WRECK OF THE CUTTER ANN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 58, 9 March 1874, Page 2

WRECK OF THE CUTTER ANN.

We mentioned on Saturday that the cutter Ann had drifted out of the harbor and sunk during the gale that was blowing on that day, but we were then unaware of all the circumstances, which were as follows : — Between twelve and one o'olock Mr Eure the master and owner of the Ann, together with his man, came ashore, not thinking that there was any danger to his boat from the fresh breez3 that waa then blowing, -but by a little after two the breeze had increased to a gale of a force not often experienced in Nelson, and about that/time Mr Lowe, the assistant pilot, heard one of bis children, cry out that the Ann was drifting. Seeing that such really was the case, he at once ran down to the boatebed where he was speeJily joined by Reader and Johnston," two of the pilot crew, and James Stewart and Alfred Wahlstroon, two men employed at Messrs N. Edwards and Co. 'a workshop, who volunteered to assist. A kedge was put into the boat which was quickly launched, and these five plucky follows set out on their dangerous expedition. They soon became aware of the perils they had to undergo, for so great was the force of the wind that the oars were every now and then blown out of the rowlocks, but still they persevered, for they knew that upon his little cutter the owner was dependent for his living, and they also knew that, unless they could rescue her, inevitable destruction

was before her. By dint of hard work they got alongside of the cutter about 200 yards inside the harbor eDtranoe, towards which Bhe was drifting at a rapid pace, notwithstanding that she was dragging her anchor after her. Mr Lowe was the first to clumber on board, and laying bold of the firat rope he could find he made it fast and threw the other end into the boat. The kedge was immediately made fast, and for a time tbe Ann's onward course was stopped, the men taking advantage of the opportunity to get on board, but no sooner were they there, and the boat's painter made fast than the rope to which the kedge was attached snapped and away went the cutter again. Hitherto they had been in comparatively smooth water, but the freshening gale and swift current soon carried them outside, and anyone who in a storm has watched the enormous rollers dashing over the Arrow Rock and throwing themselves against tbe Cliffs can understand the peril in which were now the little craft and ber gallant crew. To some slight extent the was obedient to her helm, but there bad been no time to set any sail, and it was do light undertaking to take her, sailless, and with ber anchor dragging through the narrow passage w bich exists at half tide between the Rock and the Cliffs. However, there appeared to be every chance of success until, of afludden, there was a shock as she struck and glided over the reef, n shiver ran through the cutter, a jerk was felt as of tbe parting of the cable, and she became altogether unmanageable, and showed unmistakably that she was filling and was about to go down. Upon the Ann receiving a check as she struck, the boat which was in tow and had considerable way on her, shot ahead on the weather side and got under the cutter's bow. Stewart, acting on Mr Lowe's instruction f, jumped into ber to clear her, and was quickly followed by Joliteton. Almost at the same moment the cutter staggered, and reeled and went down by the bows, the boat's painter, which fortunately was a long one, becoming entangled in some part of the fore rigging. In some way — he knows not how — Mr. Lowe contrived to get into tie be a., the su Jdennees with which the cutter went down being best described in his own words: — "I never before felt injtbing slip away from under me so quickly," Three were now in the boat but two were missing, Reader and Wahlstio^n having been ia the fore part of the vessel as she went under. In a few seconds the latter was seen to come to the surface, and be was at once seizod and dragged into the boat. Just after, Reader made his appearance, but out of reach, and ho immediately disappeared again. Once again he rose, this time close to the boat. Willing hands were stretched out to save him but before they could touch him down he went once more. Yet a third time be came to the top, exhausted and almost senseless and then the attempt to lay hold of him was more successful, and weary and half drowned, he was dragged into the boat. But tbe danger was by no means over yet. The sea was rolling in in enormous waves which dashed over tbe boat half filling her with wnier, while she was helpless to escape, being fast to the vessel which lay below. " Cut the painter adrift " was the order, and ia theory a most excellent one it was, but how was it to be carried into effect? Each man felt in each of bis pockets, and as he drew forth his hand from the last one without finding a knife, be might have been excused if a feeling of despair came over him. A raging sea above, threatening eveiy inslant to overwhelm them, stern showing, was the ill-fated cutter while relow, with just a portion of her to "which they were, as it seemed, hopelessly and inseparably fastened. But just then Mr Lowe discovered in one of his pockets a small penknife, and with this they set to work to sever the leaiher-enoased painter. ' Ifc was a work of time, for even when the leather was penetrated, tbe rope could only be cut a few fibres at a time, and the utmost care must be used, for upon that little bit of steel depended their salvation. Lose it or break it, and death stared them in the face. At la ; t the ooly remaining stiand was out through, and the boat was free of that terrible anchor which threatened to drag her down, and at the same moment the cutter's stern slipped away out of sight. To return to the harbor against wind and tide was impossible, and the wearied men pulled up the Waimea until they found a convenient place for beaching the beat, having performed an action of which they might well be proud in the endeavor to save the property of a hard working and now almost ruined man. Messrs Lowe and Eure went out at low tide yeßterday morning to endeavor to discover the whereabouts of the cutter, but could see nothing of her. Another attempt in the evening was more successful, and to-day the Colling wood and Midge under the direction of Mr Cross, the harbor master, have been endeavoring to taise her from . the position into which she has drifted in the middle of the channel near the bell buoy. Twice she was brought to the surface but the tackle broke, and she had to be left until stronger appliauces could be obtained. The experiences of Saturday seem to point to the necessity of supplying the pilot station with life buoys and belts, of which, we are surprised to learn, there are none at hand. It is also a question whether this port should not possess a life boat, in which a crow could go out in all weathers, which with the present boat is impossible.