THE CAREER OF THE FUSILIER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5262, 19 January 1884, Page 2

THE CAREER OF THE FUSILIER.

The iron barque Fuselirjr, commanded by Captain Harkness, now lying on the beach about five miles south of the Turakina river, has had many eventful voyages since last leaving the United Kingdom. She left Falmouth for Middleabro on 14th June, 1882, to load cargo for Buenos Ayres, thence to Rosaroio, thence to Rio Janeiro, thence to Trinadad, and from there to New York, where she loaded cargo to Wellington. Owing to the slow sailing qualities of the vessel, she was 169 days on the latter voyage; scurvy breaking out among the crew, and water running short, added to the trials of their tedious trip. After discharging her cargo in Wellington, she left there on the 4th, in ballast, for Adelaide, to load general cargo for the United Kingdom. Leaving Wellington, she stood across to Cloudy Bay, and owing to contrary winds, anchored there till Sunday night, the 6th, when she weighed anchor at 7 o'clock and started off. A strong N.W. breeze, which afterwards increased to a gale, drove the &hip towards Cape Campbell. Here she lay-to for four or five days until the gale moderated. Made sail again and stood up Cook Strait; passed Terawhiti at 6 o'clock bst Sunday evening, when the wind nearly drove the ship ashore. Weathering Terawhiti ; passed the Brothers, then got abreast of Stephen's Island, bearing S.S.E. 12 miles. The wind here fell light for five or six hours, then came up strong from N.W. Stood over towards Cape Egmont ; tacked again towards Stephen's Island, gale increasing, and heavy blinding sheet rain, which prevented us seeing further than 100 yards from the ship. After running as far as prudent, we wore ship to N-N.E. again. At 5 p.m. on Tuesday the weather cleared up sufficiently to allow sights for longtitude ; sounded at 6 p.m. at 58 fathoms— green mud. Then wore ship and stood to the southward, and at midnight we experienced very vivid lightning and heavy rain, the wind shifting three points to W. by S. Wore ship to northward, and stood on that tack till 5 a in., sighting Kupiti S. half W., distance 15 miles, btood on same tack till 8 a.m., sighting lowland about Rangitikei river, and still expecting the wind to shift to S.E. Barometer rising, stood on, and about 11 a.m. saw there was no hope of saving the ship. Consulting with the mate and crew, thought it best to beac^ her, to save life. Since beaching, every tide has sent her higher up. 'ihc hull is hound, and everything outwardly in good order. Officers and crew all agree in saying the only course to save life was the one adopted by the captain.