FOUNDERING OF THE ARTHUR WAKEFIELD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5440, 22 July 1879, Page 2

FOUNDERING OF THE ARTHUR WAKEFIELD.

THE CREW SAVED.

A telegram from New Plymouth states that the schooner Arthur Wakefield, from Lyttelton, with wheat for New Plymouth, foundered in the Straits on Saturday night, and the captain and crew, in an open boat, made for New Plymouth, arriving in the roadstead at 8.30 on Sunday night, having been in the boat for 24 4hours.

A later telegram from New Plymouth furnishes some particulars given by Captain Andrews as to the foundering of the schooner Arthur Wakefield. She left Lyttelton on Tuesday last, and made Cape Egmont between 11 and 12 o'clock on Friday night, when the wind lulled, but a heavy sea was running. On Saturday, when the mate tried the pumps, he found an unusual quantity of water in the hold. The captain then wont forward and found six inches of water. Tho buckets as well as the pumps were then txsed in an endeavor to keep the vessel clear, but without avail, and her course was then shaped for Wanganui. When off Opunake she showed signs of settling down, and at 8.25 p.m. the captain gave orders to launch the boat, but owing to a heavy sea this was a matter of no little difficulty, and it was doubtful if a small boat could live. However, the boat was launched in safety, aiid had scarcely loft the ship when the vessel foundered, going down head first. Nothing was saved beyond tho ship's register. The crew had but scanty clothing, most of them being in their shirts and trousers. The captain ordered the boat to be headed for Opunake, but on reaching there it was found impossible to land, owing to the heavy sea, and consequently they stood out to sea, working at tho oars all night while some were engaged in baling out. At daybreak the captain determined to make for New Plymouth, aud during tho whole of Sunday they struggled on without food or water. They reached New Plymouth, at dark, and when entering the surf the boat was capsized, and the occupants thrown out. One seaxnan obtained possession of a life-buoy, while the others struck out for the shore, which they reached in safety, but thoroughly exhausted, and their legs cramped from having sat in the boat for 24 hours. They were taken to tho Imperial Hotel and were well cared for.

The Captain can give no reason for the disaster. The Arthur Wakoh'eld was built in Auckland by John Darrell, in 1873, to the order of Captain Cross, of Nelson, her present owner. She was insured for about £600, and her cargo of wheat, which was consigned to Messrs Webster Bros., was insured for £700. The captain and crew have lost everything they possessed.