Wreck of the Schooner Aotea.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3700, 19 July 1906, Page 3

Wreck of the Schooner Aotea.

ELEVEN PERSONS BELIEVED TO BE DROWNED. Gisborne, July 17. The little schooner Aotea was wrecked at Waipiro Bay, about seventy miles north of Gisborne, during last night’s gale. It is feared that all on board were 1 drowned. There is some uncertainty as to the number of persons who were on the vessel. It is known that the captain and his wife had one son with them, but there is an impression that there were two children. It is also stated—with what accuracy cannot be ascertained at present—that a lady -whose husband is returning from England joined the vessel at Tuparoa to proceed to Gisborne. There appears to be little doubt that all on board the schooner have perished. It was a very wild, dark night, and there were no witnesses of the catastrophe. The schooner had been sheltering under Tawhiti Hill, at the southern end of Waipiro Bay, all day Sunday and yesterday, whilst a southerly gale was blowing. The wind changed yesterday afternoon, but came in with equal force from the eastward. When last seen, towards nightfall, the schooner was in the same position she had occupied during the previous forty-eight hours, and near by, it is stated, was a small steamer with a yellow funnel. ■ The change of wind during the night would spoil the shelter, and in the morning there was an anxious look out for the schooner and steamer. Both vessels, however had disappeared. The steamer is supposed to have gone off for shelter elsewhere. On search being made the Schooner was found—lying bottom upwards in the Waikawa Creek, Waipiro Bay. The beach was strewn with wreckage, among which were several articles of children’s clothing. For some hours no bodies could be found. Then that of Captain Nicholas was discovered, and about three hours later the body of his wife was found almost in the same spot. Captain Nicholas was one of the best known traders on the coast. He was part owner of the Aotea, the command of' which he took over about a fortnight ago. It is believed he had nine children altogether.