FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE LOSS OF THE NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 382, 21 October 1868, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE LOSS OF THE NELSON.

The arrival yesterday of the Kennedy, placed us in possession of the circumstances attending the loss of unfortunate steamer Nelson. It appears that having sought the shelter of West VVanganui, she was about to take advantage of a seemingly favorable change in the weather to quit th Inlet, when the disaster occurred which has terminated in her total loss. A very heavy sea was encountere 1 in crossing the bar, aud two or three heavy " combers" falling on board smashed some of the bulwarks, half filled the engine-room, and, what was worse than all, washed a warp foul of the main shaft, in one of the paddle wheels. The other injuries would likely have been overcome but the entangling of the warp proved fatal. The engines, of course, were stopped. The anchor was then let go, the surf however was too heavy, and slowly, but surely, she dragged towards the beach, though an hour or two elapsed before she actually struck. This happened about ten or eleven o'clock on Monday night. Notwithstanding the perilous position of the ship, and all the frightful surroundings of known and unknown rocks, raging surf, and intense darkness, all on board, Captain, passengers, and crew, besides several females, were cool and collected, and behaved well. After a little while a rope was got on shore, and by its means the women were first landed and afterwards all followed. A miserable night was passed, but the next day a sail was procured which served in some measure to protect the party from the inclemency of the weather which prevailed during the greater part of the week they were destined to spend in the locality. With the aid of some dead fowls that were washed ashore, together with a bag or two of potatoes, some butter and eggs, they managed to exist tolerably well. The day after the wreck one or two of the men walked overland to Collingwood, and so proceeded to Nelson by the local steamer, the Lady Barkly, and gave information of the disaster to the owners, Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. At the place where the wreck occurred there is a flat sandy beach with large rocks scattered about, our informant describing it as being somewhat similar to the beach at Woodpecker Bay. The vessel is quite destroyed, and her cargo, which so happened to be the most valuable one she had carried for a long while past, has been wholly lost. In our shipping column is a list of the cargo as given in the Nelson pipers of the 10th, but we believe there were goods on board of which no mention is therein made, particularly a large consignment of valuable drapery, belonging to Messrs Fleming, Parry, and Murray, of Westport, which, however, we understand is covered by a policy of insurance. The mails, including letters, &c, brought by the last Panama boat, were all saved, excepting one package, but their condition when received here by Mr. Winstanley bore token of having been immersed in water, rendering the sorting of them a troublesome and difficult process. The Kennedy reached the scene of the wreck on Sunday, and embarked the Nelson's passengers on Monday morning. Captain Dillon and the other officers of the Nelson remained behind to try and save some of the property belonging to the vessel, but the amount is not likely to be anything very great. We append a list of the passengers who were on board the Nelson when she was wrecked : —Mrs. Thompson, the Misses .Sutcliffe (two),' Mr. Murray, Mr. Seaton, and Sergeant Williams.