DISASTER AT SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1901, Page 2

DISASTER AT SEA.

Pljß rilESi ASSOCIATION. CisiioiixK, January 10. Anxiety in conuiction with ship Grace Harwar was relieved this morning when news was made kuowu that tho vessel was in tow of tho steamer Fanny and coming into port. The Fanny had arrived from Napier, and whikt waiting lor tho pilot, saw the vessel and hauled off in her direction, bvinging her to anchoraga three hours later. The appearance of the vessul indicated that she had a tough passage, her topmast gone, and her maintop gallant mast snapped off. Tho strong wind mot with off liawke's Bay on Chris'mis Day increased to a howling hurricane. By 11 p.m. the gale had reached p terrib!o height,

being accompanied by a high crcs* eea. The vessel shipped a ten ific sua at this time, which completely filled the decks. Throo of tho four boat-", as will s-s the skldi, tho bridge, the stundau! fO!T<p«B*, ami cverthing moveable on dec:;, iho stirboard poop laddtr, the and a quantity of ge&r were washed overboard. The Gr.ico Bariwar camo in ballast, ard while being swept by the terrific seas this ehiftfd ancl threw the boat on her beam ends. ; Some idea of her position may be gained from the fact that the rail was three feet under water. Notwithstanding all that oauld be the vessel still remained in her awinl position at 6 o'clock the following nvorning, the captain's cabin being half filled with water and his chart bsing swept away. All hands were sot to trim the ballast. An ordinary seaman named Cornelius Eckhardt attempted to make his way along tho decks and was washed overboard, and never seen sgdiu. The man was shippad at Capetown aud wac only a young fellow. Captain Briscoe h»d a miraculous escape of being drowned, being washed overboard but thrown back on beard. Tho crew wein engaged Kkight and day for stvon days in trying to bring the vessel to an oven keel. During the last ten days thi Graoe Harwar Las been off Poverty Bay, and the only boat sighted was the Ha WCIL nnnrthn