WRECK OF THE MONTE BELLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81893, 23 November 1906, Page 2

WRECK OF THE MONTE BELLE.

A TRYING EXPERIENCE. DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE. Received 22nd, n.57 p.m. Adelaide, November 22. The relief steamer has returned iiom the wreck of the Monte Belle. The captain staies be had fine weather till Saturday, when it became Cloudy and obscured, and lie was unable to ascertain his position. At nine o'clock at night, according to dead reckoning, the vessel was 60 mies south-wist of Neptune light, which he expected to pick up, prepparatory to entering Spencer's Gulf, but he failed to do so. . A strong southerly gale was blowing, with heavy rain. It was very dark. All hands remained on deck and kept a good look-out. At two o'clock on Sunday morning they heard breakers, and tried to get the ship off shore. It was too dark to see the land. A few minutes after the vessel struck. She bumped hard several times, and settled down on the rocks. Shortly afterwards the mainmast went overboard. The men remained huddled on the deck, heavy seas breaking over them till daylight, when they discovered ihey were not more than 150 yards from land, close up to the cliffs. The sailors attempted to take a line ashore, but the heavy sea drove them 'back. Another seaman, named Yrebot, then volunteered. The first time he tailed, but at the second attempt a wave washed him up on the rocks. lie was severely bruised, his clothes ' bihng torn to shreds. ""*' ; A stout line was got ashore, and a ■ breecnes buoy rigged by means of an 1 enjgty cask. 1 Uy seven o'clock all hands were > landed safely. Th e first few brought 1 a tew personal belongings; ihe 1 others, fearing the mast whereto the . line was fastened, would go, only ■ saved the clothes they stood in. ; The captain was last to leave. Ha j brought with him his dog and a fsw , at the ship's papers. 1