TOTAL WRECK OF THE STEAMER CLEOPATRA.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 219, 14 April 1868, Page 2

TOTAL WRECK OF THE STEAMER CLEOPATRA.

The non-arrival of the steamer Cleopatra, 'from Napier, due on Sunday night, caused not a little alarm, and it was feared that she was wrecked. All uncertainty was at an end on Thursday night, when Captain Palmer, master of the vessel, arrived in town and reported that the ill-fated vessel was ashore at White ■Cliff's, Pallisser Bay. The statement made hy Captain Palmer to Mr Hackworth, who, in the absence at Auckland of Mr Seed, is acting as Collector of Customs, is as follows :—■ Left Napier at 7 a.m. on the second April, for Wellington, with two passengers and no cargo ; weather fine at the time of leaving ; about three hours afterwards began to blow heavily, varying from W. to N.W.; brought up at Kidnappers; left again same evening, and got along as far as Maungakura; increased to heavy gale; obliged to steam in-shore and bring up for the night; on the 3rd the wind lulled at sunrise; got under weigh ; kept moderate till we got down abreast Flat Point; came on to blow again, and were obliged again to steam in shore, and brought up at Pahau in the afternoon of the 4th; got under weigh again next morning (sth) ; reached Cape Pallisser, acd anchored there in the evening, as it was blowing so heavily in the Strait that 1 dared not try it; on Sunday (sth), still blowing frightfully from N.W.; in the after-' noon the wind suddenly veered round to the SiW. ; got -under weigh ; tried to steam off shore to get an offing, in hopes of fetching Wellington, found the vessel labored heavily and began to work ; called the engineer and mate up to consult them ; they strongly advised beaching her to safe life, in which I concurred ; bore away at 6 p.m. for White Rock Bay, and took the beach at 7.20 p.m. , passengers and all hands landed safely at 1 p.m.; saved all the moveable property I coiild that night; during the night, as the flood-tide made, she broke in halves. She is ■ owned by Joseph Paul, of Nelson. Ido not know if she was insured. She was valued at .£2,500 in Napier, for the purpose of being 'insured.— -Independent.