THE SCHOONER BUSTER DISMASTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 7, 9 January 1889, Page 4

THE SCHOONER BUSTER DISMASTED.

Intelligence reached Sydney on January 2nd from Gabo Island that the three-masted schooner Buscer, from Melbourne bound to Sydney and Newcastle, had been dismasted .and was lying off the island flying " signals of distress/ The captain signalled that immediate assistance was required, as the vessel was drifting towards the shore. On receipt of the news the underwriters of the South British Insurance Company arranged for the steamer Mount Kembla to proceed to the assistance of the Buster. The Mount Kembla left Sydney in the evening under orders to tow the vessel back to Sydney. The steamer was expected to reach Gabo Island next night,and should pick up the disabled vessel next day. A strong northerly wind was blowing at Gabo on Jan. 2. The Buster left Melbourne for Sydney on the 21st ult. under the command of Captain Liljeblad, haviug on board a cargo of flour, chaff and dynamite. She is a wooden vessel of 305 tons, belonging to Mr John Williams, of Sydney, who only the other day fixed her to load coal at Newcastle for New Britain.

The Superintendent of Telegraphs on Jan. 2 received the following telegram from Gaba Island :— " Three - masted schooner Buster, with foremast carried away by tho deck, main and mizen topmasts and jibboom gone, wants immediate assistance, five miles west of Gabo Island ; drifting in shore."