WRECK OF THE SCHOONER NANCY.

Southland Times, Issue 1737, 6 May 1873, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER NANCY.

The schooner Nancy, owned by Mr Hatch of this town, left the Invercargill jetty at daylight on Saturday morning, and proceeded down the river with a fair wind. She arrived opposite the Pilot station at the New River Heads about 9 a.m., when the wind fell away almost to a calm, and Captain Sberbard got out the sweeps, with the view of taking his craft over the bar with their help, as he had once or twice succeeded in doing before. Previous to this, however, the danger signals had been hoisted on the flagstaff by the pilot, Captain Clare, and were plainly seen on board the Nancy. The ebb-tide, running out pretty strong, caught the vessel by the stern juet as she got into the break, and she having no steerage way, altered her course, and three heavy seas breaking over her bows immediately after, drove her at once, stern on, to the rocks close to Caroline Point. Captain Clare then succeeded in throwing a line on board, by which the men and a considerable amount of sundries, sails, &c, were hauled ashore. The jib-boom was broken and the storm jib carried away as soon aa the vessel struck. Tbe wreck was visited on Sunday by the owner, and it was considered that no reasonable hope exists of removing her from her present position before she breaks up. Tbe Nancy was a comparatively new vessel, and exceedingly strong and well built. There is no doubt that the disaster might have been averted if Captain Sherburd had anchored, as he ought to have done, on seeing the danger signals, which were hoisted by the pilot in ample time.