WRECK NEAR THE FRENCH PASS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 21

WRECK NEAR THE FRENCH PASS.

Total Loss of tke Barque Gazelle. — Nine Lives Lost. Nelson, February 4 (Midnight). The barque Gazelle, of 336 tons, from Rocky Island to Lyttelton, was wrecked near the French Pass early on Saturday morning. The captain of the steamer Grafton, which arrived to-night, reports that nine lives were lost, one man only being saved. Of the barque nothing is to be seen but the spars left on the rocks. A steamer is leaving at midnight for the scene of the wreck. Four bodies have been washed ashore. February 5. The steamer Lily has just returned from the wreck of the Gazelle. She brought two survivorß—William Davidson, a native of Finland, second mate and boatswain, who was washed ashore at Waikawa Bay, about a mile from where the ship struck, and Joseph Atkins Quintal, ordinary seaman, a native of Norfolk Island, and a pearl diver, who swam to land on the ship striking. The latter climbed the hills, and while searching for water saw sheep, and followed their tracks till he found the house of a settler named Wells at Waikawa, reaching there on. Sunday after the Grafton passed. Four bodies have also been brought up, those of Captain Rogers, and Andersen, Olsen, and Tommy, three seamen. The bodies of the mate, Albert Viking, and* two seamen, known only as George and Andy, and the cook and steward, whose names are not known, have not come ashore. All the men except the captain had lifebelts on. The barque left Thursday Island on January 3 for Lyttelton. Captain Svendsen, who had commanded her, died at that island, and Rogers, who was mate, took his place, Albert Viking, a native of Norfolk Island, being shipped as mate. They first sighted land on Friday night, a little after 9, when all hands were called on deck. A fearful gale was blowing, and the seas were washing the decks. All the sails were ultimately blown out of the belt ropes, save the flying-jib, and apparently the exact position of the vessel was not known. Under the tattered jib efforts were made to keep the vessel off the land, which must have been D'Urville Island. About 330 on Saturday morning land appeared all round, and the sea was very high. A little later she struck against a high bluff, marks where the rock has broken away being visible to-day. Quintal says that as the spars were falling he jumped over the weather side immediately, and kept . himself afloat till daylight, when he got ashore without injury, save a bruised shoulder. Davidson and the mate stood on the forecastle head. Davidson says the ship struck thrice, then broke in two and went down, whereupon the mate and he jumped. He got hold of the hatch combing - after a time and drifted to Waikawa, nearer the French Pass, where Jie was picked up by Wells unconscious, but by rubbing and the use of brandy he was revived. He is much swollen from the buffeting. Alongside him were found the four bodies mentioned, all considerably battered. Wells made rough coffins and buried them, but they were dug up to bring here. None of the men apparently were married. Davidson, the boatswain, shipped at Auckland, where he says he has friends. The steward also shipped at Auckland, where he was well known. He was an Englishman. Tho vessel must have come through the Beef Barrels rocks, where, had she struck, not a soul could have been saved. February 6. The inquest on the four bodies washed ashore from the wreck of the Gazelle on Saturday last throws little further light on the casualty. It appeared, however, Captain Rogers knew he was in Blind Bay, but did not know the precise position. The evidence showed that the vessel was well equipped, and that the anchor was let go just before she struck. A verdict of v Accidentally drowned by the wreck of a barque " was returned. The Gazelle was insured for £250 in the United and £1250 in the North Queensland. The latter is re-insured with the London and Provincial and China Traders. The barque Gazelle was an exceedingly handsome iron barque of 349 tons register, owned by Mr W. S. Waterston, of Invercargill. She was built at Glasgow in 1877 by Messrs A. Stephen and Sons, and was 143 ft sin long, 27ft lin breadth of beam, with a depth of hold of 13ft 4in. At her last special survey she was classed 100 Al at Lloyd's. The Gazelle was uninsured, and her value was about £2500. She had 500 tons of guano on board, consigned to Messrs J. H. Stanley and Co., Dunedin. Captain Svendsen died at Thursday Island, and the vessel was in charge of the mate, Captain Charles Rogers, who had sailed as master since 1870, much of the time out of Dunedin. The erew — 10 all told — were shipped ab Auckland. The Gazelle made several trips from the Bluff to London, and was a smart sailer. On the cargo the risks amount to £1250 in the North Queensland Insurance Company and £250 in the United. Messrs J. H. Stanley and Co. state that they have reinsured with the London and Provincial and China Traders.

Mr J. Green, M.H.R., promised a depu cation of the Gore Farmers' Club to arrange with Mr Ttell (the president) for a meeting shortly of the Farmers' Union,