THE WRECK OF THE FANCY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 399, 10 November 1868, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE FANCY.

FUETHEE PAETICULAES We mentioned yesterday that the schooner - Jane .Anderson had arrived at Hokitika with the Buwiv/T sf the "wreck of the Fancy; the loss of which at D'Urville Island was reported "■ herejby|Captairi Scott, of tlie steamer Lyttelton. From the Hokitika papers wo learn that Captain Falconer of the Jane Anderson rethat when abreast of the entrance of Greville Harbour and close on to the shore, lie noticed a human form waring its hands. When he perceived it lie immediately sent a ■ boat ashore, and upon landing they found a roan, who announced himself as the only survivor of the schooner Fancy. This "man, Teamed Michael Walters, was, when discovered, i almost devoid 'of clothing, his only covering i being a shirt, having jumped out of bed when the vessel first struck. The following is his version of the occurrence:—On the 12th of October .the vessel had.reached as far as 12 miles east of the Farewell Spit, which was made out on the morning of that day. The wind blowing from the N.W., and increasing in violence she was liovc-to, head-reaching to the north. At 10 p.m. tlie same night-breakers were discovered under the Ice bow. At this, hour itwas extremely dark, and the position of the vessel could not be discerned, but during a lift of a cloud a small gap was discovered in the rocks, for which the vessel •■was run, as the coast was observed to be a line of perpendicular rocks. While in the break she became perfectly unmanageable, eventually striking the rocks and bilging the vessel. Only one more shock'succeeded the first, and all the possible damage that the vessel could receive resulted from it. This shock smashed her into pieces, and precipitated the whole of the hands into the water, leaving only poor Walters to relate the sad tale. The whole of the others disappeared, never having been sei n by the survivor. How Walters escav ed i j does not recollect. All that ho can recollect is, that upon becoming conscious of what had occurred hc.found himself upon a ledge of rock, where lie was borne by the waves. There he remained shivering and- hungry for about fourteen hours, after which ho succeeded in nn attempt to scale a cliff, when ho discovered that he was at the entrance of Greville Harbour. He remained here between five or sis ! days, being the whole time without food of • any sort, and having, nothing to cover him save his shirt. It was while in this position that Captain Falconer discovered -the poor fellow and took him on board his vessel. Nothing of any value belonging to the Fancywas found. -Portions of the wreck have been firmly wedged at the head of a cave, where it had been driven ; small particles only of the rest of the wreck were to be found floating about. The bodies of the other unfortunate men could not he found anywhere, though portions of their clothes were discovered. .Nothing of the cargo was visible.