TOTAL WRECK OF THE KETCH ‘LEONIDAS.’

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 15, 24 October 1871, Page 3

TOTAL WRECK OF THE KETCH ‘LEONIDAS.’

The Daily Southern Ccoss says : —“ We learn that the fine fore-and-aft schooner ‘ Leonidas ’ has become a total wreck at “Wangape. Three of the crew were brought up on Sunday in tlie p.s. ‘ Duke of Edinburgh from Russell, to which place they had walked ffom Hokianga. The 1 Leonidas ’ left Russell with a general cargo for Wangape on Thursday, October sth, and arrived off Wangape on the 10th when a heavy breeze set in from the SW., and the 1 Leonidas ’ was blown off the land for two or three days. The wind then chopped round to the N.E., which earned the vessel till abreast of the Manukau Heads, when the weather moderated. A favourable breeze setting in she , was enabled to make up her lost ground. On Saturday, 14th, the vessel arrived at Wangape. The wind at the time was blowing from the S.W. moderate, with a very heavy N.E. swell rolling in. In attempting to take the leeward passage the vessel took the ground. The anchor was at once let go. but the chain immediately parted, and before sail could be set, the vessel drifted on the rocks, the heavy seas making clean breaches over her. A number of Maoris asesmbled on the beach, and, ropes having been got on shore, the crew were, with their assistance, after great difficulty rescued. Three hours afterwards the vessel was a complete wreck, haviug broken to pieces.