THE JESSIE NICCOL WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3193, 12 April 1911, Page 5

THE JESSIE NICCOL WRECK.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRAGEDY. A STATEMENT FROM MACQUARRIE ISLAND. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.} INVERCARGILL, April 11. The auxiliary schooner Huanui, which left the Bluff, on March 14th for the Macquarrie Island, after news had been received of the wreck, ini December, of the schooner Jessie. Niccol, returned to Invercargill to-day with Mr Joseph Hatch (lessee of the island) on board. Mr Hatch stated that tlie Jessie Niccol survivors reported that, after landing the party on the island in very rough weather, the Jessie Niccol slipped her moorings and stood out to the southward The shore party saw her miss stays three times and let go the anchor not far from the rocks. The shore party could not launch a boat, but stationed themselves on the beach as near to the vessel as possible. One man (Johnston) tried to swim, out to a rock near the vessel, but got tangled in the kelp and the headsman (Bauer) had to go to his assistance and help him back. The second) mate and three of the crew were running out a kedge anchor, and refused to come ashore when advised by the men on shore, saying that they would wait for a change in the weather, although all hands could easily have got ashore. At 9.30' a.m. thq vessel bumped on a rock and smashed her rudder to pieces. The shore party again shouted to the captain and crew to come ashore, as they could, do no good abord. Captain Holmes declined,. but at 10 a.m. the ship’s boat left, with the second mate (Mr Corp) and three A.B.’s, stating that the captain, mate and cook hadi declined to. come. The cook had told Mr Corp that he would, swim ashore later. He' made an attempt, about. 11.45 a.m., but failed and had a hard struggle to regain the vessel. HOW THE VICTIMS' PERISHED. About 11 a.m. a very heavy sea struck the vessel, and ishe- capsized on her port side. Water tanks and spars were all .floating about. Captain Holmes was seen to emerge from the cabin and make for the starboard' side. He caught hold of the rail, but a water tank struck him and he was seen no more. Tlie cook was standing on the port waiter tank when the vessel listed, and the c-liief mate was climbing the rigging. The cook was washed away in a heavy sea, but. the mate -withstood tlie seas for a. mi arte rof an hour. The seas were breaking over him, and eventual!" lie, too, disappeared. The captain’s bodv. which was much bruised about the head and face, was washed ashore shortly after noon, but there was no sign of the others by night time.

Next morning most of the ship was washed up in pieces, and the beach was strewn, with wreckage for about a mile. Tlie second mate’s crew, in landing on the previous day, bad a hard struggle in the surf, but the" managed to reached shore safely after being washed out of their boat. Captain Holmes was buried on December 21st, and the bodv of the chief mate (Mr. Patterson) was found on December 22nd in a mutilated condition. The cook’s remains did not come ashore for over a month. On December 28th a vessel was sighted, and she moved to be the Ida M. Clarke, of Halifax, and the master. Captain Gilbert, when interrogated,said he did not know where lie was bound for, but lie offered them provisions and promised to report the wreck.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY. This afternoon an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the wreck was held before Air Oruickshank, S.M.. and Captains Barber and MeLean*. Formal evidence as to the seaworthiness and equipment of the ship, etc., was taken. The Court found that the Jessie Nicool was properly found, manned and equipped, and the casualty was due to the dangerous nature of the coast, and, if the captain had hung on to his moorings, even if the anchor had dragged, the vessel could have been beached on a good shingly beach. Masters of vessels should 1 be instructed to anchor at night a quarter of a mile outside Nugget Rock. The- certificate of the second mate was returned.