A MISSING VESSEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4763, 2 October 1893, Page 3

A MISSING VESSEL.

SUPPOSED LOSS OF A BARQUE,

Wreckage Pound. When the Wakatipu and Rotorua arrived in Port- yesterday forenoon from Wellington, reports were circulated to the effect that both steamers had passed a considerable quantity of wreckage just clear of the Wellington Heads. Enquiries made on board the steamers proved that the rumours were only too true, and that there can be little doubt that the Evelyn, which was eleven days out from Newcastle to this port with a cargo of coal, has either foundered with all hands, or received such extensive injuries as to necessitate her turning tail and running back through Cook's Strait to seek shelter. CAPTAIN EWEN INTERVIEWED. Captain Ewen, of the Wakatipu, states that about 3 p.m. on Saturday, when a few miles to the southward of Wellington Heads, he steamed through fully a mile and a half of wreckage, among which were a lifeboat (painted mastcolour inside), parts of deok-houße, accommodation ladder, evidently from a large ship, skylight gratings, and what waß considered to be the portion of another boat. The lifeboat was smashed forward, and was lying full of water, and Captain Ewen was unable to make the name on the stern out, as there waß a very high sea, and it was therefore unsafe to lower a boat. The other wreckage was chiefly in short lengths, but from the Bize of the lifeboat, the accommodation ladder and other fragments of wreckage it was evident that they belonged to a big vessel. The idea which first suggested itself to Captain Ewen's mind when seeing the boat and deck fittings was that some vessel had had her decks swept in tbe terrific southerly gale which had prevailed along the coast on the previous day, and the effects of which, in the shape of a high sea, were at that time in evidence. But this idea when the Wakatipu continued to steam through ihe wreckage for fully a mile and a half, gave place to the belief that the vessel had met her fate and had foundered. Of course there is one ray of hope, not a very probable one it must be admitted, that the vessel having found it impossible to make her. way to the soathward, in the face of the angry elements, was put before the wind and sea, and succeeded, after having her decks cleared of all movables, in getting to the westward and through Cook's Strait, where Bhe would obtain shelter. WHAT THE ROTORUA'S OFFICERS SAW. The Rotorua; in command of Captain Manning, left Wellington shortly after the Wakatipu, and passed through the same wreckage, which was about a mile and a half in length, and about four miles off Pencarrow Heads. The name on the lifeboat was observed to be "Evelyn, j Glasgow," and amongst the wreckage a ; sextant case was seen. The chief-officer of the Rotorua was of much the same mind as Captain Ewen wrth regard to the ' probable fate of the vessel, and considered ! the only possibility of the vessel being ' now afloat was that after getting her decks swept, she had succeeded in getting to the northward and finding shelter. THE VESSEL. The barque Evelyn, from which the wreckage pasaed by the steamers Rotorua j and Wakatipu came, is an iron vessel of ' 120.J tons gross and 11350.0ns net register. She is commanded by Captain Lore, and lefts Newcastle for Lyttelton on Sept. 19 with a full cargo of coal, consisting of 1600 , tons. She 1 was built at Liverpool in 1863 by Messrs James Quiggin and Co.; her owners are Messrs J. Comfort and Co., of Glasgow. * j INTEREST AT LYTTELTON. Ab few rumours are more thrilling in ; their effects upon the community than ! those of shipping disasters, there was con- ; sequently a great deal of excitement at j Lyttelton yesterday when the news be- ; came circulated, and as the town abounds with mariners who know every nook and corner from one end of the coast of

New Zealand to the other, who know what effect this or that particular gale has on various localities and who know also how a deeply-laden ship of 1200 tons should behave in such weather, the subject was, as might only be supposed, the one topio of conversation. Many theories were advanced aB to the probable fate of the vessel and her crew, and those whose experience entitles their opinions to respect, when approached on the subject, invariably answered with a significant shake of the head, folldwed up with the expression of the fear that the ship and all hands have gone. Besides the hypothesis that the vessel has foundered, or may have managed to turn tail to the gale and seek Bhelter, the opinion iB expreesed by many that she haß met her fate on Cape Campbell Eeef. This spot is a very dangerous place to navigators unaccustomed to the coast. Dangerous rocks extend east of the Cape Island to the extent of a mile or a mile and a half. These rocks are barely awash, and are a very trap for mariners. Then, again, the strong "set" to the northward has to be contended against in estimating distances, and this has on more than one occasion settled the fate of a ship and her crew.

[Ph. Press Association. I WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. Eegarding the wreckage found in Cook's Straits tho pilot, lighthouse-keeper and the men at the signal station have been requested to keep a sharp look out, and to Bearch the beach. It is probable that the tug Duco will be sent out. A BAKQUE SEEN ON FEIDAT. - . Oct. 2. The Pilot station reports that a large barque was Been on Friday making south, and by one o'clock was out of Bight. The northerly gale was then moderating, but a few hours later there came fierce southerly weather. It waa thick, and there waß no chance of the barque, which would meet the full fury of the storm, getting back into the Strait 3. The pilot crew go out this morning to Bearch the coast from Pencarro'w Heads towards Baring Heads. Captain Manning of the Eotorua states that for two miles the sea was strewed with wreckage consisting of a ship's railage, a sextant case, pillows, cushions, cordage and a quantity of other woodwork from the upper part of a vessel. Contrary opinions exist among seafaring men. Some think the vessel merely had her decks swept, others fear she has foundered.