TOTAL WRECK OF THE SHIP ST. VINCENT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 658, 22 February 1869, Page 3

TOTAL WRECK OF THE SHIP ST. VINCENT.

THE CAPTAIN, ONE PASSENGER, AND EIGHTEEN or the CREW DROWNED. —TWO UVES SAVED,

(From tbo Wellington Independent, Feb. iB.) One of the most disastrous wrecks which have occurred for several years on the New Zealand coast took place on Sunday evening last, Feb. 14, in Palliser Bay, Cook's Straits, when the fine ship St. Vincent, 834 tons; Captain Barron, owned by Messrs Potter, Wilson & Co., of Glasgow, went ashore in the heavy gale, which was' then blowing. The St, Vincent, which was one of the finest ships that ever visited this harbor, arrived here on the Ist January from Cardiff, with coals for the Panama Company, and having discharged her cargo sailed on Saturday last, in ballast, for Lyttelton, to load there with wool. On Sunday, at noon, when off Cape Campbell it came on to blow heavily from the south-east, and the ship was ultimately blown into Palliser Bay, where she struck at 10 p.m. on Sunday night. The wreck occurred a little to the north of Cape Turakarai on the Mokomoko Rocks. The vessel was insured. The chief officer, Mr Stringer, and the sailraaker, a Swede, aloue succeeded in reaching the shore. The following is the official statement made by Mr Stringer at the Customs:— I, John Stringer, do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare, that I was chief mate of the ship St. Vineeut, O N, 50,367, belonging to Glasgow. That the vessel sailed from Wellington on the 13tli day of February, 1869, at 3.30 p.m., "in ballast," bound for Port Lyttelton, to load wool and grain for London. Passed the Lighthouse, Pencarrow Head, at 4.30 p.m., the wind was N.W., moderate, the weather hazy and threatening. The breeze lasted till about 7.30 p.m., at which time the ship was seventeen miles from the Lighthouse, when it fell calm with heavy rain. At 8.30 p.m., the wind came up strong from the southward, with increased rain. The ship was then put on the starboard tack, standing to the eastward, and continued so till 4 a.m. on Sunday, the 14th, the weather thick and still rainiug, the wind increased to a strong gale. The ship was wore on the port tack and to the westward (land being at that time out of sight in consequence of the haziness of the weather) until noon ou Sunday, when Cape Campbell was seen, distant four miles. She then wore again to the eastward, it was then blowing terrifically with furious sea, the ship under two lower topsails, the fore and raaintopmast staysails blew away (the foretopmast staysail was nearly new), and the foresail split in reefing. The weather still still thick. No land was seen after losing sight of Cape Campbell, until 4 p.m., when was sighted on the lee bow, but could not make out what it was ut\til 6, p.m., when it was discovered to be Cape Palliser, bearing S.E., and Turakarai Head, west, which placed the vessel in Palliser Bay. She was immediately wore round and stood to the westward (by order of the captain), in hopes of weathering the point and running into Wellington. Reefed foresail, a new one having been bent immediately when the other was carried away) and mainsail, mizzentopsail, reefed upper topsails and spanker were set, the ship making very bad weather, driving bows under and rapidly drifting to leeward. About 9 p.m., the wind suddenly dropped, immediately shook out all reefs, but the furious sea rolling into the bay prevented the vessel being kept to the wind, and she still kept falling off to leeward, At 10 p.m., breakers were discovered close under the lee bow, the wind light and the ship not answering her helm, she was thrown all aback, and the captain gave orders for both anchors to be let go, which I immediately did myself, sixty fathoms of chain ran out. About 10.30. p.m. she struck heavily abaft. All hands were employed in clearing away the lifeboat, when a heavy sea struck the ship, throwing her almost on her beam ends, smashing the lifeboat to atoms, and carrying away the boatswain (George Harrison) who was not seen again. The cables must have parted about this time, and she went broadside on to the rocks, the sea throwing her completely on to her beam ends. I called out immediately to all hands to run aft to save their lives. Some crawled up into the main chains, and, some into the mizzen chains on the port side We had barely time to get there when an enormous sea struck her and gutted her completely out, carrying away masts, decks, and everything but the hull, at one sweep, leaving nothing but the shell of the ship. We hung on in the mizzen chains (those who were in the main chains having joined us by directions of the captain), as the mizzen chains were nearer the shore, and in order to huddle ourselves together for warmth. We hung on in this manner, as near as I can remember, till 3 a.m., at which time I was washed away. I remember being in the water for some time. I had an iudiarubber life-belt on, and soon after I was washed off, I got hold of a spar, but very soon let. go, finding it stopped my progress in the water. I must have been insensible when I reached the shore, as when I recovered consciousness I found myself in a flax-bush. It was then I imagined, about six in the morning. I saw a part at the hull distant about one hundred yards from the shore. I imagined that all hands except myself must have been lost, and started for the lighthouse ; but on my way came to a shepherd's cottage, which proved to be belonging to Mr Riddiford. There I found the sailraaker (a Swede) had arrived before me. I afterwards, accompanied by Mr M'Kenzie, went down to the wreck (the Swede was too much bruised to go with us.) The first thing we saw was a live, pig which hai belonged to the vessel, and was washed ashore, although A little further on we discovered the body of Mr Bl'Kay (who came out from England in the Melita, and was going back to England in the St. Vincent) lying face down. Carried him up a hundred yards above high water mark. I took from him one watch key and iU2 9s l£d, a bunch of keys, two knives, and a pocketbook containing papers, all of which I handed over to the police. We then found one of the seamen dead, name not known, and placed his body above high-water mark. After searching for several hours along the beacli until dusk, we found no more bodies, but found another of the ship's pigs alive. We then leturned to M'Kenzie's. cottage for the night. . I feel confident that the sailmaker and myself are the only survivors, I left M'Kenzie's on the morning of the 16th February ta bring the news into town, arriving in Wellington between fiye and six p.m. There were only a few pounds of tobacco, one case of brandy, and a few sundries (ship's stores), but only some of the mess beef, washed ashore.

