LOSS OF THE EDWARD STANLEY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, 12 January 1850, Page 181

LOSS OF THE EDWARD STANLEY.

We have the unpleasant duty of recording the loss of another of the coasting craft of the colony. The Edward Stanley, a smart little schooner of 22 tons, left Wanganui for Nelson on Thursday, the 3d instant, in ballast, with a crew of four hands and three passengers; namely, J. Nixon, Esq., of Nelson, Mr. G. Taylor, who also formerly resided here, and Mr. Duncan, of Wangapui. When off the Croixelles, on Friday afternoon, about ten miles from the shore, the wind at the time blowing very strong from W.N.W., ihe vessel was struck by a heavy sea, which threw her on her beam ends, and shifted the ballast. It was immediately seen by those on board that there was no chance o"f the vessel righting, as she immediately began to settle^down, and the only possibility of escape was by a small dingy, which the vessel carried. The little boat was therefore instantly launched, but being driven -under tire mastr as it lay over the side, she filled with water. The boat had then to be drawn l up the side of the sinking vessel, and launched a second time, fortunately with better success. 'Five of the persons on board now stowed themselves in the bottom of the boat, and the captain took his place at the stern with one paddle, and one of the men at the bow with the other. The ol.ject of this was to keep the bow of the boat to the wind, and let her drift before it, as any change irora this position must, in such a sea, have led to her being immediately swamped, and the destruction of the lives of the whole party. For about four hours the boat was in this most helpless position, those who were sitting in the bottom employing themselves in baling out the water with their hats as it came rushing over the gunwales. At last, by the aid of the wind and the set of the tide, the boat most fortunately drifted into Croixelles harbour, where, on reaching smoother water, the crew were able to put her about, and pull for the shore, but it was even then necessary for the captain to hold his blue shirt over the Btern, to prevent her being swamped by the waves. On reaching the shore, the natives acted with the utmost kindness towards the party, and as the schooner Catherine was there about to load with timber, she was chartered to bring all hands to Nelson, where they arrived on Sunday morning last. From the suddenness with which the accident occurred, and the rapidity with which the vessel filled, (she went down almost instantly after the boat left her), not a single thing was saved by any one on board but the clothes which they had on at the time. A subscription has been opened for providing the crew with a few articles of clothing in lieu of those which th,ey lost, and also to make a small present to the Maories for the kindness shown by them. The Edwarl Stanley was lhe Property of Metro. Taylor and Wati, of Wanganui,