WRECK OF THE PIRATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 23

WRECK OF THE PIRATE.

BOME TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. GisnonNE, Apiil 21. The steamer Anglian arrived in port al 8.3fl lasb night, with the shipwrecked ore,w of the Pirate, bcucd from Newcastle to Gisborne, wrecked on Portland Island in the gale of Friday morning. Captain Steinbeck reports as follows : — " The vessel left Newcastle on March 25, and had a long and rough trip across the Tasman Sea. She struck a heavy gale on Friday, April 9. When 50 miles from Cape Farewell, running unfier topsail aud bottom-reefed mainsail, the vesiel shipped a sea which atovo in tha cibin doors, filled the cabin and forecastle, and struck the galley. A 400-gttllon tank washed loose, damaging the galley. The ship was hove to, and -whilst securing the tank the mats (C. Morberg) had one of his legs jsmbed, which laid him up for the remainder cf the voyage. The weather moderated next day, and the Pirate was passing throuph the atrs.it, coming north. We sighted the Napier light on April 14, and the Portland Island light at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Shoitly afterwards the light disappeared, and we saw no more of it. The vessel made 20 miles to the east till midnight, when the wind hauled to tha cast, and the vessel was put on the starboard taok, heading N.N.E., which course, allowing for leeway, ought to take her 10 miles to the windward of Portland Island. At 4 a.m. the wind commenced to freshen a little, and after 5 o'clock a terrific squall came along, which blew the head and mainsails to ribbon?. The vessel was veered round on the port tack, my Intention being to get her under the peninsula, there to ride out the gale and repair the sails. Suddenly the land and breakers appeared out of the fog on our lea. The mizzen'sail was set, and we kept on heading S.S.E., which course ought to have taken us c^ar ; but when we came opposite the high bluff the wind suddenly failed us, and a couple of seas washed her »mong the breakers. After that nothing could be done bat to beach the vessel, She

struck heavily, all hands taking to the rigging. As we were going to leave the vessel one of the seamen, Karl Berner, » nativo of Germany, Buddenly dropped dead on deck. He was lowered into a boat, and, after au inquest had been held in the afternoon, was buried on the island. We came to the conclusion that he died from failure of the heart, no outward sign of any iDJury being seen. The ! cook (G. Watkinson) gob one of his shoulders dislocated. We were treated with kindness by the lighthouse keepers, who gave assistance in getting the perishable gear out of the vessel. The Pirate is lying head on to the beach, and is washed up high and dry at low water. Her spars are etill standing, her baok is broken, the stern-post and rudder are gone, and the sheathing is clawed away, the tide flowing in and out of her." The Anglian was signalled at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and sent a boat ashore. The crew were brought to Gisborne, whers the two injured men are receiviug medical aesisfcance. Tbe Pirate wes owned by Mr George Niccol, of Auckland, and was a floe boat, two years old. Nothing is known as to iuimrances. A cablegram from Sydney states that the Pirate's cargo waa insured in the North German Office, but the amouut is unknown.