The following are the only names of the crew which I can recollect, viz:—Shipped at Cardiff: James Barron, master; John Stringer, chief jottcer; William Patterson, 2nd officer (all British Subjects.) George JJarriwn, boatswain, Ameri-

can. Robert Mitchell, carpenter; William Forbos, steward (both British.) Sailmaker, Swedish ; John Stirling, A. 8., British; AugustjKaaaski, Kirkpatrick, A.B. (both British), There were eleven other seamen whose name* t do not remember, and one passenger Ifefote mentioned, Edward M'Kay. Johm Stkinoeb. Declared before me at the Custom-house, Wellington, this 17th day of Feb.* 1869. J. HA.CKWOBTH, Deputy Collector. The following are the names of the crew as they appear on the manifest: —Shipped at Cardiff—John Stringer, William Patterson, Or. Harrison, Robert Mitchell, O. Johnson, W. Forbes, Charles Smith, John Stirlign, August Kanaski. Shipped at Wellington—William Smyth, 0. Richards, Richard Griffiths, Alfred Kennedy, Henry Dabosts, Alex. M'Kea, John Kirkpatrick, Benjamin Balis, Joseph Bradley, and J. Stewart. Of these Benjamin Balis and Joseph Bradley are supposed not to hare joined.

Mr Stringer left M'Kenz.ie's on horseback on the morning of the 15th, and rode to within five miles of the Lighthouse, He walked to Phillips', and there procured a horse, and then rode to the Hutt, coming into town by the coach on Tuesday evening. Mr Stringer has desired us to express his thanks to Mr M'Kenzio, Mr Phillips, and the Lighthouse keeper for their kind attention to his wants.

Thus much have we been able to leara of this sad event through the providential escape of Mr Stringer ; it has cast a gloom on many in this community, and adds another to the long list of calamities which have befallen those occupation is on the waters.

Aa a sign of mourning for the lost, alt the flags in harbor were lowered to hall* mast yesterday. The pilot boat will be despatched to th» scene of the wreck this morning. August Kanaski, or Charley Sailson, the other survivor, arrived in town yesterday afternoon. ■

The Evening Post, of the lfth February, ga y S ;—Mr M'Kay, the only passenger by the St. Vincent, was we understand, a young gentleman who had recently arrived from England for the benefit of his health. On the voyage, and since his arrival, he had become much better, and was on his way to Canterbury, with the view of seeing aa much of New Zealand as possible before his return to Europe from Lyttelton. Hewas a married man with three children, and for 14 years been in an insurance office in England,, from whichho hada year's leave; of absence. He had only recently writtea home to his wife of his improved state of health.

Adelaide.—A telegram dated 3rd Feb* 3a j ß : —Flour is quoted at £l2 for town and £lO 10s for country brands. There have been large transactions in wheat aft 4s 2d for shipment. It is now quoted afe 4s 3rd. Oub, Maori Fobs.—Speaking of these the Australian and New Zealand of October 17 says:—Ever since the closeof the Waikato war, the attempts made by the natives from time to time to renew the struggle have assumed a character of ferocity unwitnessed previously by the present generation. In 1843 our soldiers found Heki and his followers chivalroua antagonists j and in 1860 all the tribes in, arms—exception the Ngatiruanuis—werepronounced by General Pratt to be fair and honorable enemies. But a fury eeenia to have seized the Maori insurgent of late. Everything savouring of civilization or Christianity has become hateful in his eyes. The missionary he regards as only the pioneeer of the settler, and all of savagery that has been unlearned during the last twenty-five years is now being revived by the Hauhau desperadoes—paganisin with its human sacrifices, the practice of mutilating the bodies of those slain in. battle, and even cannibalism. Fine Aets in New Zealand.—Me Robert Parazyn has recently presented to the Colonial Museum five water color drawings of scenery on the West Coast of this island. Independent of the high artistic merit which they justly claim, they possess a peculiar interest from being de» linations of the country which forms at present the seat of war. The first repre* sents Mr J. Handley's property and house* the last dwelling belonging to any of the Waitotara settlers left standing. The land is a beautiful plateau extending back from some small hummocks. The second is a view of the u seven hummocks " of the charts looking from Mr J. Handley's house The third shows Mr W. Handley's property near Nukumaru, for some time occupied by the colonial forces. In the foreground is seen the Waikato Lake, near the banks of which several skirmishes, have taken place, both in General Cameron's, times and recently. The fourth is a view near Pakaraka, with some rising ground, where Mr J. Handley and his party recently recovered from the Hauhaua a mob of cattle they were driving off. The fifth shows the beautiful and picturesque Marahan Lake in the Waitotara Block, with the house of Captain Shuttleworth in the distance, near the edge of the timber, and that of Mr Robert Pharazyn, partly surrounded by a clump of bush near the Lake, close by which Colonel Whitmore's last redoubt was built, before retreating to Kai Iwi. Looking on these graphic sketches, which bring before us °o vividly the richest and most fertile tract of country in New Zealand, awakens sad feelings of regret. The peaoeful home* steads depicted by the linear exist no longer—the cultivated fields are abandoned to weeds and thistles, their owners are wanderers elsewhere, and desolation ha* usurped the the place of progress and iov > provemeiik