THE MISSING STEAMSHIP, CHARLES EDWARD.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 656, 10 May 1870, Page 2

THE MISSING STEAMSHIP, CHARLES EDWARD.

On Tuesday, the 2nd inst. the p.s. Charles Edward left Westport about midnight, having the schooner Florence in tow. She was bound for Hokitika, the weather being fine with light and variable winds. Up to the time we write she had not arrived at her destination and no tidings have been received of her whereabouts. The greatest uneasiness has been felt for some days respecting the safety of the vessel and those on board, and today this feeling has given place to the gravest fears that the ill-fated steamer has foundered with passengers and crew. Since Saturday last rumor has been busy in spreading reports which when traced have been found to have no foundation in fact, or to have been the exaggeration of some trifling circumstance. Statements were circulated to the effect that the signal-man at the South Spit, about an hour subsequent to the vessel's departure from Westport and when she would have reached the vicinity of the Steeples, saw a sudden glare of light and heard a gun fired ; that he reported the circumstance to the Harbor Master, and that the latter failed to make it known until Saturday. On inquiring we find that the signal-man mentioned incidentally to Capt. Leech on Saturday that he saw the glare as of a steamer's funnel, when slack and dust are t#rown on the fire, at the time mentione J, but thought nothing of it or considered ;t in any way unusual, The firing; of the gun, which if it had actually taken place, would certainly suggest some mishap, is entirely mythical. It was also reported that hen-coops a d steamer fittings had been cast upon the beach to the south, but this rumor is altogether unfounded. Since writing the above the arrival of tlio sicliooiier Mary van Every with satisfactory evidence of having seen the Charles Edward on Saturday evening removes all apprehensions respecting her safety. An accident to her boiler or engine has, no doubt, been the cause of her nonappearance at Hokitika. She will probably be telegraphed to-day as having arrived at Nelson.