Total Loss of the Schooner "Eagle."

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 413, 30 March 1850, Page 3

Total Loss of the Schooner " Eagle."

It is our painful duty to announce the wreck of this unfortunate vessel. She sailed from our harbour on the 19th instant, for San Francisco, under the command of Captain Gray, (formerly mate of the Shamrock) who was appointed successor to the late master, Winter, — now, as our readers are aware, a prisonei in our gaol, awaiting his trial at the ensuing Session of the Supreme Court. We cannot a present lay the circumstances of this distressing occurrence more fully before our readers than by inserting thus prominently the following statement, which was handed to us last evening by Captain Gray. To the Editor of the New-Zealander.. Auckland, March 29, 1849. Sir,— With feelings of deep regret, I beg leave to state the loss of the schooner Eagle, on the 19th inst. on a rcef> extending about one mile off Cape Colville, being unknown to me (not being much on the coast), and tt not being laid doivn on the chart. It wai my intention to have brought, up off the north-westward, but the wind favouring me, I thought it right to make the best of roy way through the paisage, thinking I could have got through before dark ; but, having h drone flood tiie to contend with (which must have drifted her considerably towards the mouth of the Thames), I did not sight the Watchman until midnight. Taking the bearings of that and the Cape, &c, I went below, telling (he mate I should let her run under easy canvass till the morning, so that I mi^ht try the rate of the chronometer before leaving the land. I had not been below more than five or six minutes, when I went on deck — intending to have done so. I had hardly reached the break of the poop when she atruck, carrying away the rudder, &c. She heeled over several times. Every effort was made to back her off ; she went off herself. The small bower was then let go, the best bower being on boord ami stowed. Finding her settling{(ast down in the water, the longboat was launched and all hands got into her — saving nothing but a few clothes among them, and the chronometer, which the supercargo brought up. The weather gathering in very gloomy, and a heavy awell on, we itood in*shore, but could find no landing place ; to we kept the boat off and on until daylight, when we hauled the boat up, and turned her up to Bleep under. Having saved nothing from the »hip, we commenced gathering ihell-nMi and wild cabbages ; when, about two hours afterwards, the natives came over the hill to see us, and behaved in the most humane manner possible, sharing their scanty allowance until the last. The weather moderating after four days for a short time, we made for Coromandel accompanied by their canoe, the sHpercargo in it. We reached Coromandel at midnight, when we were kindly relanded and everything that would promote onr huppmess and comfort was done at that place. They lent u» two sails, so we crossed in through the middle passage, and brought up in Monginui Bay; where pen and ink cannot express the kindness we all received from Mr M'Cloud being there. We stopped there the night, and in the morning got under <ay ; but the w ! nd heading us directly we left the bay, we had to pull about six miles down the coast ; the wind freshniiiir and a swell rising, we boie up to the above place again, and started the next day, when we arrived at 10 p. m Biiefly thus, not having the resf marked down in the chart, and not beins: through the pai^ge, before was the cause, because I had a fair wind and mijht have gone either hide of the Watchman. She was seen the next day coming in with her masts above water, she being under, now and then showing her taffrail, after that no more was seen of her. John Gray. Whatever may have been the loss of property, it is matter of rejoicing that no life was lost. But the ship-wrecked men who have escaped with life, have saved nothing else, and must now be in a condition of great destitution. We need not remind our benevolent fellow townsmen that their case isone which has strong claims on their sympathy and charitable aid, — or that such sympathy and aid cannot be extended too promptly.