WRECK OF THE CUTIER SATELLITE

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1157, 27 October 1868, Page 2

WRECK OF THE CUTIER SATELLITE

The crew of the cutter Satellite arrived in Westport last evening, says the Westport Evening Star, of October 17th. They had come from the Totara, a river about eleven miles south of the Buller. There, or a mile or two to the northward of it, their vessel had been driven ashore at one o'clock in the morning, and until half-past four they had to cling to the rigging.. The night was one of the wildest that have been experienced on this coast for a very long time, and not only mu3t their exposure have been great, but their escape was marvellous. The vessel went on shore when it was ebb-tide, and at low water they were able tq leave the vessel. As soon a3 the tide made she commenced to, break, and is now a completo wreck. He cargo, consisting of thirty tons of potatoes shipped at Ne\y Plymouth, and consigned to Messrs. N. Edwards and Co., is naturally a" total j loss." At the time the vessel got driven on to the shore, Captain White was endeavoring to work her ofF to a sufficient offing, but it was inrpossible to contend against the irresistible force of the gale. For five days previously the vessel had been off and on the coast, making for Westport, which was hor destination. The official inquiry into the circumstances of the wreck of the cutter Satellite wa9 concluded on October 20th,.by Mr. Munday, of H.M. Customs. Mr. iVfunday's peporfc to the Postmaster-Genoral, upon these circumstances, as by the evidonce, is to this effect:—" That } paving examined the master and tvfo seaman, formerly qf tlie creW of the cutter Satellite, I am of opinion that the loss of the saiql vossoi is attributable solely to the violence of the wind and heavy sea, accompanied by a very dark night, which prevented th.ose on board from asoor? taining the true position of the vessel; that no want of care is. chargeable against the master, and that be is free from blame; and that the vessel was run on shore to save the lives of the crew."