Wreck of Two Vessels, and Loss of Nine Lives.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 228, 5 August 1848, Page 2

Wreck of Two Vessels, and Loss of Nine Lives.

It is with regret we have to announce this morning, the total wrec'. of the schooner Wanderer, 131 tona, Captain Ciobtcn, and the Eli/.abstb, '62 tons, Captain Barter, both within this harbor. Thi Wandere- l«ft Latuiceston on Wcdnesnay last. *Nt! mtf ve d *he ileadk about half past eleven u'clock m v aluid»y night, during a heasy gale i'rom the grMiu-wist. The Crtptuiti having, wo auppose, greiii ciiddtncc in the «ailin^ quaiiheb of the vessel, and posbessed himself of a thorough knowledge of the lurl>or, attempted to woikhu w, but when eft" Inner Middle Iliad, alout twelve o'dock, she misiied stays, bihl beini£ close to tho I«m<l, and unable to get the mainhun \itt hei 1 in time, her aiaiboard bow i,tiuck, and it it f.upposed the veseel nlmobt immediately sunk, At daylight yestevday morning, the main topmast oi" the wieck \v,i* absoivaWe from the flodUng-light-ship, with a mau clinging co it— Air. I'ctit, \vi h gnat risk,

immediately proceeded to liii aisUtnnce in « boat with tlnoe hands, ami fortunately rescued him. When yot on tumid the light-ship, ltd was in a stale of crent ixh.msiion having been in the position he was fwnii, et»ht lioiks —ho then gave the above particulars, stating that he was a 'ioremast hind, and that theic were two pasbengeib on board, besides the crew, in all nine persons, excepting himself—their names we huvo been unable to aswriam. bhe bid met with very bad weath<M along tli« coast, and off Wollongong lost her foie nysui!, which in some measure accounts for her missing slays. On reaching the light-ship Mr Petit made the ni»ivil for a pilot, when Mr. Gibßon immediately went ofi", mid, on ascertaining particulars, returned lo W.iUon'b Bay, fur the assistance of the other pilots, all ol whom, in two well-manned boats proceeded to the wieck, in order to luofrtmn if any of the unfortunate people had reached the shore. After a short stay, Mvsra. .Jackson .Hid Gib-on returned to iheir duty, I leaving Mossr*-. Moffitt ami Bdinbridgc to continue the i sennhj which they dul for some time but were unable | to discover anything except a boat that wan stove, and ! a few pa<.k.i«es floating, it is therefore nlmoht ccitam that the whole o( the persons on board, with the exception of the man now on uoattl the light ship, have J all perished. The vessel la the property of Mr. Cook, I and is insuied in Sjdney. Her cargo consisted principally of grain. Cnptauifc Moriarty and Biowne, with several oiher ptibinis from Sydney, proceeded to the ; wreck during the afternoon, but of course could render no assistance. Wh.kt Messrs. Moffitt and Bainbridgc were on Beilby's Beach they observed another schooner ashore on Little U uily Bench, to which they afterwards repaired, j and found that it Was the Elizabeth, Captain Barter, fiom TivofoM B«y and Pampnla, having lelt there on Friday la t. She entered the Heads about one o'clock, yesterday morning, and the Captain finding tbat by hp violence of the wind it vrould be running a greut rKk to work her up, anchored in Middle Himbor, where she rode in safety till tsn, a.m., at that time the chain of ona of her anchors parted, when the Captain slipped t lie other with the view of working the vesbel out. but being unable to do tbat, she drove on the roclis, where the whole of the passengers, nine in number, and the crew, consisting of four, were landed. Captain Barter afterwards finding that the vessel forged off the rooks, went on board again himself, and ran her on to the beach where she now liea bilged, with loss of rodder. She is the property of Mr. C. Prout, and wai rrnted by the Captain for a certain »urn per month. Her cargo consisted of potatoes. The passengers started from Ihe wreck yesterday afternoon to walk to Sydney, one of whom got into town during the evening, and stated that he bad patted company with the others, on the road.

Tiik Bauqur William struck by Lightning.—Tlhh v.ssel wig imulvfiitcntly reported in Saturday's llcrnlil, ns having sniltd on Friday, whereas she mf relj dropped down the Haibor, and anchored off Bradley's Head. The gale on Saturday prevented her from proceeding to sea on that day, and, about six p.m., she was ttruck l>y lightning. The clecti ie fluid bplit the main topgallant-mast, passed down the tie, which it has cumnletely cut to pieces in five or six places-it also fused several link* of the topsail-sheet, being chain. A piece of tha latter struck the steward on the head, and he is otherwise much injured The cook wai alio struck by the fluid and knocked down the hold, but fortunately fell on a bale of hay, his body and armi, however, were severely scorched. Several of the standers by were stunned by the shock for a short time. Dr. M'Kellar wab immediately lent for, and with hi« usual pr imptitude attended, and remained wiih the sufferers all night. Ycteiday morning they were removed to the h^pital, and we are happy-to say are doing well. The vessel was otherwise uninjured, the fluid having panned down the cabin, and out through one of the stem windows. She has 180 head of cat'le, 700 aher V, and two horbes on board, but only one of the forimr died fiom the effecti of the ihock. The damage sustained was nearly repaired yesterday, and the vesiel wiJ pioceed to sea us soon as the weather moderates. The brig Dorset, which i>ai'cd hence for Adelaide on Wednesday last, returned to port yesterday afternoon, from stress of weather, and anchomd in Watson's Bay. The brig Palmyra, tor Port Phillip, remains at imcbor between iimdJey'» Head and Watson* Bay, wind bound. —Sydney Herald, July 10.