TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. STAR OF THE EVENING.

Southland Times, Issue 646, 20 March 1867, Page 2

TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. STAR OF THE EVENING.

LOSS OF SIX LIVES. "From the " 3-lawkea Bay Times," Fcb 27. Tho f.s. Star of ' tho JTvening, C^pt. A. C. Turner, left JS'arrier on Tnesdcy, 12lh February, bound for AucL'and "n-ith a ear^o of 1,300 sheep, and tlirei-r passingers, Messrs Smith, Sleifstein, and Wan-el. J'sp^rienced moderate south-ra*teriy-wcullier until abreast of Portland Island . — at tlsai time (S p.m.) ranking a ITE iE course, in order to clear the Bull Roelr. Kept on the enme course until the southern extremity of the IViahia Peninsula bore W by S iS ; then iept tte Te'gscl ravay N, being half a point easterly deviation, Trhioh course would take the vessel midchannel between the Ariel Bocks and Gable End foreland. About midnight the weather came on very thick, with rain, and the wind freshened from the SE. At 2.20 a.m. the vessel struck On a rock on the port bilge forward. Had the helm put hard-a-port, but found that the vessel would not answer to it. Had fore and aft canvas taken in, but finding the vessel among the breakers, and not answering to her helm, thought it prudent to leep the square sails set, and beach the vessel^, — that being considered the only chance of saving life. About half-an«hour after striking she broke jn two just before the engine room, all hands having previously been yarned to go forward. When ehe. parted the fore part got further in 4^l $qwi p$ ism | file's tow§&. *f &*

j inner reef. Was unable to do anything until daylight, from being ignorant of the direction taken by the reefs, and aho waiting for lowwater. At daybreak got out all the available spare, lines, and one of the fore hands named Hammond undertook to reach the shore with the life buoy and line attached. He succeeded in getting ashore safely. The line broke, and orders were issued that whoever could swim should strike out for shore. The first person drowned was a seaman, Walter Hooper by name. The cook and steward iumped overboard, but "both met with a watery grave. Captain and three or four others reached shore. Messrs Warrell and Sleifstein next met their fate. Eemainder of those on board were esconced up aloft, — the foremast and yards being still standing. Mr Smith, after holding on until exhausted, dropped into the water and was quickly drowned. A line was then dropped down to the carpenter, who was still on the forestay, and he was with great difficulty drawn up to the foreward. The tide having by this time risen over the reef, put an end to all hope of receiving assistance from shore, until next time of low water. The survivors still on board were then as follows : # — D. Eobinson, engineer; A. Johnson, carpenter; M'Dermott, fireman ; and Morgan and Woods, seamen. On Wednesday a message was despatched to Tauranganui for assistance. About four o'clock that afternoon, Mr Gilmour arrived with line, &c, and two natives ; and afterwards Mr Campbell, R.M., Dr Brown, and several other Tauranganui gentlemen came to render what, assistance might be in their power. The tide having fallen, all proceeded to outer reef, from which a native awam to the wreck with a line. He reached the wreck, but a Btrong southerly current carried the bight of the line on some detached rocks, so that it was quite useless to those on board; and the native was too much exhausted to make another attempt. The sea being still very high, nothing more could be done that night for the poor fellows still on board; Next (Thursday morning the sea was very high,) so much so as to prevent any communication with the wreck. Tried again during the afternoon tide, but the sea was still too high. At midnight the weather moderated. Five persons on board were safely landed, having their limb 3 much swollen through exposure for 53 hours to a heavy S.E. gale, and such rain as had not been experienced on that coast for many years.