DESTRUCTIVE GALE AT TIMARU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE GALE AT TIMARU.

Tijiaku, September 1.

A sad catastrophe happened this morning. The sea was breaking in shore in terrific waves. About 10.30 a m. tlio barque Melrose, Captain Kennedy, with coals consigned to Ebenezer Smith, parted anchors, and came ashore soon afterwarda near Splashy Point, and broke up within ten minutes after touching the land. • The crew had a narrow escape for their lives, the timber floating amongst them in the sea whilst drifting towards the beach, and coming 010.-e to the ketch Palmerston. Some of the crow of that vessel jumped overboard. A rope was thrown from the barque, and all succeeded in escaping except one, who, in getting aboard, was drowned, and the body has not yet been recovered. Prompt assistance was rendered by the Rocket Brigade to the crew of the barque Melrose, but as she broke up so soon the rocket apparatus wis of no use. Amongst spectators who tendered valuable assistance was Judge Ward, who went into the surf, and through strenuous exertions saved one of the crew. Captain Kennedy was brought ashore almost lifeless, being dreadfully bruised by the floating timber, He was taken to the hospital, and attended to by Hr. Mclntyre. It was rumored at one time that the captain died soon afterwards, but this was contradicted by the doctor, who that he Is out of danger. Scax'cely a vestige of the barque is now to bo seen. About an hour afterwards the ketch Fanny parted, and came ashore a short distance north of the Government landing. The crew lauded without difficulty, being close in shore. By half-past two the brigantine Lampwiug parted, and came ashore close to the railway viaduct in Caroline Bay. The crow also safely landed. _ The latter is a fine vessel. The ketch Glimpse parted one cable, and is only now held by a kedge-auchor. A rumor is afloat that a man was killed on tiro ketch Palmerston through the topmast falling on him. The cargo of the Melrose consisted of 250 tons coal, and was insured in the Union Company. The sad scenes were witnessed by thousands of persons standing on the cliffs. September 2. Shortly after five last evening, tho ketch Glimpse, which had been gradually drifting towards the shore at Caroline Bay, touched tho beach about 800 or 40Q yards from ttio hrigaufine Lapwing. Boilers are breaking over her frightfully, smashing her foremast. She had been taking in eight hundred cases of preserved meat for Port Chalmers. Most probably all tho cargo will he saved. September 3. . The entertainment for the shipwrecked

sailors last night realised £36 13s. A subscription list has been opened to further assist th-m.

. Tue folic wing are the insurances on the vessels wrecked Barque Melrose, £350, South British ; brigantine Lapwing, worth about £3500, fully insured in tin New Zealand Company ; ketch Fanny,- £SOO in the' New Zealand Company. It is not known in which office the ketch Glimpse was insured. Captain Evans, of the ketch Palmerston, was drowned on. Sunday night. Two of Palmerston’s crew were saved by being picked up by the crew of the Melrose. The ketch Fanny has broken up, and scarcely a vestige can be seen. The Lapwing was found uninjured, except that her false keel was knocked away, and part of the copper stripped. Her cargo of wheat and flour has been saved, and will be sold today. The Glimpse is high and dry. Her hull ds sound, and her cargo 'of preserved meat will also be sold to-day.