THE GAZELLE WRECK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6897, 8 February 1894, Page 2

THE GAZELLE WRECK.

It is surmised that the barque Gazelle waa lost through mistaking the new light on Stephen's Island for Farewell spit light. The barque left Thursday Island on the 3rd of January for Lyttelton. Captain Svendsen, who had commanded her, died at that island, and Captain Rogers, who was the 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 o'clock, when all hands were called on deck. A fearful gale was blowing and the seas were washing over the decks. The sails were ultimately blown out of the bolt-ropes, save the flying jib, and apparently the exact position of the vessel was nob known. Under a tattered jib efforts were made to keep the ship off the land, which must have been D'Urville Island. About 3.30 on Saturday morning land appeared to be all round. The sea was very high, and a little later she struck against a high bluff, the marks where the rock was broken away being visible to-day. Quintal says that as the spars were falling he jumped over the weather side immediately, aud kept himself afloat till daylight, when he got ashore without injury save a bruised Bhoulder. Davidson and his mate stood on the forecastle head. Davidson says that the ship struck thrice, and then broke m two, and went down, whereupon the mate and he jumped. He got hold of a hatch combing after a time, and drifted to Waikawa, nearer the French Pass, where he was picked up by Wells unconscious, but with the aid of rubbing and brandy he revived. He is much swollen from buffeting. Alongside of him were found three bodies, all considerably battered. Wells made rough coffins and buried them, but they were dug up to bring here.