SHIPWRECK AT THE NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 986, 17 March 1873, Page 2

SHIPWRECK AT THE NORTH SHORE.

FOUNDERING OF THE MAPJON PENNY WITH ALL ONBOARD.

The city was startled this morning by the announcement made in our contemporary, the Southern Cross, that a shipwreck had occurred within full view of the city. The details of the catastrophe were rather meagre, although sufficiently explicit to indicate that an awful calamity had befallen the city. We quote verbatim from the Cross, of this morning, which speaking of the ill-fated Marion Kenny says:—"She was moored a short distance off the shore, to be ready _to be taken on the slip on Saturday at high water. During Friday night, however, the schooner took the ground, and it is thought that her weight on her bilge strained her ; for, as the tide rose, it was found that the schooner was making water fast. Despite all the efforts used the water made in her rapidly, and at high water she filled and sank, showing her masts and port bulwarks above water. It is expected, however, that the leak will be got at to-day, and sufficiently stopped to admit of the vessel being raised and placed upon the slip." Early this morning a Star reporter was despatched to the wreck to ascertain the full extent of the disaster. Upon reaching the scene he observed the surface of the water literally covered with the bodies of the dead and the dying, These were so numerous that our reporter found it impossible to count them. The most mysterious part of the affair is however to be related. It appears from an examination of the hull of the vessel that it has been sunk wilfully. Several holes in the bottom were discovered, which had evidently been made intentionally, no doubt for the diabolical purpose of destroying the lives of all on board. The whole affair is involved in deep . mystery. LATEST PARTICULARS. From subsequent enquiries we learn that the vessel was indeed sunk wilfully, and that the guilty parties are Messrs Niccol and Sons, ship-builders, of the North Shore. They allege in extenuation of the act that the vessel was scuttled by order of the owner for the purpose of killing the cockroaches and other vermin which, had been bred on board while the vessel was employed in the Fiji tade. They have since, as our contemporary expressively|puts it, '' got at the leak," and have plugged up the holes and pumped outthe water, so that the vessel is once more afloat. This is so far good, but what reparation can they make for the terrible destruction of life and the outrage committed upon the feelings of the Cross people who have been so grievously sold.