CAPSIZING- OF THE KETCH CONSTANT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 703, 27 August 1870, Page 2

CAPSIZING- OF THE KETCH CONSTANT.

LOSS OF TWO LIVES. By the arrival of the Charles Edward we learn tho particulars of the above disaster which occurred at G-reymouth on Wednesday. Th»" Argus " of the 25th says : For' a long time the ketch was observed to ride gallantly over the outer breakers, although in crossing them she received a very rough handling. She got safely across, however, and entered upon the inner break, and had almost cleared it, but as she was too far to the northward, to fetch the entrance she had to tack to the southward. While doing this her broadside was necessarily exposed to the sea, and several rollers were seen to break heavily over her. One mighty breaker was observed to dash heavily against her and capsize her at once. Captain Pascoe, the survivor, states that immediately on the capsize taking place he became entangled in the rigging, and to this he believes he owes his life. When he got clear he seized hold of the martingale of the bowsprit and held on to that till he was rescued. The other two men (there were only three of a crew) being aft at the time, were only seen once by him. From the moment of the capsize until he was rescued, he must have been at least half an hour holding on to the bobstay, and had the assistance not come so opportunely as it did, he must have been compelled to let go. We may state that on being landed he was so weak he could not stand. When the boat approached him, Captain Allardyce threw a rope which he caught in his hand, and afterwards put between his teeth, for as he naively remarked, " he wa« very strong there." The names of the two men who were drowned are Peter Shields, about 26 years, and James Carr, between 60 and 70 years of age. Shields is wellknown here, haviug formerly been in the employment of Mr Garth. The officers of the p.s. Dispatch immediately upon witnessing the accident lowered their boat and got together a willing crew to venture out and see if life could be saved. The crew, consisting of Capain Deare, Captain Clinkskill, of the Magnet, Mr Kitehingham, mate of the Dispatch, Mr Louis Ellerig, of Gilmer's Hotel, and " Dutchy," a well-known boatman on ths G-rey, proceeded with all speed down to the North Spit, where Captain Allardyce, Harbor-master, jumped into the bow of the boat with a line in his hand. After taking him in, the crew pulled out to the break to see if any life could be saved. To do this, assthe vessel was in the midst of the seething boiling breakers was a work of no slight danger. It was, however, done, and well done, as the saving of one life out of three was the reward.