WRECK OF THE JOHN BELL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5519, 20 March 1896, Page 2

WRECK OF THE JOHN BELL.

[Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, March 19. The fore-and-aft schoonor John Bell, 90 tons, owned by Captain Kirk, of Lyttelton, and commanded by Captain Williams, ran on the rocks off Capo Terawhiti about 2.30 tli is morning, when on a voyage front Wellington to Nelson, and, at latest accounts, was in a very perilous position. In the event of the wind changing to the south she would break up very fast. Mr Fabian, a welUknown. bicyclist, who was a passenger by the schooner, brought news of the accident to town this . afternoon. He says that the night was very thick and dark, with a strong northerly wind, and the first intimation the* watch had of the vessel being in a dangerous position was her grinding on a rock. The vesSel was then put in stays, but refused to come round, and drifted on to a ledge of rock close to the shore. The crew and Fabian landed at daylight. The vessel waß loaded with railway iron, on ■which there is an insurance of .£o3o\jn the National Office, .£l5O of the amount being reinsnred. There was also about .£2OO worth of general cargo on board, but thiß was not covered by insurance. The vessel is believed to be uninsured, and Captain Kirk's loss is estimated at between .£I3OO and .£I4OO. General regret was expressed at Lyttelton yesterday evening when it became known .that the well-known schooner John Bell had been wrecked. She was in com- . mand of Captain H. Williams, an old and experienced hand on the coast. He took charge of her at Lyttelton last voyage, relieving her owner, Captain R. Kirk, who contemplated staying ashore for a time. The vessel was on a voyage from Wellington ;to Nelson, with a portion of the same 1 line of railway iron tha^ was, onboard the. „ Reliance when she became a total wreck.