THE WRECK OF THE GAZEHOUND.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 56, 16 March 1865, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE GAZEHOUND.

It is with regret that we announce that the fine barque the Gazehound. of London, Captain Andrew, which arrived here on the 9th of January, with a cargo from home, having been chartered by Messrs Traiil, Roxby and Co., of this place, to bring out a cargo and ship wool— and which, indeed, was the first ship direct from England to this place -in consequence of the heavy weather which came on on Wednesday last, and continued for several days, and raised a tremendous sea, parted cable after cable, and having no Government , moorings to which she could resort, came on shore on Monday morning last, the 13th instant, and is now lying on the beach here a total wreck. In 'our leading column, to which wo refer, we have expressed what is the decided opinion of most persons here that if the most ordinary care had been shown by Government, and if «ufficient outer-moorings had been maintained, the Gazehound might have i*ode out the gale in safety. It is quite in the reccollection of the public that the Star of Tasmania, which arrived on 9th December, and had previous experience, haying loaded here last year also, attempted to take advantage of the outer-moorings on her arrival here, but they were in such a state of disrepair that one touch of her weight immediately parted them. On the 22nd of that month the pilot schooner Caroline arrived iu consequence of the representations which had been mada from this quarter. What she did we only know by the sequel. She departed again on the 29th of the same month. In consequence of repretentations made again as to the state of the moorings an assurance was received (reprinted in our leading column) that the moorings were quite substantial enough to hold much larger ressels than the Star of Tasmania. But at the very time, 2nd February, this ■tatement was made known to the public, it was known to tho initiated that there were no moorings in existence, for the Gazehound had tried them shortly Before that date and found that she was pulling at a broken chain. The Caroline, pilot schooner, did nofc arrive again until the 28th of February, and after a few days vain search for the chain, she was driven away by the late tempestous weather, and left on the 11th inst. When there is a formal enquiry, it will bring out the fact whether or not the Gazehound had sufficient gear calculated to hold her in all weathers. The weather, however, has been the worst ever remembered here. The occurrence proves nothing against the holdingground, which is excellent ; and had the tackling been •trong enough, the Gazehound would have still remained in safety. It is the belief of every one that Captain Andrew and his crew did everything in their power, that it was out of his power to take his vessel away after the bad weather commenced; and that the Beach Master *lso lent every advice and assistance, so that the fault rests mainly on the shoulders of the Provincial Government. Surveys have been held on the vessel and cargo, and the wreck of them was sold yesterday for behoof of the undrwriters, and all whom it doth or may concern. The following we believe to be an accurate detail of the loss of the vessel : — For some days previous a heavy sea had been running on the coast ; on Wednesday, 8th inst., it became too rough to ship wool, and from that date till the ship (truck there was no communication with the shore, except by signal. On Thursday night, the sea became fearfully heavy, with wind from E. to S.E., and continued so till Friday, when the Geelong passed, without being able to communicate. On Friday afternoon there ■was some abatement in the •weather, but . during the night a very heavy swell set in from the E.S.E., and Captain Sewell signalled the vessel to let go the second anchor, which wa» done. On Saturday there appeared &pin tome abatement, with wind variable from E. to «.E. The vessel rode in safety, with two anchors down. On Sunday morning, every appearance of fine weather, and the tea considerably less. At daylight the ■mall bower anchor wa« hove in and examined — the ■tock had worked adrift. The vessel then rode by her bett bower anchor, with 60 fathoms of cable. About 11 a.m., the tea appeared suddenly to rise, and became much heavier than over before. The small bower was '"mediately let go again, and cable veered out to 45 and 105 fathoms, and four parts of a 10-inch coir warp was pat on for a «pring, to which «he appeared to ride «*s«Iy till 8 p.m. on Sunday night, when the sea rose ndl .higher, and th« tmaU bower cable parted. The

vessel rode in safety T»y the one anchor until 6.30 a.m. on Monday morning, when the best bower parted a few links outside the hause-pip6. Sail was immediately hoisted, and every effort was used to get the vessel out to sea ; but there was scarcely a breath of wind, and she gradually drifted inshore till she struck, at about 8 a.m., and in less than four hours she wa3 a total wreck. The number of bales of wool which the Gazehound had received on board at the time of the wreck was 638. We may state that it is reported that the vessel and cargo were fully insured. She was about 10 years old, but had been newly repaired, having got a thorough overhaul; she had also been re-classed, and was in firstrate order and condition at the time of the occurrence. An account of the sale will be found under the head commercial. The excitement caused by this occurrence in the town and district has been very great, and the regret felt and expressed general among all classes.