WRECK OF THE KETCH FRANKLIN BELLE AT OAMARU.

Kumara Times, Issue 858, 1 July 1879, Page 4

WRECK OF THE KETCH FRANKLIN BELLE AT OAMARU.

(NORTH OTAGO TIMBS, SATURDAY.) During the greater part of yesterday a terrific sea was rolling into the bay, and to sneh an extent had it • risen that it was deemed advisable to send the barque Gloria, which was at anchor in the roadstead, out to Boa, and to bring the ketch Franklyn Belle, which was lying parallel with the end of the Breakwater, under the lee of the Normanby wharf. Having dropped anchor, Captain Matheson and one of his men went aboard the ketch Good Templar. About eight o'clock they were aroused by the night watchman on the wharf singing out that the Franklin Belle was adrift. At this time there was only one man aboard, but Captain Matheson and his companion at once got into their boat and put off. When they reached the vessel they found that the anchor had dragged, and they at once let go the other, but this probably getting foul the vessel still continued to drffc. Captain Bradshaw, of the Good Templar and owner of- both vessels, and two of his men by this time arrived, and, by the united efforts of the six men • now on board, the sails were speedily hoisted with a view to wearing the vessel. It waß Borne time, however, before they 'could clear the windlass te lift the anchors, and before they could do so the sea began,to break over the deck, washing the two boats away and smashing the hatches. The vessel was heavily laden with railway iron, having only arrived from Dunedin in the afternoon, and it was seen that if they attempted to keep her out to sea sh* wmld go down in the bay. Captain Badshaw, thprefore, put her on the other taok. and came on the b'ach at the nioutb. of th* Lagoon, ! Fortunately everybody got ashore in safety, but we believe they could not succeed in saving anything,, the sea being so high and the cabin partly filled with water. The intelligence that a vessel had come ashore soon gathered' a large crowd on the beach ready to be of any assistance, but luckily their services were not called into requisition. At. ten o'clock last night, when the ketch had been about an hour on the beach, the sea was breaking heavily over her. As the tide would commence to flow about that time, little hopes are entertained of saving" the'vessel, more especially as she lies on the concrete rocks with which the beach is strewn at that part. The Franklin Belle : was known, as one of the smartest, if not the smarteßt, vessel on the ooast, and there can be no doubt that, had the sea not washed away her hatches and so opened a passage for the water, she would not have °? theDeach - Sh e was insured for L400,' in what ofjjce is unknown, but her owner, Captain Bradshaw, estimates his loss considerably over the amount; in fact, a was in treaty for her purchase at LOSO. It is not known yet whether her cargo ia insured, but unless the hull breaks up, it is probable that the cargo may be saved when the sea moderates, rest of the shipping were, at latest accounts, all safe and snug under the lee of the Breakwater.