OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9682, 26 April 1893, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(•ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER ANNIE WILSON.

Apbjl zi. — lhe topsail aohooner Annio Wilson struck oa tho rocks at 3.30 a.m. on Fiiday mornia.', April 21 ,t, and now lies with her stern to the shore at the mouth of the Oeo river, and is wihin a chain of the land at low water — she having struck at high tide. The ill-fated craft is a neat, woll-painted, and well-kept looking schooner, and was built to the order of Mr E. Mitchelson (late Native Minister) at Auckland, about 11 or 12 years ago, and was tfien handed over to the command of her present skipper, Capt. Mnnay, who ha? commanded her ever since, " and has principally traded between Kaipara and Lyttelton The Annio Wilson was built of bobt Kauri titn! er and beautifully finished, 150 tons registered, and has on board about 250 tons of general cargo, chiefly consiscof flour, potatoes, oats, chalf, wheat, cheese, &c, &c. Capt. Murray states he left Lyttolton with a fiiir \\ind, and cleared tho Welling ton Hfads light on Monday night, when it came on a calm, and cou'd only get off the coast at Oeo on Friday night. The captain was on tho watch when the vessel struck- at 33) a.m. The sea was like a millpond, and not a breaker to be seen or hoard . There was a thick ra n coming off the l.md and the night was terribly dark, and the firet thing to urouso the captain s euspioions was the fact of tho vessel grazing on tho rosks. Tho captain iiuinudiately called the hands on deck, aa.l soundings were taken, when it was found tho schooner was in shallow water* Tho kedsjo anchor was let go, but immediately sha struck on tho rockn heavily, and came to a standstill. The pumps were then soun le 1 nnd water was found. Captain Murray then ordered some of the cargo to be thrown over oard, with an idea of making her lighter and getting her to float. But after a considerable quantity was overbonrd it was found the schooner was settling down, and when daylight came, and when Captain Murray saw tho position ho was in, he gave up all hopes and got his ciew, ashore, when Mr William Good came to the wreck and in formed Captain Murray of his whereabcuts, when the captain and his crew of seven men were well looked after by Mr and Mrs Ogden, of the Oeo Hotel. Captain Murray then wired to the owner, and afterwards entered into an agreement with the nativ b to cart the cargo from the beach and store it in Captain Good's wojlshed, and at daylight on Sunday some twenty natives and the crew made a start. Owing to tho smooth sea considerable progress was made up to noon, when they had to knock off until the water would go down. Should the weather keep at all favorable the captain thinks most of the cargo will be got off. At the point where the «chooner struck is, however, very rocky, and should heavy westerly winds set in it is thought she will likely broak up. Ihe insurances are £1500 on tho hull (in the Alliance), and Captain Murray thinks tho cargo is insured ior ab ut £3000. Captain Murray is very much cut up over the accident, as the ill fated schooner was a great favorite of his.' He has been a master of trading ships for 33 yenrs and never had an accident yet. Amongst the crew is a man named Hay, who was on board of the ill fate?? Jessie, which was wrecked at Hang Ibland, Chesterfield Group, in February last, when he lost everthing. It is not often a sailor haßtho pleasant experience of being shipwreckod twico within three months.