DROWNED IN SIGHT OF PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

DROWNED IN SIGHT OF PORT.

FATE OF A SHIPWRECKED SCHOONER'S CREW.

Particulars of the loss of a coasting vessel and three hands are to hand from Penzance. A small schooner, the Carrie, of Truro, which left Cardiff for Par, near St. Austell, with a crew of four, had beaten down the Bristol Channel, and had rounded Land's End. During the darkness of the night and in a severe southerly gale the vessel found herself off the Runnelstone, the grave of many fine vessels. She struck the rock and immediately began to settle down. There was a high sea running, but the crew managed to launch their boat and all of them clambered into her. The night was clear and the lights of Penzance Harbour enabled them to steer a course for land. Unfortunately a heavy sea struck the boat shortly afterwards and washed out Clemens, the captain, who belonged to Newquay. In their endeavours to save him the crew lost one of their two oars. As they approached the beach betwen St. Buryan and Portbgwara the men decided that their safest course was to jump into the water and trust to good fortune to reach the shore. Duncan McKenzie, of Campbeltown, Mas the only one who succeeded in gaining the rocks, his two companions perishing in the attempt. **