but'f herejwas this in our favor, the weather was line. On Friday it. came on to rain and blow. We saw one or two vessels, ami a little later a steamer (the Lyttelton). which was dodging about, at. some distance from the land. By her movements we fell sure that she was looking for us, and in desperation we set tire to the bushes and everything we could find about to create ;. smoke to attract her attention, but. all in vain Just, then (about 2 p.m.) to our intense de lio-ht we sawthe Mannwatu rounding thepoint. I about a mile away. She saw our smoke, and. to our great PJ, wo saw her hoist tlic ensign in response.

The captain speaks in high terms of the kindness received on board of the Manawatu, Sunday. The cook of the Queen Bee was brought last night in the Lady Barkly, into which he had been transhipped from the Lyttelton, which found him in a little nook on Durville's Island. A very faint " cooey" was heard, and a boat was sent ashore, when he was found in an exhausted state, having lain down to die. lie was on the cliff and saw the others taken by the Manawatu, but failed to make himself heard. The Lyttelton has remained searching for the third man. (FROM: A CORRESPONDENT.) Kelson, August 11. There has been great excitement in town in expectation of the arrival of the steamer and boat with the remaining wrecked passengers. The following particulars were received from Cable Bay at 12.47 p.m.:— The Aurora found the missing cutter at Elmslie's, at the French Pass, yesterday. The following are the particulars:—Left the Queen Bee on Tuesday morning, at 2 a.m. twenty-one passengers in all. The boat had only three oars, which were almost useless; no sails, rudder, or mast ; no water, excepting one bottle which a passenger happened to have, and three tins of preserved meat. Tried to keep on to the vessel, to get rid of some of the passengers, as the boat was overloaded, but could not. The wind at sea was very high from the westward. After struggling for an hour had to run before it. When two-thirds across the bay found we are making no southing and expected to be blown seaward, the boat filling three times. Fortunately the wind shifted to north-west, and by means of a rug, we made a little southing. At eight o'clock we sighted Savage Point, above the French Pass, when the wind shifted to W. again, which Hew us to the mouth of Puna harbor, where wo held on to the oars all night. Had hard work to keep off shore. At daylight rowed into Puna Harbor and landed on the beach, and made fires and boiled water. Some of the crew went over a hill to look for habitations, and fell in with the Maori settlement, where they were treated with great hospitality. We remained at Puna Harbor till the following day, when wo rowed into Elmslie's place, where we wei'e picked up by the Aurora.. Ten are coming in the Aurora, and the remaining eleven in a Maori boat. Those on board the Aurora are Dr Mannsell and family, the two Misses Fosberrv, and four of the crew. The Aurora left Cable Bay at 2.30 for Kelson. The Maori boat, containing the other passengers, is outside the Aurora, and, being better manned, will likely make Kelson first. All are in the best of spirits. THE THIED MATE PICKED UP. Kelson, August 13. The 11.M.5. Sappho arrived at the outer anchorage last night with the third mate of the Queen Bee who was picked up at Battle Point, Durville's Island in a very emaciated state. Thanksgiving services were held in most of the churches yesterday, and a half-holiday proclaimed for to-day, when volunteers will parade, and the thanks of the public be conveyed by the Bishop of Kelson to the Kaval Brigade, and all who took part in the search. The passengers are doing well. The Sappho will probably remain for a few days.