LOSS OF THE SCHOONER FLORENCE AND ONE OF HER CREW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4483, 27 March 1876, Page 2

LOSS OF THE SCHOONER FLORENCE AND ONE OF HER CREW.

_ Tho Zyttellon Times of 20th March gives the following account of the loss of the schooner Florence and one of her crew in a squall, off Banks Peninsula, on the morning of the 38th instant:—This finn fore-and-aft schoonT of 55 tons register was built at the Groat Barrier Island in ISC9, and was employed in the Thames trado: wa3 then purchased by Neil Beeton, who took her to Samoa, the facts of which exploit will doubtless be remembered. After this the vessel was purchased by Messrs. Cuff and Graham, of this port, during which ownership she weut ashore at the Ilokitika Bar, and after being thoroughly refitted was sold to Mr. W. Finnimore. of Wanganui, in January 1575, being still engaged in tho coastiDg trade. Thft echoorer went ashore on the "Waitara bar, and sustained some considerable damage. She was then again thoroughly repaired and fitted, and finally changed owners in January last, becoming the property of Captain M'lntyre, of Wellington, this being her first trip for her new owner, owing to certain charters, entered into by Mr. Finnimore, having to be completed, the last one being for a cargo of timber from Pcloius Sound to Dunedin. The vessel arrived at Duuedin on February 17, with timber, and having discharged the same, lay there in expectation of being chartered, and not meeting with success, sailed for Wellington on Thursday last, March 16, at S a.m., with twenty-five tons of stone ballast on board her usual quantity, in charge of Captain Alexander Macfarlane, who. had been in command of the vessel for tho previous six mouth*, and a crew of four mon (including tbe mate), two of whom had sailed with the captain for about eighteen months. The wind on leaving Port Chalmers was strong south-west and it held till noon same day, theuco light and variable winds to Bank's Peninsula, which was sighted at noon on Friday, March 17. A fine north-east breeze then sprang up, all sail being set, and at 6 p.m. Akaroa Head bore north-west by we3t half-west, distant absut 14 iniJcs. Tho breeze died away about S p.m., when the wind came very light from the northwest, and carried the vessel past the Long Look-out At midnight thcro was a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as glass, and no apparent indication of a sudden change, the air being apparently clear and the sky almost cloudless, the barometer standing at 20-50-Tho captain, before going below at this time, it being the close of his watch on deck, took in tho small sails. At 2 a.m. on Saturday morning, with the Lyttelton light tearing "W., distant about 19 miles, the vessel lyins perfectly becalmed, a terrific squall from the "W.N.W. struck her abaft the beam, healing her' over on her bram euds. Captain Macfarlano, who was lying reading at the time, rnshed on dock, and put the helm hard up, the main sliest having been let run to the b*re end, but owing to the vessel having no way on her she would not pay off, but conin the water. The boat was on the main hatch, keel down, the lashings being loose, as the boat had been painted that day. Tho lashings were soon cut adrift, and by dint of great exertions the boat was got clear of the vessel and baled out with an iron pot, which fortunately happened to bo in her. The captain then called to the men to get into the boat as the vrssel was sinking, all hands being then on deck. Tho mate and two of the seamen, together with Ihe captain, succeeded in getting into the boat. The cook, named Charles Jackson, was endeavouring to get an car, and did not respond to the captain's order. Considerable difficulty -a-as experienced in captain again called to the cook to get into the boat but he appeared to bo stupefied. Tho vessel at that instant gave a tremendous heel over, and went down head foremost with a noise like a gteat whale spouting; the unfortunate man was then clinging to tho ringing, and crying for. help, which those in the boat were unable to render, owing to their being driven through the water, and without any means of propelling the boat in the direction of the drowning man. Captain Jlacfarlcne, Charles Klein, the m»to, Walter Benzing, and Olson, the two seamen, were thus left adrift in the boat without oars, water, or provisions, and were drifting at the rate of about four knot 3 an heur beforo the south-west gaic that was then blowing, tho wind having instantly shifted to that quarter, wi h tho sea rising r.pidly. In order to keep the boat's head to tUe sea, the lining was torn out, and a portion of it bent on to the painter, those in the boat paddling her with other portions of tho lining as best they could. The boat behaved grandly, ami in srite of the heavy seas that broke over, rode out the galo though twice she wa3 almost filled. At C a.m., tho sea was at its highest, and then bnth wind and sea gradually abated, and finally came to a dead calm. Tho boat drifted some forty miles, the Peninsula being jnst visible. Tho occupants then constructed some other paddles out of thi lining, lathing tho pieces together with yarns from the painter, and with these temporary aids commenced their long pull for shore, a north-east wind aud sea assisting them, the men using their shirts as sails. The Heads were entered about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, «. heavy sea rollins; in. Tho men went ashore at Oolian's Bay in the hopo of finding some water, of which they stood very greatly in need, paddies lying there, thev appropriated them to expedite arrival here, and' the Watermen's Steps were made about 1 o'clock yesterday morning. Of course, the survivors lost everything belonging to them, and it is really almost miraculous that they escaped as they did, as the vessel went down not five minutes afte-r tho squall struck her. Captain Macfarlane does not know whether there was any insurance on the vessel