The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1869. WRECK OF THE St. VINCENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 40, 18 February 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1869. WRECK OF THE St. VINCENT.

two miles. Mr Stringer then started on horseback from M'Keniie'sj and rode to within five miles of the Lighthouse. He walked to Philips's, where he procured another horse, which he rode to the Hutt, and arrived in town by the coach yesterday evening. Some money and papers found on Mr M'Kay's body were by him handed over to the police. He desires to express his gratitude to Mr M'Kenzie, Mr Phillips, and the Lighthouse keeper* for their kindness in attending to his wants.

The following particulars of the wreck of this fine vessel, supplied by Mr Stringer, the chief mate, were published by the Evening Post in an Extra yesterday morning. The ship St, Vincent, Captain James Barron, bound for Lyttelton, passed tbe lighthouse i.t Wellington Heads on Saturday, the 13th instant, at 4.30 p.m., having on board including the captain and one passenger, 22 souls; the wind was moderate from the N.W., the weather hazy and threatening; the breeze lasted till about 7.30 p.m., at which time the ship was 17 miles from the lighthouse, when it fell calm with heavy rain; at 8.30 the wind came up strong from the southward with increased rain ; the ship was then put on the starboard tack, standing to the eastward, and continued so till 4 a.m. on Sunday; the weather was tbick '_ aud still raining, and the wind increased to a strong gale ; the ship was wore on to the port tack, and stood to the westward until noon on Sunday, when Cape Campbell was seen distant 4 miles ; she then wore again to the eastward ; it blowing terrifically, with a furious sea, the ship under two topsails \ the fore and main topmast staysails blew away, and the foresail split in reefing ; the weather was still thick, and no land was seen after losing sight of Cape Campell till 4 p.m., when land was sighted on the lee-bow ; uncertainty prevailed as to what land it was until 6 p.m , when Cape Paliiser Bay was made out, bearing S.E., and Taourakira Heads, W"., which placed the vessel in the middle of Paliiser Bay ; she was immediately wore rouud, and stood to the westward in hopes of weathering the point and making Wellington ; reefed foresail and mainsail were set, also mizen topsail and reefed upper topsails, jib and spanker, the ship making very bad weather, driving bows under, and drifting fast to leeward ; about 9 p.m. the wind suddenly dropped, but the furious sea rolling into the bay prevented the vessel being kept to the wind, and she still kept falling off to leeward ; at 10 p.m. breakers were discovered close under the lee bow ; the wind being light, aud the ship refusing to steer, she was thrown all aback and both anchors let go, sixty fathoms of chain being run out ; shortly afterwards she struck heavily abaft ; all hands were employed attempting to clear away the life boat, when a furious sea struck the ship, throwing her almost on her beam ends, smashing tbe life-boat, and carrying away the boatswain, who was seen no more ; about this time the cables apparently parted, and she fell broadside on the rocks; the next sea threw her on her beam ends; the next carried away masts, boats, and everything, completely gutting, and leaving her a total wreck ; the crew hung on to the main and mizzen chain plated on the port side; the night was awfully dark, but all continued to maintain their hold till about 3 a.m. on Monday morning, when the chief ofiicer and sailmaker were swept away. Mr Stringer does not know how he reached the land; he was washed on the beach insensible, and on recovering consciousness about six in the morning he imagined himself the sole survivor. On looking towards the vessel, he observed she was about balf a mile from the land; her after part was completely smashed, and no signs of any of his shipmates were to be seen. He then made the best of his way to M'Kenzie's where he discovered the sailmaker. In the afternoon he rode back to the scene of the wreck, and discovered the bodies of Mr M'Kay (a passenger), and oneof the sailors, washed ashore; he carried them 100 yards above high water mark, and laid them on a rock, covering them up with canvas. The beach was jfoverei with wreck for about 9 i