CAPSIZING OF THE KETCH PEARL, AND LOSS OF ALL HANDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1138, 29 September 1869, Page 2

CAPSIZING OF THE KETCH PEARL, AND LOSS OF ALL HANDS.

(From the ' Grey Rirer Ar^us,' September 9.) The Grey bar wa9 yesterday the scene of one of the most unfortunate accidents, resulting in the loss of a vessel, her master and crew, which have ever occurred on the West Coast. In the morning the ketch Pearl, Captain Gifford, from Dunedin, with a general cargo of merchandize, was observed in the roadstead. Tne weather was fine, and the sea on the bar, although occasionally lumpy, was considered to be quite safe for towing purposes, but as it proved there were long treacherous smooths after which, without any s»i<rn of their coming, a series of enormous rollers would come tumbling home, with terrific force. When the tidal signals were given, the p.s. Persevere left the wharf and crossed safely outside without shipping more than a few sprays, and after a time the p.s. Dispatch took the three-masted schooner Ocean Wave in tow, and crossed the bar easily. , A few seas broke over the schooner, but , nothing serious. This having been completed there was not the slightest ground for fear that j the ketch Pearl could not be brought in in the easiest manner possible. After being taken in ! tow the ketch ran on nicely, with all her sails » hanging loose, the peaks only having been lowere-l and the sheets hauled up. When right on the bar a series of tremendous seas rolled in, on the top of one of which the ketch made a run, then came-to broadside to the sea, when another roller struck her, throwing her over, and the water, flying up from her side lodged in the sails, which caught and held it like bags, the weight capsizing the ketch, and the next sea following rapidly, rolled her completely over, bottom up. The master had been steering, and two of the I crew had been standing up on the rigging. The master came up once, but immediately sank again, and was not seen after. When the vessel rolled over, the mast struck tho ground, breaking short off, and the two men came up with the rigging, and were seen clinging to it for at least ten minutes, struggling violently for life, as they "were rolled about in the surf. Everything was done that could be under the circumstances by Captain Deare. and the hands on board the Despatch, but it was impossible that the men could be reached. The seas were breaking fearfully over the tug, deluging her fore and aft. The hawser was slipped. As she was rapidly drifting into the surf, and could not run alongside the wreck wiihout the imminent risk of being seriously injured and thrown up on the North Beach, she was compelled to make for the river, which was only reached with much difficulty, without being able to render the drowning men the least assistance. The sorrowful intelligence that all hands had perished, almost within speaking distance of the beach, spread a feeling of the deepest gloom over the town. Nothing else was talked of during the day, and the vessels in port lowered their flags to half-mast. The Collector of Customs and some officers, the Harbor- master, the agents of the vessel, and a large number of persons were soon over the river andj making their way down the North Beach, in the hope of being able to render any assistance. We regret to say that although the beach was carefully searched all day none of the bodies of the unfortunate men were washed ashore ; the current was running strongly to the north, and it is probable that they will be carried far beyond Point Elizabeth. About one o'clock the receding tide left the hull of the ketch high and dry, bottom up, and lying quite flat on her deck, a quarter of a mile north of the Flagstaff. Operations were at once commenced to save the cargo. A hole was cur, in the vessel's side, when the cargo was found to be in a wonderfully sound state. All the bonded goods were got out before dark.

Besides Captain Gifford, it is not yet known how many of a crew the Pearl carried, but it is supposed to be only the two men who were seen, but whose names are not known. The master leaves a wife and family in Dunedin.

No blame in connection with this sad event has been attributed to anyone, but this matter will be gone inio fully when the official inquires are made.