DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3371, 23 January 1884, Page 2

DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.

LOSS OB' LIFE AND PROPERTY. (By Telegraph.) Auckland, Jan. 22. The cutter Daphne has arrived from Raratonga, bringing tidings of a most disastrous gale which occurred there, causing the wreck of the Auckland schooners Agnes Bell, Atlantic, and Makea Aricki, with the loss of seven lives, also a fearful amount of damage to property on the island. The persons drowned were Captain W; Munn and John Anderson, mate of the Agnes Bell; Captain Ayres, John Gates (mate), and Patrick Duncan (steward of the Makea Aricki), with Stanley Heather (brother of A. Heather, merchant, of Auckland), and a native. The three vessels were owned by Donald and Edinburgh, an Auckland firm. The masters of the Agnes Bell and Makea Aricki refused to leave their vessels, hoping at least to save their ships. Munn is well known in Dunedin shipping circles. The insurances were as follows :—On the Agnes Bell’s hull, in the New Zealand, £2300 ; re-insured in the Mutual for £3OO, in the South British for £SOO, in the Union for £SOO ; on her cargo, in the United for £3500. On the Makea Aricki’s hull, in the New Zealand £I6OO, cargo £SOO. On the Atlantic’s hull, in the New Zealand £BOO, reinsured in the South British for £2OO ; cargo insured in the New Zealand for £9OO, re-insured in the Colonial for £3OO. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The following additional particulars in reference to the gale at Raratonga are furnished by the “New Zealand Herald’s” correspondent. The gale on the night of Monday, the 17th December will be remembered _ in the annals of Raratonga as the period of the most disastrous calamity that has befallen the island since the year 1823, Hurricanes are rare here, none having been experienced for eighteen years or more, and even then without either loss of life or shipping. The schooner Agnes Bell arrived in this place on the 17th December, and had received on board a full cargo for Auckland. She was to have sailed the day after, December 18, being deeply laden. The Makea Aricki arrived from Auckland on the 15th December and the Atlantic on the 16th, all fiyin'T the same house flag, that of Donald and Edinburgh, and having valuable cargoes. The weather on the Monday was cloudy and threatening, with rain, and the various captains were busy getting out extra warps and moorings and making secure for the night. From 8 to 10 p.m. the gale increased rapidly, with very heavy sea, all on board and ashore working hard, doing everything possible under the circumstances.' Amongst others, Stanley Heather, a brother of A. Heather, of Auckland, who unfortunately lost bis life in nobly attempting to save others. About midnight, almost the whole of the moorings and chains having carried away, Capt. Schultz, of the Atlantic, determined to beach bis vessel which was done, and the vessel abandoned, the captain and crew barely getting ashore with their lives. Boats were manned amid much danger to go to the assistance of the remaining vessels, saving part of their crews, Captains Munn and Ayers refusing to leave till the last moment. The sea was fearful, and no boat could live to get back to the doomed vessels. The Makea Aricki was now seen to careen over and disappear, Captain Ayers, his mate and cook, with Stanley Heather, taking refuge on the last vessel —the Agnes Bell. The scene was now appalling. The surf ran mountains high. At 2 a.m. the masts of the Agnes Bell went over the side, the people on board continually showing flash lights for half an hour. Then all was over, the sea going clean over the vessel and breaking amidships. Nothing further was to be seen in the darkness. Shortly afterwards a shout was raised that some one was on shore from the Agnes Bell. A Neive Islander of the crew had got on shore, being miraculously saved on a piece of wreckage, and reported that the whole of the unfortunate people left were completely washed away by the tremendous surf, he being the sole survivor. On Tuesday the wind blew with hurricane force. The sight was a sad one. The beach was strewn with wreckage for miles. Towards evening the gale broke, and the following day there was beautiful fine weather. The Atlantic is up on the beach, and the tide is flowing through her. The wrecks of the Agnes Bell and the Makea Aricki were sold at public auction on the 19th the former at Csdols, and the latter at 25d015. The body of Captain Munn was washed ashore, and buried in the afternoon in the churchyard, the funeral being attended by, nearly all the European residents. A general gloom is cast over

the whole place. Stanley Heather was much respected by all the residents, being nine years here. He leaves a wife and several children. The Island now looks very forlorn. Banana and other trees of every description have been blown down, but no damage is reported to buildings or stores. The cotton crops will probably be blighted for the season. The schooners Fairy Queen and Flora arrived shortly after the gale and reported feeling the full force of it, but received no serious damage.