THE WRECK OF THE MESSENGER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5770, 26 September 1879, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE MESSENGER.

Nelson, Thursday. Captain Mills r.-jnrts :—Left Lyttelton f-.r Newcastle, in ballast, on the.llth instant, mol was knocking about the Straits with north, r!v winds until Thursdav last, when -he -t • . down towards the Spit. At C pan. she tack--. 1 and stood to northward. She afterwards tacked again to westward, the light then be.'.ring S.W., twelve miles distant, and. the wind northerly. At S am. the lighthou-e wa- S, by E. She then stood on to a short tack, (leading west—wind, N.N.W. Ca’E 1 all hands to bout -hip at 9 p.m., but she mi- e l -tay-, and made a long stern-board tow-ard-the Spit. He then tried to wear her, but ivir u she got her head towards the Spit -he hung, ami would go no further round. He let go an anchor, and signalled to a pas-ing steamer for assistance, but was not noticed. She then swung round and dragged. She struck on the beach, and continued to drag and bump heavily. Being afraid the masts would go by the board, he slipped the chains, and let her go broadside on. The sea was breaking heavily over the vessel, so he ordered the boats to be lowered to leeward, anil all hands got into them, and they pulled round to the lighthouse, from which she was distant six miles. Tlinext morning at daylight he started to walk down to the ship, and found her broken across the deck and at the main hatch. Half of the keel was lying on the beach a quarter of a mile distant. Later. Tile Messenger has her hack broken, and is a hopeless wreck. She will be sold by auction on Saturday next.