WRECK OF THE HUNTRESS-SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1143, 3 April 1872, Page 2

WRECK OF THE HUNTRESS-SUF-FERINGS OF THE CREW.

The Huntress (formerly a steamer) was employed in the coal trade between the Bay of Islands and the Thames, and was owned by Messrs J. S. Macfarlane and Co., and commanded by Captain Bower. It appears that the Huntress left the Thames for Russell on Thursday week. Next day, during thick and squally weather, she was put in stays, but made a stern board, and, in attempting to wear her, the Huntress struck on an off-lying rock, the vessel going over on her beamends, canting towards the shore. All hands stripped with the intention of attempting to swim ashore, but it was found it would be impossible to effect a landing owing to the heavy seas, which made clean breaches over the schooner. About half an hoar after the vessel struck they managed to get on shore by jumping from the mast. Captain Bower and his men, not knowing where they were stayed till daylight, when they found they were about one and a half milesto the southward of Cape Brett, the spot where she struck being on a rook, lying off a perpendicular cliff about 2000 ft high, and the spot on whioh the crew had managed to get was a small ledge running oat from the base of the cliff. It was a most fortunate thing for all handi that tho vessel strook where sue did

for had it been only a few yards further north or south of the spot they would never have been able to reach the shore, it being deep water right alongside the cliff. As it was, the poor fellows were fearfully cut and bruised from the sharp rocks and oyster shellß, and were/greatly exhausted, having nothing to eafc: after daylight, finding that they could not get on to the wreck, they staited inland, hoping to fall across some Maori settlement. All Saturday and Sunday the men dragged themselves along, some of them having to crawl, their feet being so fearfully cut as to render them unable to work. Their only food was the pith of a nikau tree found on Sunday morning. On the evening of that day they met a Maori, who guided them (carrying Captain Bower, who, from weakness, was unable to walk or even crawl,) to a native village at Kaweti, where they were supplied withfood, blankets, &c. The Maoris conveyed tham in boats to Russell, where they arrived on Monday last. The men were immediately taken care of by the inhabitants, and when the Duke of Edinburgh left were getting on well, although still very weak from their wounds and exposure to the cold.