ARRIVAL OF THE SCHOONER ZIOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 223, 20 September 1877, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SCHOONER ZIOR

LOSS OF TWO MEN. The topsail schooner signalled yesterday proved to be the Zior, Captain Bell, bound from Timaru to Hokitika. She put into this port through stress of weather, and with the loss of two men. The Zior left Timaru on August 12th and arrived off Hokitika on the 12 1 st, after a fine passage. The Hokitika bar then being unworkable she came to an anchor to await a chance of crossing it. The fine weather did not prevail long, and after the lapae of a couple of days violent squall 3 set in, and the Zior had to slip her anchor, several times and put to sea. On Sunday last a perfect gale came on, and the once more p.ut to sea. The wind was then blowing from the westward, but in the afternoon suddenly veered round to the S.W., raising a terrible cross sea. The vessel was put under close-reefed canyas, aud she headreached out to sea. At. tea-time all hands with the exception of one, who was left at the wheel, went below for tea. While they were below a tremendous big fellow of a sea toppled over aft, smashing the after part of the companion into pieces, which flew about in all directions, one heavy piece striking one of the crew, named Charles Aitken, in the head, and killing him instantly. The force of the blow must have been terrible, for he was never seen to move afterwards, AH hands instantly came on deck, when it was found that the sea had taken everything away with it, wheel, steering gear, etc., and wdrst of all tbe niau who was steering, named Morton Mathieson. A good look-out was kept, but nothing was seen of him. In face of the terrible sea then raging nothing could be done to look for the poor fellow, and Captain Bell was reluctantly compelled to continue on his course. Mathieson was not one of the crew, but was working his passage to Hokitika. A sail was rigged up over the cabin to keep the water out, as the sea was at this time making clean breaches over the vessel. While ou the look out for the lost man the rudder had full play, and soon brought the vessel's head to the wind, which split the staysail iuto ribbands. The vessel was now at the mercy of the waves, for on account of the heavy sea running it was impossible to rig a tiller. The sea conciuued to break over her at intervals, and the crew for safety had to take to the rigging, expecting every moment that their last hour had come. The schooner behaved admirably, and came out of the gale safely, through terribly knocked about. On Monday morning the weather moderated sufficiently to allow of an impromptu tiller being rigged, and Captain Bell determined to bear up for NelBon, arriving here yesterday. The body of Charles Aitkeu was committed to the deep ou Monday morning. Ou boarding the Zior this morning our reporter found the vessel to have been terribly knocked about, the after part of the companion beiug carried away, bulwarks stove in, and other damage done, the whole presenting a scene painful to behold. Captain Bell made a statement to the Collector of Customs this morning regarding the passage, which was in effect the same as given above. A survey will be held on the vessel, and she will have to undergo considerable repairs before she is ftblQ (Q proceed to sea again.