WRECK OF THE ZULEIKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 30

WRECK OF THE ZULEIKA.

TWELVE LIVES LOST.

(Fee United Press Association.)

Wellington, April 21,

The ship Zuleika, bound from Dunedin to Wellington, was wrecked on Friday night, about four miles west of Cape P^lliaer.

Nine bodies have been picked up on the beach.

The bodies recovered are those of the mate, Bteward, two apprentices, and five seamen. ''There are three men missing. The captain, the second and third mates, and seven men were saved.

The veßsel is reported to be completely broken up, and the beach is strewn with wreckage. The captain left overland for Wellington this morning.

Further particulars of the wreck of the Zuileka show that shortly after 11 o'clock on Friday night land was sighted on the port bow near Palliser Bay. A strorg gale was blowing at the time. The captain, seeing the vessel in danger, gave orders to wear the ship, and she was in the act of wearing when she struck. A grating sound was heard as if rocks were scraping the bottom, and in c. few minutes the vessel was hard and fast. A tremendous sea was running into the bay, and the waves dashed over the ship, sweeping everything movable on deck overboard. The officers, men, and apprentices (21 in all) recognised that it was a matter of life and death with them, but no panic occurred. Lifebelts were served out and an attempt made to launch the boats, but these efforts were not successful, the boats beiDg knocked about so much that in a few minutes they were unfit for use. AH then took to the mizz^n rigging. The seas then wers breaking up as far as the mizzen top. After remaining aloft for over an hour the unfortunate fellows, thinking that the vessel would bold together, came on to the deck again and made their way to the forecastle and lemained ia it until half-past 2 a.m., protected from the seas and blinding lain which hud chilled them to the bones About 2 o'clock the ship began to take a lisb to starboard, and in half an hour or &o she was canted over so much that her rail was under water, allowing the sea to break into tho forecastle and almost wash out the ahivericg crowd who had taken refuge iv it. The whole of the men and boy?, with the exception of the captain, who clambered on to the jibboom, then sought refuge in the forerigging, and they remained there for about half an hour. About 3 o'clock the mizzen mast went, and as there was every appearance of the foremast going the crew returned to the deck and joined Captain Brßmner on the jibboom. Shortly afterwards the vesoel lurched into the sea, and every one was launched into the water. Many of the men were able to swim, and they at once struck out for the shore, on which the sea was breaking with a deafening roar. Those unable to swim clung to pieces of wreckage, but were soon washed away from them, and several of them were drowned. Others who could swim were stunned by cases which were being tossed about, and were washed ashore dead — battered and bruised almost beyond recognition.

THE DEATH ROLL.

Twelve men were drowned — viz. : — > Herbert C. Graham, first mate, aged 28. James Petti t, steward, 28. George Wilson, A B , 56. William Svensan, A. 13., 33. Charles S Larsen, A 8., 26. John Blake, A.8., 30 Ambrose Jones, A B , 52. William Summers, apprentice, 17. A. M'Kay, A.8., 20. [Shipped at Port Chalmen, where his parents reside.] Martin Gillan, A.8., 54. Williams, cook, 27.

David Sturrocb, apprentice, 18,

All the bodies with the exception of tbe three last-named were washed ashore. The only married men drowned were Wilson and Gillan.

THE SAVED.

Those who escaped are nine in number — *iz. :— Captain John R.. Bremner. William Lane, second mate Adolphe Haserke, carpenter. William Lison, A B. Eugene Merlin, A.B. A. Peter Ankeson, A.B. William Koeen, A.B. Archibald J. W. Billett, apprentice.

Thomas Carson, apprentice.

The wreck occurred in Palliser Bay, about four miles from the lighthouse. There is a large flat several miles long above the beach, running out from which are numerous rooks that are submerged at high tide. The ship struck stem first, and all that remains above water is a piece of the forecastle, the iron plates of which are twisted out of shape. One of the yards is floating close by. The beach is streWn for two miles with battered kerosene tine, wooden boxes, churns, mangles, axe handles, cases of axes, American lamps, spokes, and a few hundred tins filled with kercsene

The Tutauekai came back to Wellington this afternoon for the purpose of getting coffins and taking down a clergyman. She brought up the carpenter of the Zuleika, who had several of bis ribs broken. This man has been shipwrecked four times.

The men who survived are loud in their praise of the pluck displayed by one of the apprentices, Herbert Billett (son of Captain Billett, of the ship Corelli, trading out of Liverpool), who, after being washed back three times, went to the rescue of one of the sailors, and pulled him out of the water.

The names of those given above as drowned and saved does not quite correspond with Che names of those who constituted the crew when the vessel w.as in Dnnedin. The names of W. Curioni, A.8., and William Jewell, ordinary geanaan, are not mentioned in the list; sent, bub there is a Williams given as cook. This will probably refer to William Jewell. The cook brought trom New York got his discharge in Dunedio, and one of the crew wan to take his place. To complete the vessel's complement A. M'K^iy, whose parents reside at Carey's Bay, rorb Chalmers, joined as an ordinary seaman. But there is still a man unaccounted for.

The Zuleika was under charter to Messrs A. Briscoe and Co , of this city, and arrived at Port Chalmers on the 26th ult., after mn excellent passage of 99 days from New York. She was a handsome iron ship of 1017 tons net register, built in 1875 by Aitken and Hansel, of Glasgow, under jLloyd's. Her owners are Messrs T. Low and Co., of Leifch. The Zaleika brought 2000 tons of American merchandise, half of which she discharged here, and the balance was intended for Wellington, where Messrs Briscoe's charter expired. The cargo was tally insured by the

charterers with the China Traders Company, and the owners had the vessel insnred.