PROBABLE FATE OF THE EMILY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 223, 4 September 1875, Page 2

PROBABLE FATE OF THE EMILY.

To the Editor of the « Evening Mail ' Sir— With a view to settle the public mind I send jou the iollo«ing for publication, as the result of numerous enquiries I have male, and on whiih you may rely:— At about ? a- m -? a . Wednesday, August 18, the Sisters left Motupipi, an J almost as soon i>s she pot outside the bar the crew saw the Emi'y about two miles rff in ihe direction of Sepa-ation Po^nt, standing to the eastward with a light S.S.E. wind; shortly afer the wind freshened, sh'ftmg to the S.W., bringing the Sisters within a short mile of the Emily, so that they clearly made her out and saw the crew. The wind after this became of variable strength, and tie Emily drew away from the Sisters to a distance ot about two miles to the eastward, which position and distant e she maintained till dark; when they last saw her they were o-e mile east of Awaroa Heads, and the Emily about two miles to the eastward of the Sisters. The wind continued light from the SW. till about eleven o'olock, although a heavy swell came rolling down irom the N.E. Shortly after eleven tbe wind gradually and Mainly worked round to the N E., and in about an hour and a half it had steadily increased to a strong breeze, and from this time till four o'clock, when it blew hardest and was then a gale, the sen waa very heavy. They hove-to some time b fore this, as they were afraid of over-running their distance, ont judged themselves to be Bt o 10 mil s to the N.W. of the Lighthiuse; it was very thick until 5 o'clock, when it began to clear up, *nd they shaped their course for the entrance of the Iwrrjor. getting in about half-past five; after which time the breeze died away, and the wind came out from the SW. The above statement as to wind and time of arrival^ is borne out by the signalman, who ac daylight could not eee any other vessel or any floating object; the eea was heivy and Ireaking on the bar. The master of the Sisters epoke of tlie Emily being inconip.ny, and concluded she had run up the Waimea before daylight; his attention was taken up by his duties, and it was not until his return trip about a weekj after thit the matt-r assumed a serious aspect to him; the state of the weather is borne out by others and by my own observations. Tha loss must have cecum d the morning following the night the Herald got off the rojk at the entrance. The position of the Emily when last 6een would oo abmt thirty miles to the ncrtbward and westward of Nelson, and from 7 pm. till 1 1 p.m. of the 18th (during which timo the wind was very light) she would possibly have come five or six miles up the bay, and say from II p.m., when tho wind changed fair, to 1 a.m. of the 19th, when the wind had obtained some iorce, a further distance of ten miles towards Nelson. I am of opinion that the loss occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. (possibly between three and four, when the sea would be heaviest) on the 19th August, and at a distance of about ten to twelve miles lrom the Lighthouse; that it was not' caused by a suddea squall or capsize, and that the crew in all probability took to the dingy; and my reasons for supposing so are— that the Emily started a plants at Co!---linjfwood, which was repaired temporarily, I and it was intended to overhaul ber when she [ came to Nelson. There ia very little doubt [ in my mind that in the heavv sea and gale, when ehe would be obliged to heave to (or even carry a press ol sail if she had run too far down), she had re-started the piank, and the water had accumulated taster tlnn the pumps could deliver it, especially as there were only two bands on board to steer, handle the sails, and pump, that she had gradually filled until the cargo (swede turnips pirtly in bulk) had become submerged and consequently useless for purposes of stability to the vessel. The vessel would then naturally roll over and fill, and, if the ballast was on board, would founder, the vessel not having the advantage ot eaclosed air, as that would escape through the opening where the plank was started. Now, this event would be anticipated by the crew, aod there is no doubt they took t • the dingy (which very unfortunately happened to be a small one, the large boat having been left in Nelson). I do not think the would outlive the sea of that morning unless under special circumstances, such as having both oars, large baler, drag, and light line to rile to, which is doubtful, 'ihere is one chance, though a remote one. The Melrose sailed on the 17th August and was not out of the bay for some days, and may have picked thera up. The wind from 530 am. on the 19th till the 29th was from ti.W to N.W, aud this fact w.ll account for no wreck coming up the bay. On the morning ot the 19th the wreck might have been within a mile or so of the Lightbouse, but in ten days would be blown out of the bay, and I prophesy lint some portion of the vessel's gear or boat may be found about the Sandspit. Permit me to say that I tear tbe city has lost in Henry Hamilton, a hardworking, kind, and generous man. He leaves a widow and three children. He joined the Good Templars last September, and waa a thorough staunch and consistent member. His mate on board was a son of Mr Cann, of Takaka. The vessel was partly insured (£120), though of no benefit to tbe widow. I am. &c, William Akehswbn. Septembers, 1875.