A Wreck.

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1894, Page 2

A Wreck.

During the storm on Tfceadety morning, say 3 the Times, the fore and aft schooner Alert, of Lyttleton, 45 tons, commanded by Captain Keys, was cast ashore in Lyell Bay, fortunately without loss of liJ£, her crew reaching the shore in safety. The schooner, laden with produce, >. "* left Lyttleton on Saturday afternoon for Greymouth. Off Waipapa Ppint on Monday night, she encountered' the south- wesf'gale. The' '^ajjier: became very thick and' Were was a tremendous sea running. " The little vessel flew before the wind through the night, and all went well until about 2 a.m. when a great seabroke on board, nearly swamping her? The storm still raged fiercely, and the weather was so thick that Captain Keys could not make out his position, Early in the morning a Union Com' pany's steamer was seen quite close to the schooner. She rushed on before the storm, Captain Keys .bai lieving that he was getting through; the straits. One of the- crew aloft, but could not see rland"iinywhere. About 8.30 a.m., : howeMT they found themselves dangerously: close to the rocks on tha easDHWri' side of Lyell Bay. As it was impossible to tracer Sinclair Head, Captain j&|g nil|fi4 the schooner for the oentfe of $he bay. More sail was set, and she ran ashore almost opposite 3Ee cable house. That the crew had a providential escape there can be little doubt. Had their little vessel been dashed on to the rocks during the nMit, probably nothing more would fi|ve been heard of them; .. . J y^? At the time the sohoonejF fltafoek, the . surf was breaking ug against her, but was apparently not Wjta&ig any very serious damage. She^iad drifted several hundred yards to the westward before the crew landed. The foresail and ataysail were kept set, and they assisted in sending her further ashore. She now lies in an upright position, apparently uninjured, on a sandy beach. A softer spot could not have been chosen* The vessel was high and dry at low water. The crew consist of Captain Keys, John Mclntyre (mate), and Richard Madren and John Grey. The Alert was built at Auckland, and is a smart-looking vessel. She is owned by Messrs Cook Bros., of; Lyttelton. ' '" The cargo consisted of 120 bags potatoes, GO of chaff, GO of carrots, and 220 of bran. The'^^el is uninsured, and Captain Keys believes the cargo is alsq-^uriqsured.