Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1869.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 660, 1 March 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1869.

THE WRECK OP THE IDA ZEIGLER. Fortunately for the Port of Napier, a "black north-easter" such as that which blew during the night of Fri-, day and the morning of Saturday last is of very rare occurrence; but when it does occur, the danger to shipping in the roadstead is imminent. True it is that substantial moorings have been laid at the public cost, and they Jiave beyond doubt stood in good stead in saving many a fine vessel from the fate that befel the good ship Ida Zeigler; but moorings are not everything. There is a limit to the strength of a cable, and when that breaks on a lee shore, the fate of a vessel is sealed.

As we have intimated, it was during the night that the gale began to arrive al its intensity, and the morning showed the Bay a mass of foaming waves, which were breaking high over the vessel till about 11 o'clock a.m., when she was observed to be drifting towards the shore. An attempt appeared to be made by those on board to run her bows on to the beach; but it was not successful. Immediately on striking she turned broadside on to the shore, and being then at the mercy of the waves, it became quite evident that she must speedily go to pieces. During this time the rain was falling heavily, and the surf could be seen from the Spit to be dashing mast-high over the doomed vessel, as she was rocking from side to side, until at length she heeled over on to the beach, and became fixed on her broadside.

Two boats, filled with those interested in the vessel and her cargo, and persona willing to lend assistance in rescuing as much as possible, almost immediately left the Spit, and were shortly after on the scene of the disaster, about 3 miles from the port, Their efforts have been successful in saving some portion of the wreck, and, we believe, some 150 bales of wool out of a cargo of 2,500 which had been placed on board, During the night of Saturday, however, the vessel became completely broken up, and a change of wind to the south following, the greater portion, both of and cargo, was driven out into the Bay. We presume that an inquiry will be held as to the immediate cause of the accident, the result of which we shall give in our Thursday's issue.