WRECK OF THE Barque 'Clyde.'

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 868, 7 November 1884, Page 2

WRECK OF THE Barque 'Clyde.'

LOSS OF SEVENTEEN LIVES.

One of the worst wrecks that has ever happened on tbe coast occurred yesterday morning on a reef running out from the north head of Horseshoe Bay, which Bay is that between Island Bay and Peraki. Tho head was called by tho whalers " Snuffy Nose," and the reef in question goes a long way out. The vessel, a lino barque, owned in Newcastle, N.S.W., by J. C. Ellis wason her way from Dunedin to Lyttelton with part cargo of sugar from the Mauritius. As far as can be ascertained the usual course was steered. Tbe weather was foggy, and the land could not be seen, and the first alarm must been given when there was little hope of extrication. Of the eighteen persons aboard, which included the captain's wife and his three children, only one was saved from a terrible death, and the vessel herself was completely broken up. As in the case of the Westportand other vessels, some current setting in for the shore must have been the cause of danger, for all was order aboard and the ordinary course seems to have been steered. It is marvellous tbat in spite of the numerous accidents vessels do not keep a better o fling iv passing the dangerous bead of this peninsula, when they know that at certain times an insidious current bears them towards its iron coast. Fiiisvr Intimation. The following telegram was received by the Harbor Master, Mr Aylmer, yesterday, at 10.26 a.m. :— " Duvauchelle's, 6th Nov., 1884. " The Barque ' Jessie Alice ' is ashore at Horse Shoe Bay, this side of Peraki. Nineteen souls aboard. Only apprentice ashore as yet. Rather heavy sea on. Assistance wanted at once."

The news at once spread, and arrangements were made for despatching the s.s. Akaroa to the sceno of the wreck. Mutual congratulations passed as to the good fortune of her being iv harbor and having steam up, and in the space of a very few minutes the Government boat wa.s made fast astern of the steamer with Messrs Black and Busch in her, while Metssrs Matthew Wight and LaCoste also went to help pull her, and His Worship the Mayor accompanied tho expedition. All was ready, and they s-Qi\i away by eleven o'clock, aud it was hoped they would rpsedily return with tho rescued crew. Tho enquiries made from Christchurch, Dunedin, and elsewhere were incessant, and from them it wivj learnt that tho name of the barque was not the Jessie Alice, but the Clyde,. tlie mistake in th*? "telegram having occurred through tho owner of the vessel's name, being J. C. Ellis. It way also discovered sho was on her way iVom Dunedin to Lyttelton, but that was all. The suspense was much felt, and when a few minutes before three a telegram came from Duvauchelle's, stating that the Akaroa was coming up the lun'bor, everyone felt relieved, and quite a crowd made -for the wharf, lint ns the steamer approached the worse began to be feared, for it was yoe'iv thai there were few on board .and no signs of merriment as if a crew had been rescued from pari!. Slowly ahe camo alongside with only two more limn l.liotio who started with her aboard, and of these one lay dead. Tho dreadful talo was scon told that of the eighteen- persons aboard tlie doomed ship . only one f;pprenlice.was the sole survivor. He is a nice looking young fellow, some seven-

teen years of: age, named George Gibson, and has been some time .n the vessel. With much intelligence and yet with true sympathy with his unfortunate shipmates he told the following tale of disaster and death :—