WRECK OF THE MARIE GABRIELLE OFF MOONLIGHT HEAD.

Southland Times, Issue 1185, 20 December 1869, Page 2

WRECK OF THE MARIE GABRIELLE OFF MOONLIGHT HEAD.

From the Geelong Advertiser, we learn that the barque Marie Gabrielle, bound from Foo Chow Foo to Melbourne, with a cargo of tea consigned to R. Towns and Co., was wrecked at one o'clock on the morning of the 25th ult., two miles W. of Moonlight Head. The vessel struck on a reef, and was carried over by the surf into a sandy basin where she parted in half. All hands reached land in safety, and Captain Blaachard with the mate and three men arrived at Cape Otway at 4.30 p.m. on the Ist, in an exhausted condition, having had no food for four days. The second mate and five men reached Chappel and Laurie's station, at Aire River, on the 2Dd, and were too much knocked up to proceed further. Food was sent to them, and they will be at Cape Otway to-day. Four natives of New Zealand Stopped at the scene of the wreck. One sailor ctzue as far as Moonlight Head, and then laid down, refusing to go any further. The tea is washing out of the vessel, but Captain Blanchard reports that a great portion of the cargo could be recovered in fine weather. From the Examiner we learn that the party which left Warrnambool on the evening of the 29th for the scene of the wreck returned there on Thursday evening. Captain Helpman and Sergeant Archibald state that they arrived at their destination, four miles west of Moonlight Head, at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The sergeant made a descent of the cliffs, which he states are from 400 to 500 ft high, on to a narrow beach, extending along the foot of the cliffs about one chain wide, where the wreck of the Marie Gabrielle was lying. A part of the poop, the forecastle, and caboose could be seen, with the stumps of the masts and the figurehead lying on the beach. The hull of the vessel was cut in two horizontally from stem to stern, the keel part having entirely gone, and the bows of the barque jammed up between the cliffs — evidently having gone head on to the shore. Chests and boxes of tea, whole and in fragments, were floating about, and on the beach, in great numbers. The tea was completely valueless from the salt water. On board the only livestock found were a pig, a captive albatross, and a cat. Discovering a tin of preserved meat, the sergeant opened it and gave the contents to the unfortunate albatross, which had been starving for some days. Hie oarty learned that on the evening of the wreck, Thursday last, shots were heard at Gibson's station, four or five miles off, evidently fired from the wreck ; and the Marie G-abrielle was seen tacking about on that afternoon close to the shore. The wreck is under the charge of Constable M'Elane, of Camperdown. Captain Helpman has in his possession a document in French, obtained from the wreck, probably dropped V the captain of the Marie Gabrielle, apparently a commercial agreement entered into between the persons interested in the vessel. 'J he party met a number of persons proceeding to Moonlight Head from Camperdown and else where.