STRANDING OF THE BRIG RIO GRANDE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 120, 1 May 1884, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE BRIG RIO GRANDE.

During the heavy weather which set in on Wednesday night from the Southward-and-Eastward, the above brig parted one of her cables and commenced driving rapidly towards the shore. Seeing the imminent danger in which the brig was placed, Mr. H. E. Johnstone despatched the steamer Rosin a to her assistance, but on arriving alongside the captain of the brig declined the proffered help, saying that he could hold on by his other anchor. The Rosina accordingly left him to. his own resources. During the whole of the day the brig continued to drag, and by four o’clock, the tide being out, and having got into the inner breakers, she began to strike. The strong flood assisted by heavy squalls and a high sea soon had the effect of beaching her, and when the morning broke she was seen lying on her beam ends on the papa rocks which flank the southern end of the bar, with the sea making a clean breach over her. Early this morning the Rosina again got up steam to go out, but it was found too rough for her to render any aid. The lifeboat went out about eight o’clock and brought the crew safely to land. It is said that there is a large hole in her bottom, but whether the report is true or not we cannot say. There is no doubt but what it will be found impossible to get her off the rocks. If the captain could have managed to bring the vessel further along the beach into the sandy part, this might have been accomplished, as in the case of the Lochnagar, which was a much larger vessel, and others, that have been similarly situated. The insurance on the boat is not yet known. There are 165 tons of coal still in her, for Mr. H. E. Johnston, but this will not be lost, as at low water she will be almost high and dry, and the coal can be easily got at. It is a somewhat strange fact that notwithstanding the vessel was dragging all day, no attempt was made by those on board to send down top-gallant yards or mast. Had this been done it must undoubtedly have increased the vessels chance.