THE LOSS OF THE ALEXANDRA

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 36

THE LOSS OF THE ALEXANDRA

WESTPORT, January 20. The Alexanura, which is ashore 2G miles south of Westport, took a cargo to Port Ehzazbeth (Cape Colony; from Europe, and was chartered to carry coal to a German order from Westport to the Islands. She called at Sydney on the way here from South .Africa.

The captain is rexiorted to have stated when he visited Charleston that on the morning of the disaster he imagined tnat lie was about 30 miles off Cape * Foulwind, when what looked like a dense bank of fog appeared right ahead of the vessel. This turned out to be bush. He gave instructions to change the ship round, but before this could be done she had run aground on the rocks. An examination showed that the vessel was making water, so a rope was carried ashore and bound round a tree, and all succeeded in getting shore by climbing along the rope. The crew camped on the beach.

The barque is expected to break up at any time. The captain and crew (twelve in number) are standing by pending a survey by two master marineis, who leave for the scene this afternoon.

The vessel, which now lies on the beach, is high and dry at low tide, and a large number of people visited the scene of the disaster yesterday. The place where she struck is not a veryrough spot, and it is fortunate that the accident occurred there. Had it happened further south it is almost certain that none on board would have been saved. Later. Captains Ewan and Price, in response to a request from the master of the barque Alexandra, wrecked near Bri-h----ton. went down to-day to take a marine survey of the position of the vessel. Thev return to-morrow.

The Collector of Customs has been instructed by the Marine Department to hold a preliminary inquiry.