TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. STAR OF THE EVENING.

Southland Times, Issue 644, 15 March 1867, Page 2

TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. STAR OF THE EVENING.

LOSS OF SIX LIVES. From the " Hawkes Bay Times," Feb 27. The s.s. Star of the Evening, Capt. A. C. Turner, left Napier on Tuesday, 12th February, bound for Auckland with a cargo of 1,300 sheep, and three passengers, Messrs Smith, Sleifstein, and Warrel. Experienced moderate southeasterly weather until abreast of Portland Island — at that time (8 p.m.) making aNE £E course, in order to clear the BuU Bock. Kept on the Bame course until the southern extremity of the Ttfn,Ti.» Peninsula bore W by S £S ; then kept tbe ressel away N, being half a point easterly deviation, which course would take the vessel midchannel between the Ariel Bocks and Gable End foreland. About midnight the weather came on yery thick, with rain, and the wind freshened from the SE. At 2.20 a.m. the vessel Btruck on & rock on the port bUge forward. Had the helm put hard-a-port, but found that the vessel would not answer to it. Had fore and aft canvas taken j in, but finding the vessel among the breakers, and not answering to her helm, thought it prudent to keep the square saUs set, and beach the vessel, — that being considered tne only chance of saving life. About half-an-hour after striking she broke in two just before the engine room, aU hands having previously been warned to go forward. When she parted the fore part got furfcher in towards shore, and within a cable's length of the inner reef. Was unable to do anything until daylight, from being ignorano of the direction taken by the reefs, and also waiting for low water. At daybreak got out aU the avaUable spare lines, and 'one of the fore hands named Hammond undertook to reach the shore with the Ufe buoy and line attached. He succeeded in getting ashore safely. The Une broke, and orders were issued that whoever could swim should strike out for shore. The first person drowned was a seaman, Walter Hooper by name. The cook and steward jumped overboard, but both met with a watery grave. Captain and three or four others reached shore. Messrs WarxeU and Sleifstein next met their fate. Bemainder of those on board were esconced up aloft, — the foremast and yards being still standing. Mr Smith, after holding on until exhausted, dropped into the water and was quickly drowned. A line was then dropped down to the carpenter, who was stiU on the forestay, and he was with great difficulty drawn up to the foreward. The tide having by this time risen over the reef, put an end to aU hope of receiving assistance from shore until next time of low water. The survivors stUl onboard were then as foUows: — D. Bobinson, engineer; A. Johnson, carpenter; M'Dermott, fireman ; and Morgan and Woods, seamen. On Wednesday a message was despatched to Tauranganui for -assistance. About four o'clock that afternoon, Mr Gilmour arrived with line, kc, and two natives ; and afterwards Mr CampbeU, E.M, Dr Brown, and several other Tauranganui gentlemen came to render what assistance might be in their power. The tide having faUen. aU" proceeded to outer reef, from which a native swam to the wreck with a Une. He reached the wreck, but a strong southerly current carried the bight of the Une on some detached rock 9, so that it was quite useless to those on board j and the native was too much exhausted to make another attempt. The sea being stiU very high, nothing more could be done that night for the poor fellows still on board. * Next (Thursday morning the sea was very high,) ao mucli so as to prevent any communication with the wreck. Tried again during the afternoon tide, but the sea was stiil too high. At midnight the weather moderated. Five p-rsons on board were safely lauded, having their limb 3 much swollen through exposure for 53 hours to a heavy S.E. gale, and such rain as had not been experienced on that coast for many years..