LOSS OF THE SCHOONER CLAN ALPINE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1043, 29 October 1877, Page 3

LOSS OF THE SCHOONER CLAN ALPINE.

News brought by Captain Renner, of the Hannah Barrett, inakes it certain that the wreckage seen by Unity was a part of the schooner Clan Alpine. On Friday, at 4 p.m., Captain Renner was called on deck by one of the hands, who observed something unusual floating in the sea to windward. Seeing that it was a wreck, he steered for it, and passed within twenty yards of the derelict. It proved to be the schooner Clan Alpine. She was almost perpendicular, her bow being sunk and her stern projecting from Bft to 10ft above the surface of the water. The name " Clan Alpine," of Auckland, could be read on the stern. Her main topmast was awash, and her main boom lying across her stern, and there is little doubt that her crew must have all perished. There was a heavy sea running, and as they were no lives to save, Captain Renner would not risk lowering a boat, and made sail for Lyttelton. The Clan Alpine is a fore-and-aft schooner of 40 tons register, belonging to Auckland, and is quite a new vessel, having made her first trip here in the middle of last June, before which her only voyage was from Auckland to the Bay of Islands for coal, after which she loaded timber at Mercury Bay for this port. She has been running regularly to Lyttelton ever since. She was a handsome vessel and well found. Her master, Captain James Smart, has commanded her ever since she came here, and is well known in Lyttelton though belonging to Auckland, and was an unmarried man, but has a mother depending on him. He was partner with Captain Grey in the Randolph, and was in that vessel when she capsized at the Heads. Since then he was for some time mate of the brigantine Flirt. He was much respected, and was about thirty-six years of age. The vessel is owned by John McCallum and Co., of Auckland, shipbuilders, and we believe is insured. Besides Captain Smart, there were three hands aboard when she was lost—all three were young men, the mate being a native of Port Glasgow. None were married. The schooner left here at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, bound to Hokitika with 480 sacks potatoes in bulk, 20 sacks wheat, 20 sacks oats, 30 sacks bran, 23 loose cheese, 5 sacks oatmeal, 7 cases hams and bacon, 4 kegs butter. Mr Patrick Dee, storekeeper, of Hokitika, was owner and consignee of the cargo, which we believe is also insured. She was heavily laden, drawing 6ft. 6in., her hold being full to fcha top of the hatches. She ran down the harbor before a light sou'wester in company with the schooner Herald, but outside we hear the wind was N.W. Captain Renner thinks she must have been running with the wind on her quarter and broached to, the water getting down the fore hatch. Of course the air in her stern would keep her afloat. It will be seen by our tsk-granis that the circumstances under which the Clan Alpine was lost wera observed by the orew of the schooner Herald, which has since arrived at Wellington.