THE WRECK ON THE SPIT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4383, 7 April 1875, Page 2

THE WRECK ON THE SPIT.

The following is a copy of the evidence given by the light-keeper at Farewell Spit, at the inquest held by Mr. Davidson on the. bodies of the men lost in a vessel somewhere near Cape Farewell. The description of the bodies of the men may perhaps lead to the discovery of the name of the unfortunate vessel; — Lighthouse, Cape Farewell Spit, March 25th, 1875. James Nelson, principal keeper, being sworn, saith : On Tuesday, the 23rd instant, I went on the ocean side of the Spit, in: company with John Frederick Eresoon, first assistant-keeper, and James Cunningham, second assistantkeeper, to see if we could find any further signs of a wreck, as we had, the day previous, picked up several articles belonging to a vessel, such as the figure-head, flags, and clothes, such as worn by seafaring men. After we had gone about half-a-mile from the lighthouse towards the end of the Spit, we saw the dead body of a man, which had been just washed ashore. It was lying on its stomach, and partly on its right side. The lower part of the body was unclothed, and very much eaten away. From the appearance "of the flesh the man could not 'have been dead more than three or four days ; the hair on his head and body was a light red, and hislwhiskers a dark red. We could see no distinctive mark. The upper part of the body was clothed 'in a blue diagonal coat, blue flannel, spotted black and white Crimean shirt, clastic side boots halfsoled and heeled, and cotton socks. The man must have been powerfully made, apparently middle-aged, and about five feet nine inches in height. We all went on further towards the Spit end, and found more signs of a wreck having taken place than we had on the previous day ", amongst the things way]Led up were pieces of sails, timber, rails, flags, &c. Owing to the state of the wind, I could not expect anything floating high out of the water to come ashore. All the things picked up floated very heavily. From the size of the fiddle figure-head, i should suppose the vessel to be from two to four hundred tons. It was painted black and the raised carvings were painted yellow, and it had not been long in the water. We also picked up a lower pump box, and a windlass chock, painted, first coat green, and the last yellow. We saw several stanchions made of blue gum, which were carried away from six inches to a foot below the deck. We then returned, got the horse and cart and a box, into which we put the body we had previously found, and removed it to a safe place to protect it from the tide and gulls. On Wednesday, the 24th instant, I sent information to Mr. Davidson, J.P., that a body had been found on the Spit. After highwater we continued our search, and found a large black-and-white retriever dog, an exemption flag made of light canvas, several pieces of clothing, rope, and other pieces of wreck. This day, I, with the help of the assistant-keepers and Mr. Davidson, buried the body of the man, which has been described above, at the end of the Spit, at a place called Bush End.

On Friday, the 19th mat., I saw one barque and two other vessels off the Spit, 13icy had a light N.W. wind, and were beating towards Cape Farewell. During the first part of the night the wind blew very strongly from the north and north-east, and about midnight it shifted suddenly to north-west, and blew a regular gale ; towards morning it drew more to the west, still blowing very strong. Saturday, March 27. On Thursday, the 25th inst., I went towards Cape Farewell, accompanied by E. Davidson, J.F., and the assistant-keepers. About five miles from the lighthouse, Mr. Davidson pointed out to us the body of a man ho had found the previous day’, and which he had

covered with seaweed. On uncovering ® body we fouad it lying on its back, the tee towards the sea. It had on new blue er boots, coarse woollen socks, cotton yellow and brown check trousers (patche below the knee with dark brown cloth), win e flannel, and red and white check shirt (cotton), and red slop. He was tattooed on the lett arm inside—ballet-girl dancing over what appeared to be a flower-pot, a branch of a tree on each side of her, stem of which comes out of pot ; right arm, two hearts joined, letter M m one heart, a scroll half round the hearts ; a bird, and a dot in front of bird above the hearts and inside the scroll ; ■ calf of left leg tattooed with something like a man. The man was bald-headed, short-cropped black beard and moustache ; the hair on the chest was very black. We all carried the body some distance up a sand-hill, in which we had previously dug a grave, and there buried it. A, portion of the burial service was read over each body before burial. (Signed) James Nelson, Principal Keeper, Farewell Spit Lighthouse.