A Headless Body.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6258, 21 September 1891, Page 3

A Headless Body.

SUPPOSED TRACE OF THE KAKANUI WRECK. [pee pbess association."] Invkboaegill, This day. During a sealing trip at the Aucklauds, Mellish, heads-man of the Gratitude party, found the headless body of a man fully dressed and in a good state of preservation, lying on his back on the sandy shore of the North Harbor, just above high watermark. The body wore sea boots reaching to the knee, large socks of Scotch grey, wool corded serge trousers, pilot cloth vest, cardigan jacket, and woollen shirt (striped white and black). Melliah searched the pockets, but found nothing to lead to positive identification—only a piece of beeswax, a round bootlace, and a comb. The body was that of a tall powerful man, and very hairy (of a ginger color). Mellish is almost certain he has seen tbe boots and jacket before, and believes them to be Captain Eckhoff's. He had been with Captain Eckboff on several cruises, and says the build of the man corresponds with him. He brought away two China shiit buttons evidently sewn on by a woman, and he has forwarded them to Mrs, Eckhoff for identification. It has been clearly established that the body is not Nelson's, lost from the Compadre, and it is impossible that it could be any of the Derry Castle's crew, as Enderby is eighteen miles away and it is over four years since that disaster ; therefore, either it is from some unknown vessel lost at the Aucklands, or from the Kakanui when she was struck by a terrific gale in making for the North Harbor, which is much nearer theMacquarries than Port Ross.