WRECK OF THE SCHOONER FANCY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 154, 9 November 1868, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER FANCY.

' LOSS OF FOUR LIVES. „ Following close on the heels of the wrecks that have lately occurred along the coast, we have to record a still more "melancholy occurrence in the total wreck of the schooner Fancy, by which, also, loss of life has resulted. The fine schooner Jane Anderson, which arri *ed here yesterday, from Lyttelton, reports the wreck, for the particulars of wjjich we are indebted to the kindness of Captain Falconer, who, in his good vessel, brought on to this port the only survivor of file unfortunate vessel. The Fancy, vre believe, has been expected to arrive at Greysaouth for some time past, and her protracted «un, up to the time of her -wreck, was, in consequence of the bad weather experienced throughout the whole of the province during the middle of the past month, the cause of lirach anxiety. Captain Falconer reports that when abreast of the entrance of Greville harbour, and close on to the shore, he noticed a human form waving its hands, which when he perceived, he immediately B®t a boat ashore, and upon landing they fdund a man, who announced himself as the only survivor of the schooner Fancy. This man, named Mielnel Walters, was, when discovered, almost devoid of clothing, his •oiy covering at 'he time being a shirt, having ju;nped out of bed when the vessel firfft struck. The following is his version of t&e occurrence : — The Fancy left Lyttelton ©nflept. 3.9 th, and was detained with baffling easterly winds for fourteen days. At one time, however, she nearly reached Rock's Foint, but was driven back by a strong southerly wind. On the 12th of October the vpssel hiid reached us far as 12 miles east of the Farewell Spit, which was made out on the morning of thai day. The wind blowing ftro'm the N.W., and increasing in violence, she was hove-to, head-reaching to the North. At 10 p.m. the same night breakers were discovered under the lee bow. At this hour it waa extremely dark, and the position of Hie. vessel could not be discerned, but during a.Uft of the cloud a small gap was discovered inTthe rocks, for which the vessel was run, as the co;i:*f was observed to be a line of perpendicular rock^. While in the break she Ifecame perfectly unmanageable, eventually Striking the rocks and bilging the vessel. Oftly ono more shock succeeded the first, atrd a 1 the possible damage that the vessel conid receive resulted from it. This shock smashed her into pieces, and precipitated the whole of the hand* in the water, leaving ©njy poor Walters to relate the sad tale. The whole of the others disappeared^ever once having been seen by the eurvivorf^How Walters escaped he cannot recollect". AH fIST he can recollect is, that upon becoming j conscious of what had occurred he found ttmsflf upon a ledge of rock, where he was b&roe by the w.ivpb. There he remained ! sfciverinpr snd hungry foT about fourteen j hours, after which he succeeded in an attempt t» scale a cliff, when he discovered that he

was at the entrance of Grerille Harbour. He remained here between fire or six days, being the whole time without food of any sort, anjLhaving nothing to cover him save his ahtft/Xfo was while in this position that Captahrlfalconer discovered the poor fallow,and took him on board his vessel, on vrlijfeh, he at present remains in a. very feeble stiftejf He discourses in no measured terms of the, kindness he received both from Captaiu Falconer and his good lady. On two occasions Captain Falconer visited the scene of the wreck, but nothing of any value remained. Portions of the wreck have been firmly wedged at the head of a cave, where it had been driven ; small particles only of the rest of the wreck were to be found floating about. The bodies of the other unfortunate men could not be found anywhere, though portions of their clothes were discovered. Nothing of the cargo was visible Both of her anchors remain — one chain leading out to where she struck first, and is attached to the remaining portion of the wreck. Captain Falconer is unable to supply us with the names of those that were lost, one only, however, he informs us is married, viz., the captain, who leaves a wife and three children, who are now residing in Nelson. Directly upon the arrival of the Jane Anderson at this port, the loss of the Fancy was telegraphed to Lyttelton by the harbourmaster. — West Coast Times, Nov. 6.