FATAL OCCURRENCE AT SEA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 189, 7 August 1878, Page 2

FATAL OCCURRENCE AT SEA.

A gloom was cast over Wellington hy the arrival in harbor of the brigantine Enterprise yesterday morning, having lost her commander, Captain Baillie, overboard, at 4 o'clock on Saturday morning. Tbe Enterprise left Wellington on the 26th ult. with a cargo of railway material, transshipped ex the barque Wbittington, for Wanganui. Shortly after leaving, experienced very bad weather. The vessel tried to make Port Underwood, but was unable to do so, and stood away to sea. On the night of the 29th a heavy N.W. gale was encountered, which compelled the Enterprise to heave-to, and also carried away tho mainstay, main upper stay, sprung main-topmast, and split the foresail; thence had a succession of strong westerly gales. At 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, while the chief officer, Mr Day, and two of the seamen were furling the foresail, the man at the wheel suddenly called out " captain overboard." On hearing the cry the mate rushed down, and at once threw a life-buoy in the direction the captain was last seen. The vessel was brought to the wind, but owing to the very heavy sea running nothing could be done to save the poor fellow. At 8 a.m the vessel's head was turned towards Wellington, and arrived in harbor as stated. How Captain Baillie got overboard is surrounded by mystery, but the mate informs us that the captain had shown signs of temporary insanity caused by the long passage, and it is thought when in a desponding mood threw himself over the eide. Captain Baillie was wellknown in Wellington, having been for a number of years chief officer of the ship Wild Duck, trading between Loudon and this port, after which he took a similar position on the Queen Bee, and retained it till she was wrecked on Farewell Spit j and I

dl n °to Ce6!f!!iS untim eiy end will be read Wita .egret by a large circle of friends, captain Baillie has.been. ia Wellington for some httle .time^papt,, And !•&"$■ lately succeeded, An com^'ny with Messrs. : y.Wttahd Barrett of this city, in purchasing the Enterprise from Messrs Levin and j o .* Captain Baillie leaves a wife and three children, wlio, we believe, have already taken passage from London to Wellington „ The ' whole of the shipping in harbor lowered their flags as a mark of respect to deceased. — New Zeafatidih*.