THE WRECK OF THE SHIP ST. VINCENT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 469, 23 February 1869, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE SHIP ST. VINCENT.

The following particulars of the wreck of the ship St. Vincent hare been supplied to the "Wellington papers by one of the two survivors, Mr Stringer, the chief officer:— The ship St. Vincent, Captain James Barron, bound for Lyttelton, passed the lighthouse at "Wellington Heads on Saturday, the 13th instant, at 4 - 30 p.m., having on board, including the captain and one passenger, twenty* two souls; the wind was moderate from the N. W., the weather hazy and threatening; the breeze lasted till about 7 : 30 p.m., at which time the ship was seventeen miles from the lighthouse, when it fell calm with heavy rain; at B*3o the wind came up strong from the southward with increased rain ; the ship was then put on the starboard tack, standing to the eastward, and continued so till 4 a.m. on Sunday; the weather was thick and still raining, and the wind increased to a strong gale. The ship was wore on the port tack, and stood to the westward until noon on Sunday, when Cape Campbell was Been distant four miles; she then wore again to the eastward. It was blowing terrifically, with a furious sea, the ship under two topsails ; the fore and main topmast staysails blew away, and the foresail split in reefing. The weather was still thick, and no land was seen after losing sight of Cape Campbell till 4 p.m., when land was sighted on the lee-bow; uncertainly prevailed as to what land it was until 6 p.m., when Cape Palliser Bay was made out, bearing 5.8., and Taourakira Head, "W., which placed the vessel in the middle of Palliser Bay. She was immediately wore round, and stood to the westward in hopes of weathering the point and making Wellington ; reefed foresail and mainsail were set, also mizen topsail and reefed upper topsails, jib and spanker, the ship making very bad weather, driving bows under, and drifting fast to leeward; about 9 p.m. the wind suddenly dropped, but the furious sea rolling into the bay prevented the vessel being kept to the wind, and she still kept falling to leeward ; at 10 p.m. breakers were discovered close under the lee bow; the wind being light, and the ship refusing to steer, she was thrown all aback, and both anchors let go, sixty fathoms of chain being run out; shortly afterwards she struck heavily abaft. All hands were employed attempting to clear away the life-boat, when a furious sea struck the ship, thowing her almost on her beam ends, smashing the lifeboat, and carrying away the boat-swain, who was seen no more. About this time the cables apparently parted, and she fell broadside on the rocks; the next sea threw her on her beam-ends, the next carried away masts, boats, and everything, completely gutting the vessel out, and leaving her a total wreck. The crew hung on to the main and mizen chain plates on the Eort side; the night was awfully dark, ut all continued to maintain their hold till about 3 a.m. on Monday morning, when the chief officer ana the sailmaker were swept away. Mr Stringer does not know how he reached the land ; he was washed on the beach insensible, and on recovering consciousness, about six in the morning, he imagined himself the sole survivor. On looking towards the vessel, he observed she was about half a mile from the land ; her after-part was completely smashed, and no signs of any of his shipmates were to be seen. He then made the best of his way to M'Kenzie's, where he disovered the sailmaker. In the afternoon he rode back to the scene of the wreck, and discovered the bodies of Mr M'Kay (a passenger), and one of the sailors, washed ashore; he carried them 100 yards above high water mark, and laid them on a rock, covering them up with canvas. The beach was covered with wreck for about two nules.