THE SCOW PIRATE ASHORE.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 93, 21 April 1897, Page 6

THE SCOW PIRATE ASHORE.

A SEAMAN DROPS DEAD. THE REST OF CREW IN SAFETY. [BT TELEGBAPH —PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Gisbobne, 20th April.

The steamer Anglian arrived in port at 8.30 to-night with the shipwrecked crew of the scow Pirate, bound from Newcastle to Gisborne, which was wrecked on Portland Island in the gale of Friday morning. Captain Steinbeck report* that the vessel left Newcastle on 6th April, and after striking a heavy gale on Friday, 9th, when 50 miles from Cape Farenell, the weather moderated next day, and the Pirate, passing through the Straits and coming north, sighted Portland Island light at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Shortly afterwards the light disappeared, and we saw no more of it. After 5 a.m. a terrific squall came along which blew the three h'eadsails and mainsails to ribbons. The vessel was veered round on the port tack, my intention being to get her under the Peninsula. Suddenly the land and breakers appeared out of the' fog on our lee. The mizzen Was set and we kept on heading 5.5.8., which course ought to have taken us clear, but when we came opposite the high bluff the wind suddenly failed us, and a couple of seas, washed her among the breakers. After that nothing could be done but beach the vessel. She struck heavity, all hands taking to the rigging. As we were 'about to leave the vessel one of the A.B.s; Karl Berner, a native of Germany, suddenly dropped dead on the deck. He was lowered into the boat, and after an inquest, held in the afternoon, he was buried on the island. AYe came to the conclusion that he died of failure of the heart, no outward signs of any bruises being seen on the body. The Pirate is lying head on the beach, and is washed up high and dry at low 'vater. Her spars are still standing. Her back is broken, sternpost find rudder gone. The Anglian was signalled at 3 this afternoon by the lighthouse and sent a boat ashore, and brought the crew on to Gisborne. The Pirate was owned by George Nicol, Auckland, and was a fine boat, two years old. Nothing is known as to insurance. [The Pirate, a handsome three-master, put into Wellington some four months ago. Captain MeaJes, one time skipper of the Wanaka, was then in charge.]