STORMS AND FLOOD. WRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Timaru, 30th June.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1879, Page 2

STORMS AND FLOOD. WRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Timaru, 30th June.

Shortly after four o'clock yesterday morning the brigantine Akbar, which was riding almost at the head of the Clan Campbell, parted her first anchor, and began to drift rapidly in among tbe fleet of vessels to the north-west* Another anchor was let go, but this parted, and with her chains hanging from her bows she drifted in a most extraordinary manner amongst the vessels to leeward*. She as nearly as possible fouled the barquentine Annie Bow. An attempt was made to direct her on to the be&ch in Caroline Bay, but the chains hanging over her bows rendered this impossible, and the terrible wind and sea forced her towards the Washdyke. Oa the vessel becoming unmanageable search was made for rockets or blue lights, but nothing was obtainable with which to make distress signals, and she drifted to destruction in tbe darkness. No li^ht whatever was shown, and the watchmen at the Rocket Brigade Station were in utter ignorance that the vessel was in danger. Her crew consisted of Captain Watts, J. Bynhiin f the mate), a passenger named Wright, Nod (the boatswain), a boy named James, the cook, and Charles Dalham, Bartley Humphreys, and a Frenchman named James Waglett. The surname of the boy and cook could not be learnt, but the former was one of those saved from the barque Melrose in September last year. Mrs. Watts, the wife of ibe captain, was also on board. When some distance from tbe beach the vessel, according to tbe statement of those saved, struck, and opened out. About the same time tue captain was carried overboard, and never atterwards seen. The vessel drifted down until she struck the beach shortly before 5 o'clock, about four miles from town. Directly she touched the beach she began to break up, and in a few minutes was split open from stem to stern. A lite-buoy was given to Mrs. Watte, who stuck to the vessel for some time in company with the boatswain, and then when last seen she still had hold of it. The cook, boatswain, and boy soon disappeared, while (Bynham) the mate, the passojiger* (Wright), and Bartley, Humphreys, Dalham, and Waglett (seamen), alter being washed up and down the beach for some time, got on dry land. Bait ley and Waglett were terribly l.ruised by floating timber. The seamen who succeeded in getting eshore crouched on the shingle and braved the wild an-i bitterly cold elements, as best tbey could until day broke, when they mnde for Mr. Bblfield's house. There they wore most hospitably received, and well fed and uupplied with dry ciothing, two of them being without a rag or gbrmont on them when thoy landed. In the afternoon they ull came into town, Bartley and Waglett going to the hospital in consequence of their severe injuries, and the rest being provided with snug quarters at the Merivale Hotel. What makes the death of Captain and Mrs. "Watt still more sad is the fact that they had ouly been married some seven or eijdit months, and were both youog in years The Akbar was an American brigantine, built somo six years since, and was the sole property of her captain. It is believed she was got insured. She arrived here on Monday last from Newcastle with a cargo of coal consigned to E. Smith. Three hundred tons of cargo were still on board when the Akbar came ashore, but tbey were fully insured. The vessel is a complete wreck, and her timbers and fittings strew tbe beach for miles on both sides of her. The topsail schooner Pelican came to grief through no fault of her own or the roadstead Her bowsprit was carried away about 8 a.m. by the barquentine George Noble while tho latter was trying to make an offiing, and she thus became disabled. She rode gallantly, however, until about noon, when her captain (Munro;, finding his cargo was shifting, and tearing she would capsize, slipped the anchors. The Pelican was steered direct for tbe beach at Wafmatorf Lagoon, and run ashore high and dry, her*rew being hnded by means of a line thrown on board by tlac Rocket Brigade party, who were ready to rescue them. The Pelican so far has sustained no injuryj ury whatever on the beach, and but <or t!ie fact of her bowsprit having been carried away, # no doubt she would still bo afloat. She is a wooden vessel, of 74 tous, built at the Manning River iv 1874, and is owned by Henry Aitke", and carried a crew of five hand?. It is not known whether she U insured or not. At the time of stranding she had on board some 290 sacks of wheat for Wellington, shipped by J. and T. Meek. Four other vessels were in considerable danger, but ia the afternoon got away, owing to a land breeze springing up. The English barque Clan Campbell, rode out tbo terrible gale magnificently, thanks to heing well found in cable. The vesels which ran to sea are the barquentines George Noble and Annie Bow, aud brigautines Seabird and Oceola, the steamers Star of the South and Beautiful tftar being at anchor this afternoon. The b.xlits of Captain and Mrs. Watts, as well as of the boatswain and cook, were found today, but that of tbe boy is stitl missing. The body of M'Ewan, drowned from the boat of the Beautiful .Star ou Saturday, wsts also recovered. All the bodies were naked and terribly bruised. Fearful floods occurred in this district yesterday and to-day. Heavy rain was falling from Saturday morning till Sunday afternoon, and off and on to-day. Yesterday part of the Terauka and Washdyke townships were several fuet deep in water, and boats had to basent to Timaru to take people out of the houses. A Dumber of narrow escapes were reported. The whole of the level country was one sheet of water, but during the night the lagoon burst, and to-day the river greatly subsided. The railway traffic is entirely suspended Several bridges and a great deal of formation has been washed away. For several days there have been no mails of any sort, and no communicaton but by telegraph. Every effort is being made to repair the railway line, but tha weather is still threatening. No loss of life is reported by the floods, but a great loss of stock in the Waimea district. Messrs. Blackett and Blair and Lowe, railway engineers,, are here at present, and are in active communication with the other parts of tb.3 island. .