WRECK OF THE BENCLEUCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 298, 17 December 1877, Page 4

WRECK OF THE BENCLEUCH.

A Dunedin telegram of the 12th inst. from the Post says : — Captain Byers, of the schooner Baucleuch, gives the following account of his vessel's loss at the Macquar ie. Island, at 7.30 p.m., on the 7th August :— A heavy snow storm set in at 7.3P, and without any previous warning a heavy gale commenced. The night was very dark, and the weather very dirty, blinding snow squalls occasionally descending, and there was a very high sea running. At sen the vessel dragged, and a second anchor was let go. At eleven a heavy sea struck the schooner with suoh violence that the coir spring with which she was screwed parted, and a sudden strain being thus. brought upon the two anchors, both chains parted, and the craft made rapid leeway towards the rooks. She soon struck stem on to an off-lying rock, carrying away the rudder, and in a few minutes she was among the rocks. Hero another aea struck her, washing away her whaleboat, smashing her dingy, and forcing the crew (with the exception of three poor fellows who were so much injured that they were forced to seek shelter in tne schooner's cabin) to take to the rigging. The vessel was soon bilged, and the cabin rapidly filled with water. As soon as day broke life saving apparatus was rigged, and after safely launching it the iojared men, and the rest of the crew reached the shore on the 7th. Tbe boatswain (H. W. Halley) died from injuries and exposure sustained during the time tbe vessel was driving on shore, One poor fellow broke his leg in two places, another am with severe internal injuries, and a third was washed overboard, but managed to regain the veseei. At daylight oa the Sib, the vessel lay bow under water, the seas making a complete breach over her. She was completely shrouded in snow aad ice, and lay starboard side down on her beam ends. A few articles were saved by the crew, who were fortunate enough in obtaining shelter in the huts left by Captain Soul, where they employed themselves in sea ejephant hunting until the arrival of the schooner Friendship, which took them off tha islands on the 2nd instant.