STRANDING OF JACKSON’S CUTTER FROM GREYMOUTH AT THE SEVENTEEN-MILE BEACH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1147, 2 June 1880, Page 4

STRANDING OF JACKSON’S CUTTER FROM GREYMOUTH AT THE SEVEN-TEEN-MILE BEACH.

(vrom a correspondent.) On Friday afternoon was observed in the offing a small craft, surmised to be the above, and as considerable interest was taken in the so-called plnoky venture of Mr Jackson, various opinions were rife on the subject. To all old experienced hands on the West Coast, and looking back to the Hokitika disasters in the old days, emphatically it will not suit at all surfing on this Coast. But to facts. About 10 o’clock on Friday Jack son was laying off in his cntter, and deeming that the sea was getting up (although, by the way, he had not much judgment to go by situated in such a low-lying small craft), determined to run in and beach her, as if a heavy sea or wind got up he could not reenter the Grey, and, as the old man said, “ I was determined to save my son’s life.” So every eye was fixed on the craft, as, propelled by sweeps, she was pointed towards the Beach above M'llroy’s As soon as she neared the breakers it was evident to all on shore she was shipping water, and then when she entered the breakers it was one, two, three, as each body of water spun her literally over; Mach anxiety was then felt for old Jackson in every breast ashore, and right truly did the good old father struggle to preserve his son, as he tenaciously, disregarding everything, clung to both boat and son. The feeling ashore was intense, as the boat rolled over and over, and did not subside until che gallant old man and son were safe. Then the well known hospitality of the Seventeen Mile Beache-s was shown, strong willing men were soon immersed in the surf, and succeeded in landing the boat and what cargo remained high and dry. Amongst those most prominent on the occasion was especially Messrs Bonrke, Irwin, Lewis, Pinkerton, Wood, Gooch, and others, to whom Mr Jackson returned his sincere gratitude. The boat’s hull is sound and unbroken, but masts and spars broken. The major portion of the coals will likely be had at low tide. It is proposed to raise a subscription to relieve the old man’s loss. But it is no coast for further ventures of such risks,