TRAGIC EVENT RECALLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17324, 25 May 1918, Page 5

TRAGIC EVENT RECALLED

DEATH OF AN OLD SMTTLiiR. The death of Mrs Honour Anderson, which took place in Chrktekurch on Monday, at tho residence of her daughter, recalls tho tragic death of her first husband. Mr William Belcher (says the Cliristchurch Press). In 1867-63 Messrs Belcher and .Fairweather held the contract for erecting the poles for the telegraph lino from Chrietchurch to Nelson. On a Sunday in October, 1868, the Crest, loaded with poles, left Akaroa for Ivaiapoi. Those on board were Captain W. A. Ellis (master and port ownca:), E. Cunningham (seaman), J. B. Barker (part owner), and Mr W. Belcher, charterer of the craft. The weather was fine, and no one expected any casualty from wind or tide, but next morning Mr Barker arrived in Akaroa, and reported that the vessel had been wrecked, and ho was the only survivor. Later two men, named Rhodcej reported that they had visited tho locality where the vessel was said to be wrecked, and rescued Cunningham from a rock, to which he had swum after Barker left, and ho believed Ellis and Belcher were alive on the craft, which had drifted into a cav© over a reef covered with kelp. Cunningham said Ellis could have saved himself by swimming, but had refused to leave Belcher, who could not swim. The weather was moderate for two or three days, end everything was done to reach tho trwo men. Ellis succeeded in getting one of the ropes which were drifted into the cave but its strands parted. A coloured man named Dominique tried to swim into the cave but without avail. Ellis and Belcher copld be eeen, and their cries heard. They rigaed two pieces of rope to tho ton of tho cave, and sat on a board when the t'do came in. At high writer the mouth of tho cave was For three days the saispcnso was great, but on tho boats going out on the fourth morning the oavo woa discovered to be vacant.. A tablet in Akaroa Church commemorates the sad event of 50 years apo. Tho late Mrs Anderson, who was 87 years of age, was a very old resident of Kalopol.