THE BARQUE WEATHERSFIELD.

Thames Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 8221, 9 December 1895, Page 4

THE BARQUE WEATHERSFIELD.

A PERILOUS VOYAGE

(Per Press Assocutxox.)

Wellington, December 7

The barque "VVeathersfield, for which some anxiety was felt, arrived this morning. She had been knocking about the Straits for some days, and when a northerly gale sprung up last Saturday she came through the Straits, but in her disabled condition was unable to hang on, and was driven to the eastward.' With a change of wind to the south, she shaped for Wellington, and took the pilot early this mornin<*. H.M.s. Lizard is still out looking for her. The vessel has been out 143 days, and had an exciting time, especially at the latter part of the voyage. In the English Channel and Bay of Biscay heavy winds and dirty weather were experienced. On the 10th October the vessel got into a very rough sea, and again the cargo got loose. Two days later considerable damage was done to the rigging, and on the 30th the fore top sail yard, a ne.v spar obtained in London, fell down and broke in two. Captain Holcroft thought of putting into Adelaide, but he decided to come on to his destination, j On November 23rd, Stephen's Island was sighted, but thick and dirty weather came on, and the ship had to run through the Straits. Two attempts were made to heave to, but without success. On the"29th they once more sighted the Island, and this time the ■wind, fell to a dead calm. The tide and current nearly drove the ship on the shore, and for two days she was en«a«ed trying to clow off, the crew expecting her ta strike every moment. Several times she drifted by the rocks within half her own length. The boats were got out and provisioned, and part of the crew got into them. At 9 p.m. on December Ist she was driving between the Saddle rocks and the Island, when a light air sprung up, and all sail was made at once, and she just scraped by the rocks at the north end. The breeze freshened so quickly that the boats could not be got on board again, and eventually the life boat and another were cut adrift. The ship ran out of the Straits and Captain Holcroft decided to make for Lyttelton as the water was running short, but thirty miles from that port the wind fell calm, and then changed to the south, finally enabling the vessel to make Wellington. Most on board are suffering from the effects of exposure- and hard. work.