Shipping’ Disaster at Napier.

Wairarapa Standard, Issue 2067, 13 May 1887, Page 2

Shipping’ Disaster at Napier.

FOUR LIVES LOST. THE SHIP NORTHUMBERLAND WRECKED. Napieb, May 11. The greatest shipping disaster which has yet been chronicled at this port occurred today. As already telegraphed, the ship Northumberland parted one of her anchors yesterday and drifted toward the shore, but was ultimately pulled up by the second anchor, and a spare anchor was also put out and held. At night everything appeared snug. At 4 o’clock this morning, however, both anchors commenced to drag, and at about 10 o’clock the wire-cable attached to the spare anchor broke. A signal was made to the shore for immediate assistance, and five small steamers which were in port at once began to get up steam, and all spare anchors and cables available were shipped. They started about 1 o’clock, but could not make the ship for nearly an bonr, owing to the heavy sea. The Northumberland was then fast by the stern. Her remaining anchor began to dtag, and the Weka made an attempt to tow her off, but the line broke, sod it was seen that any farther attempts to saves the fine vessel were useless, The Weka laid* by while the ship’s boats were got out. Just then a terrible accident occurred. The Boojum, the Union Company’s launch, steamed under the lee of the ship to take the boat’s crew on board, bat got into the breakers, and in a second was turned bottom upward. She was manned by Captain Setter, engineer <f. Martin, seaman Eelvington, volunteer seaman G. Bain, a landsman, and Archibald Waddell, a cordial manufacturer, and a stranger known as Boolty. The Northumberland’s life-boat, which had just been manned, pulled to the scene of the accident, but succeeded only in saying Martin. A rope was thrown from the ship to another man, who was hauled halfway up, when be fell back exhausted, and was drowned close to the shore. By this time large crowds had assembled on the shore. An attempt was made to send a rocket with a line on board, but the lines proved rotten, and would not carry. By. this time she wav within a hundred yards off the beach, and a plank attached to a light line was floated from the vessel, which was secured after great efforts by two men named Lome and Lyman, who went into the surf with ropes round their waists. A light line being lauded, it was easy to send a strong cable on board, to which a cradle was rigged. At about 4.30 the work of rescue commenced, there being then 31 souls on board, hnddlcd together on the forecastle, with the sea making a clean breach over the vessel. Difficulties occurred throagh the cradle lines breaking, and darkness set in, making the work still more difficult, bat by 7 o’clock all were landed, Captain Todd being the last to come on shore. Fires were lighted on shore and spirits supplied to the men, as they landed exhausted by their buffeting with the heavy seas. The ship now lies abandoned to tbs underwriters. Her boats are smashed, and most of her deck hamper, and also the bulwarks, but her spars arc all standing. The hull appears sound. She lies deeply embedded in shingle, and hardly moves, though the sea breaks over bet continually. If the sea moderates, probably a great portion of her cargo could be saved, but the chances of floating her are very small indeed. She was almost a full ship, having 1000 tons of English cargo for this port, besides 4000 bags ■>f wheat and other produce shipped at Lyttelton. The detailed insurances are not yet available, but the total is not far short of £IOO,OOO.

LATEST PARTICULARS. The Northumberland is now breaking up. The masts have gone, tearing up the deck ; the hull also appears to have a breach in it. The cargo strews the beaob for over a mile. Fart: of the hull of the Boojum is also washed ashore, but no bodies. News has just been received that there is a regular pandemonium on the beach. A large crowd was broaching cargo, many being blind di ink. There is only one policeman there, and he is utterly powerless. He called upon a lot of respectable citizens to help him, but they were set upon by a lot of drunken roughs, so they came to town to report the state of affairs to the police. The names of those who arc known to be drowned from the Boojum ate A. Waddell, Q. Kilvington and G. Bain. The master of the Boojum was picked up in an exhausted condition, and is not expected to live. Latest. THE SHIP GONE TO PIECES. RECOVERY OF CAPTAIN SETTER’S BODY. Napier, Yesterday. The Northumberland is completely broken up. Captain Setter’s body was washed ashore. Four lives have been lost, not five as previously stated, namely—Setter, Waddell, Kilvington, and Bain. Setter and Waddell leave widows and large families.