TERRIBLE WRECK NEAR AKAROA HEADS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1834, 7 November 1884, Page 2

TERRIBLE WRECK NEAR AKAROA HEADS.

EIGHTEEN LIVES LOST,

News per Press Association reached town yesterday that the barque Clyde, 552 tons register, had gone ashore at Duvanchelles Bay, near Akaroa Heads. The following particulars have since reached us : Christchurch, November 6.

From accounts to hand it would seem that the Clyde went ashore about 4.30 a.m. On receipt of tho news.of the wreck, Kinsey Ward and Co. agents, telegraphed orders to Akaroa for the steamer Akaroa to proceed to Horseshoe Bay, and that everything should be done for the comfort of survivors. At 4 p.m. the steamer returned with the sad news that tho barque had broken up, and nothing but wreckage could be Been around the spot where she sttuck. It thus appears that the captain, his family, and all on board except the lad Gibson—eighteen lives in- all—have porished. One body was recovered, that of n boy about 14, also an apprentice of the ship, It was arranged that the s.s. Hawea should call at Akaroa Heads at 6 p,m, on her way south from Lyttelton, in order to seo if the ill-fated barque could bo got off, but need for this no longer remains. Tho surveyor of the Underwriters' Association left in the Hawea for the scene of the wreck. The lad Gibson is detained at Akaroa for the inquest on the body picked up. He is also rather exhausted, and requires rest. _ Kinsey, Ward and Co. are advsied it is doubtful if anything will be saved from the wreck, as the ship is in pieces. Gibson has telegraphed to the agents, asking them to send a message to his mother that he is safe, and they have cabled to her through the owner (J. Ellis, of Newcastle.) Later. Captain Tilhurst, the Underwriters' Association surveyor, who left in the Hawea, met the steamer Akaroa at Akaroa Heads, and he returned by hei to Lyttelton, The sea was very rough off tho Heads when the Akaroa went out, and the top of a mast was all that was visible where the vessel sank. Horseshoe Bay is a small and extremely rocky inlet on the coast, four miles to the south of Akaroa Heads. It is difficult to enter, even for a boat. Inspector Pender will despatch two constables to meet Sergt. Brooks at the Head of the Bay, whence they will proceed to the coast, and do all that is to be done. They will watch for bodies that may be cast ashore, and see that they are decently buried.

From the account of the lad Gibson it appears the barque left Dunedin steering N.E. by N. half W. About 4 this morning the weather was fo<wy arid the sea rather heavy. Gibson lad turned in a few minutes later, when the mate told the offwatoh to be handy

ill live minutes. The man on watch

called out land on the lee bow, and all hands were called to put the ship about but she missed stays, The captain tried to wear the vessel, heading off the wind, but she struck amidships, A. boat was lowered, andthecaptain ordered Gibson and another boy to bale, and put in his wife and three children. The lee rail of the ship was then low down and the stern of the boat caught under it, and was swamped,' The women and children were dragged aboard, and seeing the mainmast falling, lie dived and got to the spanker-boom, and on board: He saw the Captain bleeding and stunned floating about the deck, which was under water, with his two children, Gibson pulled the children out, and they, with the boatswain's mate and others got into another boat, which was swamped among the wreckage, Gibson again got on the spanker-boom and saw the captain's body and that of a girl nine years old float by, Gibson seized the child, but a heavy sea swept over him and he lost his hold of her, He then got on a deckhouse drifting by, and was carried into a little bay, from which he managed to reach the shore. He walked some miles to Macphaile's house, near Duvanchelles Bay, whence news was sent. Gibson afterwards returned to the shore, and was taken on board the steamer Akaroa.