WRECK OF THE SCHOONER FANCY.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 440, 7 November 1868, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER FANCY.

LOSS OF FOUR LIVES. The schooner Fancy, William Falloon, master, belonging to this port, and owned by Messrs Kennedy Bros, has been wrecked at the entrance of Greville Harbor, D'JJrville's Island. The master and three of the crew have been drowned, and the vessel and a cargo of produce belonging to the owners totally lost. Five days after the wreck the schooner Jane Anderson arrived off the island and picked up the only survivor of the crew, named Michael Walters, who was taken on to Hokitika. The following is his story of tbe wreck, as furnished by him to the West Coast Times :— The Fancy left Lyttelton on the 18th of September, and was detained with baffling easterly winds for fourteen days. At one time, however, she nearly reached Rock's Point, but was driven back by a strong southerly wind. On the 13th of October the vessel had reached as far as 12 miles East of the Farewell Spit, which w-as made out on the moraine of that da} r . The wind blowing from the N.W., and increasing in violence, she was hove-to, head-reaching to the North. At 10 p.m. the same night breakers were discovered under tbe lee bow. At this hour it was extremely dark, and the position of the vessel could not be discerned, but during a lift of the cloud a small gap was discovered in the rocks, for which the vessel was run, as the coast was observed to be a line of perpendicular rocks. While in the break she became perfectly unmanageable, eventually striking the rocks and bilging the vessel. Only one more shock succeeded tbe first, and all the possible damage that tbe vessel could receive resulted from it. This shock smashed her into pieces, and precipitated the whole of the hands into the water, leaving only, pnor Walters to relate the sad tale. The whole of the others disappeared, never once having been seen by the survivor. How Walters escaped he cannot recollect. All that he can recollect is, that upon becoming conscious of what had occurred he found himself upon a ledge of rock, where he was borne by the waves. There he remained shivering and hungry for about fourteen hours, after which he succeeded in an attempt to scale a cliff, when he discovered that he was at the entrance of Greville Harbor. He remained here between five or six days, being the who'e time without food of any sort, and having nothing 1o coyer him save his shirt. It was while in this position that Captain Falconer discovered the poor fellow and took him on board his vessel, on which he at present remains in a very feeble state. He discourses in no measured terms of the kindness he received both from Captain Falconer and his pond lady. On two occasions Captain Falconer visited the scene .of the wreck, but nothing of any value remained. Portions of tbe wreck have been firmly wedged at the head of a cave, where it had been driven ; small particles only of the rest of the wreck were to be found floating about. The bodies of the other unfortunate men could not be found anywhere, though portions of their clothes were discovered. Nothing of the cargo was visible. Both of her anchors remain— one chain leading out to where she struck first, and is attached to the remaining portion of the wreck. Captain Falconer is unable to supply us with the names of those that were lost, one only, however, he informs \ us is married, viz, the captain, who leaves a wife and three children, who are now residing in Nelson.