WRECK OF THE WATERMAN.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 842, 27 July 1871, Page 2

WRECK OF THE WATERMAN.

The following further details in relation to the wreck of the Waterman are from the " West Coast Times" of Saturday : The wreck of the brigantiue Waterman, which was beached to the northward of Hokitika on Thursday morning, proves to bo more complete than was at first anticipated. By one o'clock on Thursday night, about a third of her cargo was got out of hor hold, and, when landed, was stored in a rough way in the neighborhood of Atkinson's homestead, opposite to which it occurred. When the work of discharging was complete for the night, the hatches were fattened down, and hopes were entertained that, during yesterday's tide, the remaining cargo would be landed under more favorable circumstances than had attended the first landing. But, during last night—as it had done during a number of nights in the past, and promises to do for an indefinite nuin-

ber iu the future—it blew fiercely from the southward and westward, and the heavy sea which prevailed when the vessel weut ashore diminished in a very slight degree. Its effect upon the hull was damaging both to hull and cargo. The vessel heeled over seaward, so that her decks were exposed to the full sway of the sea, and during the night the hatches were washed off; portions of the cargo floated out; and the position and condition of- the vessel became considerably worse than they were at the time she was stranded,. Kerosene seemed to be the portion of her cargo which suffered most, many of tho eaßes going to pieces quickly, but even bags of flour got afloat and were washed northward by the surf to eddies nn the beach, whence they were afterwards conveyed to the extemporised store. Even the goods in stores—-that is situated above highwater mark—could only be indiffer* ently protected from the rain and hailstorms which prevailed during the night, and yesterday they presented a . '* sorry spectacle " of disorder and de» j struction. The cargo which remained on board fared Worse. Hardware, crockery, stationery, and oilmen's stores' with a large percentage of kerosene, got mixed together, and were reduced to one general mass of wreck and pulp. The vessel herself, strong, built as she is, suffered considerably. Everything which was not a complete fixture was washed away ) the plank* ing of her deck was started; and Bhe was bilged so much on her port side that the sea seemed to have free entry into the hold. All that those who were engaged in the legitimate work of " wrecking " were able to do was to pick up the stray cargo, as it was deposited upon the beach; but at four o'clock, when the tide fell, a gang of wreckers went on board, and transferred the mutilated cargo to drays which were engaged to convey it to high-water mark, or to the store in town which was s sleeted as a place of temporary deposit. While this work was going on, the weather was of a kind most unfavorable to the preset vation of property such as that of which the cargo consisted; but, with the exception of ten or twelve tons, the cargo was sufficiently damaged to make rain or hail showers of very slight consequence. A considerable part of the cargo has been conveyed to Cassius's store, at the corner of Weld and iSewell street*, aud it will probably there be put up to auction-. There are few particulars tp add to the account of the Wreck or to the history of' the vessel. Description cannot exaggerate the critical position of the crew before the resolve was made to run the vessel ashore. They have reason to congratulate themselves that, under the circumstances, they reached the shore without loss of life or limb. The vessel herself Was one of the staunchest that has been bnilt in the colonies, having been built of blue gum, and holding a first-class register for fifteen years, Her appear* ance now, when the cargo is discharged, and the the hull is exposed to the most perfect examination, indi* cates that she has been faithfully constructed ; but the probability of her again being ready for sea depends much upon the weather which may prevail during the next few days. Vessels which have gone ashore at the same spot have been got off without material damage, and it may be that enterprise will still succeed in launch* ing the Waterman from her present position ; but, according to all present appearances, she is technically and literally a perfect wreck.