THE COBALIE WRECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11536, 22 November 1900, Page 5

THE COBALIE WRECK

■'.•.■'•:■.;:■':„ *-—— » " v PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER. A NARROW ESCAPE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Gisbornb, 'Wednesday. The crew of the cutter Coralie, consisting of Captain Hardwick and two men named Patterson and H. Olsen, arrived at Gisborne from the Mahia last evening. The three men had a narrow escape of losing their lives at time of the wreck. Captain Hardwick states that he left Gisborne last Monday week for Napier, there being a strong north-west wind blowing at the time. They rounded Portland Island on the Tuesday afternoon, and as it was blowing hard from the south-west they ran for shelter to Waikokopu, an old whaling station, in the vicinity of the Mahia bight. They were there on the Wednesday morning, when the wind was blowing hard from the west, but at eleven o'clock it suddenly shifted round to the south, blowing with terrific force. They let go both anchors and the kedge, and for a time the cutter rode it out safely. The sea, however, showing no signs of decreasing, it was deemed expedient to get ashore as quickly as possible, and taking advantage of a lull in the storm the three men landed in the cutter's dingey. The distance to the shore was about five or six chains, and it was with great difficulty that a landing was effected, the sea several times breaking over the boat, in which the men had to lie flat on the bottom to steady her.

Shortly after they landed the storm increased, and the Coralie parted her cables and was driven ashore. As she came on to the beach she rolled over and over, and quickly broke up, the second sea that 'struck her taking the mast out. The bow and stern-post were washed ashore, but no trace could be seen of the rudder. The crew were hospitably received by Mr. and Mrs. Bendall, who did all in their power to make them comfortable, and after partaking of their kindness for three days they came overland to Gisborne.