TOTAL LOSS OF A SOHOONER AND CARGO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9197, 16 August 1880, Page 2

TOTAL LOSS OF A SOHOONER AND CARGO.

News was received in Wellington on Friday last by the insurance agents that the schooner Sarah and Mary had been wrecked in Tory Channel. Captain Bendail at once left in the Wanaka for Picton, to inspect the vessel on behalf of the insurance companies, and returned to Wellington to-day by the Taiaroa, finding that the vessel and cargo were a total losa, and that there was nothing to be done by staying at Picton. A preliminary inquiry into the wreck has been held by the Collector of Customs at Picton, when the captain (William Foreman) and others gave evidence. It appears that the schooner left Lyfctelton on the 28th ult. with a cargo _of New Zealand produce for Hokitika. She was compelled by heavy weather to take shelter in ToryUhannel, and on the Bth instant she anchored on the east side of Motuara Island. The schooner lay with one anchor down, and all the men turned in at 10 o'clock without leaving a watch on deck. At about J.l o'pjopk f;l).e captain was roused by one of the men, who said that the schooner was drifting ashore. Captain .Foreman then went on deck and found that thewindhad changed to N.NJE.,and that the vessel was adrift, being in fact only a few feet away from the rocks. He at once told the men to hoist the head-sails to bear her off. The crew had only time to get one jib set, when the schooner struck. The' captain then gave orders to lower a boat and get a kedge out, to tow the schooner off, if possible. While the men were getting out the kedge, the captain went into the cabin, and found it was on fire. The crew were then obliged to desist from their efforts to get the vessel off, and turned their attention to putting out the fire. Finding that it wbb getting the mastery of them, however, they were obliged to leave the vessel at 2 o'clock in the morning, and remained on the rocks for the rest of the nisjht. At daylight they went again as near the vessel as it was safe to venture, but found that it was impossible to save anything, both the vessel and cargo becoming a total loss. When they left, the schooner was still burning, The captain believed- the breaking of the shackle of the anchor was the cs,usp of thp vessel drifting ashore. In reference to the origin of the fire, he states that thore was a stove in the cabin, and also some korosene. When the schooner struck, he thinks the stove broke loose, and so set fire to the kerosene, The Sarah and Mary was a vessel of about 4Q tons, owned by the master, Captain Foreman. She was valued at £300, and was insured in the Victoria office for £200. It is also understood that the cargo was insured, but in what office is uot stated, The schooner is well known in this port, being a fre-' quent visitor to Wellington. The crew were brought on by the Taiaroa to-day en route for Lyttelton. The depositions taken before the Col> lector of Customs have been forwarded to the Government, and jt is ppobable that an official inquiry will talfe place into the loss of tho vessel.-*-Post, 13th August.