WRECK OF THE SCHOONER MERLIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 172, 19 August 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER MERLIN.

The Wallace, which arrived m harbor at midnight on Saturday, brought the captain and crew of this vessel, which was wrecked at Stephen's Island on Thursday night last Kroin Captain Craig we \**r\\ that the Merlin left New Plymouth on July 2GHi, bound for Greymouth. She arrived off; that port oil the 2Sfh, when the wind chopped l'ound to the S.W., and blew hard for four days. The Merlin put to sea, <n-.i\ after knockiug about for three or foUi- days bore up for Totaranul, but on getting inside the fore stay carHfcd' away. The wind was t\\e\\ blowing hard from the S.W.-, and the Vessel was compelled to square away, and after a while came to an anchor iu Quito Bay. She lay there for three days, and then got under way, but strong winds forced her to take refuge there •i^jiili. On this occasion she stayed four days, after which a X.E. wind springing up the schooner once more made a start, but on geUiug into the Straits a AWV. gale was experienced, and the Merlin ran back to the same place for shelter. She stayed there until Wednesday last, when the anchor was hove up, but dropped again near Itaugitoto Island, the wind then beiug from the westward, and blowing lresh. About 4 p.m. on Thursday the wind came round from the eastward, and the vessel got under way again. Half an hour afterwards the wind died completely way, and the strong flood tide took charge of ihe vessel. There were no soundings to be had, aud to have dropped the anchor would have been of no avail. The vessel was then at the mercy of the tide, which at 10-30 p.m. cast her upon the rocks at Stephen's Island. There was a heavy sea running at the time from the westward, which drove the vessel hard upon the rocks. As the probability of getting the. vessel off. was very remote, and she was fast settling down in the water the hoat was got out, and the crew embarked in her and made for the station at RaDgitoto Island, where they arrived at 2-30 am. on Friday. The crew returned to the wreck the same day, and found her entirely submerged, the mast heads alone being visible, and which were moving to and fro with the wash of the sea. The galley and top of the house with several small pieces of timber were strewed along the beach. After an inspection of the vessel the crew returned to the Island, aud at 7 p.m. on Saturday were picked up by the Wallace, and brought on to Nelson. Nothing was saved from the wreck, not evea the vessel's papers. The Merlin was a fore-and-aft schooner of 41 tons register, owned by Messrs Humphries and Son of Taranaki. Her cargo consisted of 10 tons of potatoes. So far as Captaiu Craig is aware the vessel was not insured.