LOSS OF THE NORTHERN STAR

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5672, 11 May 1893, Page 4

LOSS OF THE NORTHERN STAR

Oaptain McKenzie of the brigantine Eileen Donan, whioh arrived at Auokland last week from Port Kembla, has supplied the Star with information which lends probability to the theory of collision between the barque* Northern Star and Gowanburn, wreckage from which veßsel baa come ashore m large quantities on the West Coast lately. Captain M'Kenzie, whose brother was master of the Auckland barque, is naturally much interested m the causes surrounding the loss of hi* brother's vessel, and has instituted mf»ry inquiries for the purpose of eluoidating the mystery attached to it. 6n the AustrfUicn sido he met Captain M'Donald, of the ba>--qiientine Yolande,and the latter reported being j'i company with the Gowanburn from I*ew caetle to Valparaiso, with coals off the North Cape. 3ho Gowanburn was unsuccessfully try ing to get round the Cape, and was making vrry heavy weather of it at the time. From this f;*oi it io considered pretty certain that the vecaei's course was altered, and that it was Hit intention of the skipper to negotiate Coi h Btrait, and bo continue on her voyage thr.t way. It was about this times that the Northern Star left Hokianga for W eliin^t n, and that the tremendous southerly gales van experienced. Captain M'Eerzie does rot believe that the Northern Star capsized m the ordinary course of events, as he knew Mf brother had been warned regarding the ve?=<l and had taken the precaution to havo plerty of ballast on hand. Now, the gales already mentioned were of such terrific force sg )< have precluded the Northern Star from cirr»'ing sails, and she would probably have " hoce to " somewhere north of Cape Egmont. Meaiv while a large vefsol like the Gowanburn would make good head way down the coas*, and Gupt.ait M'Xenzie considers, with good reason, that she plunged straight into the vessel )yiug-»c and knocked her completely over. Jf such waß fche case it would cot necessarily fo'lo* that the Gowanburn would go down too, although m a collision of that nature she would certainly lose some of her spars and have a lot of gear and deck hamper oarried away, The many evidenoes of her picked up on the West Coast beach could be accounted for m that way, A boat and oars bave also been found, and it is not improbable that it wai lowered to render assistance to the ill-fated people of the local vessel, but was lost m the attempt. It seems peculiar, however, that no traces of auy of the shipwrecked people hare been seen. From the foregomg it will be seen tli at there is some Blight possibility oi the Gowanburn being still afloat and proceeding to her destination.