THE BARQUE GAZELLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1894, Page 5

THE BARQUE GAZELLE.

PARTICULARS OF THE CASUALTY.

TWO SURVIVORS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Nelson, Monday. The steamer Lily has jusb returned from the wreck of the Gazelle, and has brought the two survivors, William Davidson, a native of Finland, the second mate and boatswain, who was washed ashore at Waikawa Bay, about a mile from where the ship struck, and Joseph Atkins Quintal, ordinary seaman, a native of JNorfolk Island and a pearl diver, who swam to land on tho ship striking.

The latter clambered the hills and while searching for water saw some sheep and followed their track till he found the house of a settler named .Wells at Waikawa, reaching there the Sunday after the Graf ton passed.

Four bodies have also been broughb up, viz., those of Captain Rogers and Anderson, Olsen and Tommy—three seamen. The bodies of the mate, Albert Viking, and two seamen, known only as George and Andy, and the cook and steward, whose name is not known, have come

ashore.

All the men except the captain had lifebelts on.

The barque left Thursday Island on 'January 3rd for Lyttelton. Captain Svendsen, who had commanded her, died at that island, and Rogers, who was mate, took his place, Albert Viking, the native of Norfolk Island, being shipped as mate,

She first sighted laud on Friday night, a little after nine, when all hands were called on deck. A fearful gale was blowing and the seas were washing the decks. All tho sails were ultimately blown out of the bolt ropes, save the flying jib, and apparently the exact position of the vessel was nob known.

Under the battered jib efforts were made to keep the ship off the land, which must have been D'Urville Island.

About 3.30 on Saturday morning land appeared all round. The sea was very high, and a little later the vessel struck against a high bluff, marks where the rock was broken away being visible to-day.

Quintal sayß that as the spars were fallIng he jumped over the weather side, and kept himself afloat till daylight, when he got ashore without) injury, save a bruised shoulder.

Davidson and the mate stood on the forecastle. Davidson says the vessel struck thrice, then broke in two, and wenb down, whereupon the mate and he jumped. He got hold of a hatch combing after a time, and drifted to Waikawa, near the French Pass, where he was picked up by Wells unconscious, but with aid, rubbing, and brandy he revived* He is much swollen from the buffeting. Alongside him were fonnd the bodies mentioned, all considerably battered, and -Wells made rough coffins and buried them ; but they were dug up to bring here.

None of the men apparently were mar ried.

Davidson, the boatswain, shipped at Auckland, where he says he has friends. The steward also shipped at Auckland, where he was well known. He is an Englishman.

The vessel musb have como through the Beef Barrel rocks, where, bad she struck, not a soul could have been saved.

Dunedin, this day.

The barque Gazelle is insured for £250 in the United, and £1,250 in the North Queensland. The latter ia re-insured with the London, Provincial, and China Traders.