THE GREAT GALE AT TIMARU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 6

THE GREAT GALE AT TIMARU.

WRECK AND LOSS OF LIFE. TutABO, June 30. Shortly after four o’clock yesterday morning the brigantine Akbar, which was riding almost at the head of the Clan Campbell, parted her first anchor, and began to drift rapidly in among the fleet of vessels to the north-west. Another anchor was lot go, bat this parted, and with her chains hanging from her bows she drifted in a most extraordinary manner amongst the vessels to leewards. She as nearly as possible fouled the barquentine Annie Bow. An attempt was made to direct her on to the beach in Caroline Bay, but the chains hanging over her bows rendered this impossible, and the terrible wind and sea forced her towards the Washdyke. On the vessel becoming umnanagable search was made for rockets or blue lights, but nothing*was obtainable with which to make distress signals, and she drifted to destruction in the darkness. No light whatever was shown, and the watchmen at the Rocket Brigade Station were in utter ignorance that the vessel was iu danger. Her crew consisted of Captain Watts, J. Bynham (the mate), a passenger named Wright, Ned (the boatswain), a boy named James, the cook, and Charles Dalham, Bartley Humphreys, and a Frenchman named James Waglett. The surname of the boy and cook could not be learnt, but the former was one of the men saved from the barque Melrose in September last year. Mrs. Watts, the wife of the captain, was also on board. When some distance from the beach the vessel, according to the statement of those saved, struck, and opened out. About the same time the captain was carried overboard, and never afterwards seen. The vessel drifted down until she struck the beach shortly before 5 o’clock, about four miles from town. Directly she touched the beach she began to break up, and in a few minutes was split open from stem to stern. A life-buoy was given to Mrs. Watts, who stuck to the vessel for some time in company with the boatswain, and then when last seen she still had hold of it. The cook, boatswain, and boy soon disappeared, while (Bynham) the mate, the passenger (Wright), and Bartley Humphreys, Davlin, and Waglett (seamen), after being washed up and down the beach for some time, gut on dry land. Bartley and Waglett were terribly bruised by floating timber. The seamen who succeeded in getting ashore crouched on the shingle and braved the wild and bitterly cold elements, and as best they could until day broke, when they made for Mr. Belfield’a house. There they were most hospitably received, and well fed and supplied with dry clothing, two or them being without a rag or garment on them when they lauded. In the afternoon they all came into town, Bartley and Waglett going to the hospital in consequence of their severe injuries, and the rest being provided with snug quarters at the Merivaie Hotel. What makes the death of Captain and Mrs. Watt still more sad is the fact that they had only been married some seven or eight months, and were both young in years. The Akbar was an American brigantine, built some six years since, and was the sola property of her captain. It is believed she was not insured. She arrived here on Monday last from Newcastle with a cargo of coal consigned to E. Smith- Three hundred tons of cargo were still on board when the Akbar came ashore, but they were fully insured. The vessel is a complete wreck, and her timbers and fittings strew the beach for miles on both sides of her. The topsail schooner Pelican came to grief through no fault of her own or the roadstead. Her bowsprit was carried away about 8 a.m. by the barquentine George Noble, while the latter was trying to make an offing, and she thus became disabled. She, rode gallantly, however, until about noon, when her captain (Munro), finding his cargo was shifting, and fearing she would capsize, slipped the anchors. The Pelican was steered direct for the beach at Waimatori Lagoon, and run ashore high and dry, her crew being landed by means of a lino thrown on board by the Rocket Brigade party, who were ready to rescue her. The Pelican so far has sustained no injury whatever on tho beach, and but for the fact of her bowsprit having been carried away no doubt she would still be afloat. She is a wooden vessel, of 74 tons, built at the Manning River in 1874, apd is owned by Henry Aitken, and carried a crew of five hands. Not aware whether she is insured or not. At the time of stranding she had on board some 290 sacks of wheat for Wellington, shipped by J. and T. Meek. Four other vessels were in considerable danger for some time, but in the afternoon got away, owing to a land breeze springing up. The English barque Clan Campbell rode out the terrible gale magnificently, thanks to being well found in cable. The vessels which ran to sea are the barquentines George Noble and Annie Bow, and brigantines Seabird and Oceola, the steamers Star of the South and Beautiful Star being at anchor this afternoon. The bodies of Captain and Mrs. Watt, as well as of the boatswain and cook, were found today, but that of the boy is still missing. The body of McEwan, drowned from the boat of the Beautiful Star on Saturday, was also recovered. All the bodies were naked and terriblybruised.

Timaru, July 1,

About 10 o’clock this morning the harbormaster received a telegram to the effect that a vessel was in danger near the mouth of the Tetanka River. He at once despatched the steamer Beautiful Star to that place, and started with a party of the Rocket Brigade. The brigade had to travel 11 miles, partly hj road and partly by lagoon, and, four miles along the beach. As they neared the vessel she was found to be the brigantine Jas. A. Stewart, which left Lyttelton lor this port on Wednesday last. She was within two hundred yards of the shore, but was hedging herself out. The steamer Beautiful Star shortly after arrived, and towed the vessel *o Timaru, where she now lies in safety. The brigade then started back. They deserve every encouragement for their gallant and untiring exertions during the last week, having been on duty almost incessantly. Captain Jones, of the Beautiful Star, has also earned the gratitude of all the community for the manner in which he ran to the assistance of this vessel on Sunday. The captain of the Jas. A. Stewart says he was 20 miles from Timaru last night, and more than 50 from the Temuka mouth, and cannot understand how he got down here. The ? correct names of those drowned in the brigantine Akbar on Sunday are : —Captain John Watts, Mrs. Margaret Watts, Edward Briasen, boatswain; John Thompson, cook ; and Jas. Shea, ship’s boy. The bodies of all, except that of Shea, were recovered yesterday. An inquest was held to-day, bit no further particulars were elicited. A verdict to the effect that they were drowned at the time of the vessel’s wreck was returned. Mrs. Watts has a brother in one of the Auckland Banks. John Thompson, cook, leaves a wife and family in London.