WRECK OF THE CHARLES EDWARD AT MARTIN'S DAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 649, 17 March 1870, Page 2

WRECK OF THE CHARLES EDWARD AT MARTIN'S DAY.

{WEST COAST TIMES, 16TH JNST.] We regret to state that information reached $bis town last night of the wreck of the (Jharles Edward at Martin's fiay. where she had proceeded for the purpose of landing a survey party. l?he wreck was caused by mi.'ans of a' snag, which th.c vessel struck while coming down the river, a,fter landing the survey party at their destination. The information was brpught here by Captain Holmes., the master of the vessel, who, with Mr Bennet, the purser, and s brat's crew, came up the coast in one of the ship's lifeboats, and Were picked up outside the bur by the Kennedy, which vessel was on her way to. search fqr the Charles Edward, paptain Holme 3 has kindly farqished us with, the. fforl r lowing report lit the catastrophe :— The steamer Charle3 Edward left Dunedin, February 21at, with cargo and surveyors for Martin's Bay, and a few persons who went down to look at the plac^, some passengers for Greymoufi, and also the Djmetiin Harbor Master. Anchored at Otago Heads at 430 p.m., with Jtgalefrfl.n S. Vy. At 2 p,ni. on |he Wild left the Hea-.ls, s.rid arrived at Bluff Harbor at 9 p.m. same day. Left again on |he 24th a 1 ; 9 p.m.. arriving at Martin's Bay pit yaturd^y, the 2£jfcb, at \l a.m. Expelicnced strong head winds from the Bluff to Bay, but struck on the bank about junileupthe river. Not bein.g acquainted witli the channel, Captain Thouipsqu, the l)unediii Harbor Master, made a survey of \t |ioxt dny with the boat. At 9 p.m. on Mnn,fl.iy, the 28th, stesimcd up to ],i.k". M 'Kerrov, }i}» i laridod the siti'.cy i>i\vty, with tLpir pro:

visions, and timber to build p. house, returning to the boat the same afternoon. At 3 p.u) y the .vessel going' »1 -ml slow, struck a su.ig.on the larboard, hdlingthe vessel. At .once ran the vessel oil tire bank, and found the steerage ami fore.hold tilling. Iminemediately got the cargo from the foreliold oil deck. The engines \yeie all the tiuie pumping the water out of the hold. The engines' were kept at work pumping throughout the ni^hfe. On Tuesday, March 1, commenced landing remainder of cargo, and found the water sti'l gaining, and vessel settling down by the head in tho sand. At 1 1 a. m. the water had increased so imich as to put out the tiros. Immediately got provisions on shore and the pass- ngevs, and also landed the cargo out of the after-hold. At 6 p m. the crew lefb the ship, and fitted xip tents on shore with the sails. On Wednesday, the 2nd. Captain Thompson and Mr ! Thompson, surveyor, agreed to try and go over from ti.e head of the Lake to Queenstown for the purpose of forwarding telegrams to Nelson aud Dunedin. At llVm. the ves3ej took a Iht to st.arb.oard, and settled down aft Thursday, the 3rd, the crew were engaged stripping the ship. On the ,4th Captain Thompson returned, not being able to stand the overland trip, while Mr TliopjpEpn and another of the surveyors con.- -< tinned on the journey. On Saturday, the sth, Mr Thompson and men came down to the ye sel, saying it was impossible to get overland on account of the high state of the yivers/ On the 6th everything' was donp to make the people comfortable on shore, it blowing heavy, with rain. The same kind of weather continued throughout the next day. On the Bth, Captain Thompson, the mate of the vessel, and boat's crew went up to try and induce the survey party to make another attempt "to reach Queen§town,_ but they said it was no use tryiug, as the rivers were still too high, On March, the J)th, commenced to fit up the life boat to try and reach the Hokitika roadstead. The next day Captain Holmes left the .. encampment witfy the boat, four hands, and Mi' Bennet, the purser. When the party started every one was in good health and well, provi.led with the necessaries of life, and all being fall of hope that they would speedily receive succour. On clearing Martin's Bay, met with head winds and thick rainy weather ; at 3 p.m. the same day put into the Gorge Biver, and fouad a party of diggers there, from whom we received every kiudness. The weather still continuing adverse, remained until $he next day. On the 12th, left the Gorge River with clear weather and a light S. W. breeze. At 2 p. m . reached Jackson's Baj , and camped there for the night,. On the 13bh left the Bay, at 4 a.m. , with light airs and calm weather. A l 9 p. in. ' beached, and camped for the night at a small bay next to Bruoe Bay. On the 14th, at 10 a. in., p«t to s.ea again with a moderate fair wind. At 4 p.m. passed Okarifco, with light head winds throughout the night. On the 15th experienced light favorable winds At 7 p- m. met the s s. Kennedy, three miles south of tl^e Hokitika bar, and were at once taken on board, and the steamer, which was on her way to aearch for the Charles Edward,' returned tq port. Captain Holmes informs us that be has every hope of raising the vessel, the only injury received being in the port bow ; and when the Kennedy, wliich leaves this moniiug, veachas the hay, an attempt will be made by sinking the latter (which is in compartments) alongside, for the purpose of raising her bow out of the water, and by that means reaching the hole, which can easily be closed, and by pumping the water out ib is expected the vessel will float. -The following, is the list of passengers supplied So us" by Mr Bimjtet," the purser :^4 Rev. J. M'lutosh. Mrs M'lutosh, r seven children, and servant, for the Grey ; Mr Goldsniith, Mr Wilcox, and Captain Thompson. She had also on board abont 40 tons of cargo. The following letter has been received in town from the Rev. Mr M'lutosh, who is coming hare to establish a Presbyterian Church :— My Dear Sir— You will doubtless be ye y sorry to hea.r that the »te mer Charles Edward was wrecked last Monday week, at Holliford. She seems to bo settling down. The cargo was partially taken out, but much damaged. We have lost nearly everything. The furniture has been broken and destroyed ; but, thank God, our live 3 have been spared. We have suffered dreadfully through wot an I cold. We have camps! on the beach under a sail for eleven dai s, and you may suppose the state Mrs M'lutosh is in. A voluntear party starts to-day in a boat for Hokilikn, aiid I send tin's note by them. Unfortunately we did notiusure, and Iwould not take L2OO for the loss.