Brigantine DELAWARE

WRECK OF THE BRIGANTINE DELAWARE.

A Maori, from Wakapuaka, arrived in town yesterday afternoon, bringing intelligence to Messrs. N. Edwards and Co., 
agents of the vessel, that the brigantine Delaware, which had but just cleared from this port for Hawkes' Bay, with 
about 100 tons of general cargo, brought by her from England, had been driven ashore about one mile above the 
Maori pah at Wakapuaka, and had speedily become a total wreck, her masts going by the board, and the hull 
broken to pieces. 

It appears that yesterday morning the natives observed a brigantine in the offing, and were induced to watch her 
closely, because the wind was blowing a fearful gale, while the sea ran extraordinarily high. At about eight o'clock, 
the brigantine, which had gradually neared the shore, was dashed with great force upon the rocks. The Maoris made 
all speed to the spot, and, by rushing into the surf and swimming a considerable distance in a fearful sea, succeeded 
in getting a rope passed from the wreck to the shore, by means of which the captain and all hands on board, with 
but one exception, were safely landed, although, from the distance between the vessel and the shore, each one, as 
he came along the rope, incurred considerable danger by being immersed for some minutes in the breakers. The one 
person who, when the bearer of this account left, still clung to the wreck, is supposed to be a passenger of the name 
of Skeet, who, being unable to swim, and having, for some time, refused to avail himself of the assistance of the rope, 
was advised by the Maoris to remain until the sea should go down. It was feared that, unless the sea did speedily get 
calmer, this person would perish.

But a small portion of the cargo has yet been saved. On the captain and sailors being severally landed they were 
conducted to the Maori pah, and supplied with dry clothing. Great praise is due for the very prompt assistance given 
by the natives who, as each person neared the shore, rushed into the breakers and, swimming some distance, 
dragged them to the land.

On being made aware of the wreck, Messrs N. Edwards and Co. sent a member of their firm to the spot, and, as 
soon as the sea goes down, they will send vessels to render whatever assistance may be required. The steamer 
Lyttelton, should she arrive speedily, will also be sent to the scene of the wreck. In our issue on Tuesday next we 
will supply full particulars.   

Transcribed from the Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, of 5 September 1863, Page 3

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WRECK of the BRIGANTINE DELAWARE.

We briefly noticed in our issue of Saturday, that the brigantine Delaware, which had left our port on Thursday last, had 
been wrecked in Wakapuaka Bay, but we were then unable to give any particulars of the sad occurrence.

By the account which has since been furnished us, it appears that the Delaware left the outer roadstead on Thursday 
morning, with the wind at north, which compelled her to tack, and during the night the wind went round to N.W., and 
blew one of the heaviest gales we ever remember witnessing in Nelson. At daylight in the morning, Captain Baldwin 
found himself embayed off Wakapuaka, and, after vainly endeavouring to weather both the south and north headlands, 
and to save his ship by anchoring, was compelled to run her on shore, but, unfortunately, was unable to do this on the 
sandy beach below the pah, when the brig Guide so luckily went on shore about seventeen years ago, but was 
compelled to run stem on to the rocks on the northern side of the bay. By the aid of two native men, and a woman of 
the name of Julia, well known in Nelson, who, on perceiving the vessel was in danger hastened from their pah, at a 
distance of about a mile, all hands on board were saved except the first mate, named H. Squirrell, who had injured 
himself, before the Maoris arrived in attempting to swim on shore with a line, and had been dashed violently against 
the rocks. After all but the unfortunate mate had landed, the vessel quickly broke in two, and became a total wreck, 
and the beach was rapidly covered with spars, timber, and portions of the cargo, of which there was nearly 100 tons 
on board, shipped in London for Hawke's Bay. Such portions of the cargo as were saved were put on board the 
Lyttelton, which was sent to the scene of disaster early on Saturday morning; and on Sunday, the steamer Sturt took 
nearly two hundred persons to visit the spot, and what remained of the ill-fated vessel. The Delaware was a brigantine 
of 240 tons, and was one of the prettiest crafts we have ever seen in our harbour. Wakapuaka is a small bay about 
fifteen miles from Nelson, on the eastern part of Blind Bay. The following account was furnished us by a person who 
was on board:—
The brigantine Delaware left Nelson harbour for Napier on the morning of Thursday, September 3, at eleven o'clock, 
having eleven persons on board one of whom was a passenger named Henry L. Skeet. The morning was fine, but, as 
the wind was not favourable, the Delaware had to beat out of the bay. With night came a fearful gale, and utter 
darkness. The captain tried, but in vain, to make out the Nelson light, so that he might be enabled to run to a safe 
anchorage. He continued tacking his vessel, and sounding, until break of day, when he perceived that he was off 
Wakapuaka Bay, the wind then blowing violently in shore, captain Baldwin immediately tried to weather Pepin's Island, 
in order that he might run to a safe anchorage; failing in this endeavour, he next attempted to pass round the Croixelles, 
but his efforts were fruitless. In these attempts the jib was carried away. Finding that his vessel had been blown farther 
in shore, the captain ordered an anchor to be let go; this was in thirteen fathoms of water. When ninety fathoms of 
chain had run out, the patent windlass gave way; the second anchor was then immediately dropped, and this held on 
for some time, but captain Baldwin, seeing that no hope existed of getting his vessel clear of the shore, and feeling 
assured that, in the tremendous sea which was rolling it was impossible for the anchor to hold, he determined on 
beaching the vessel in order to save her being carried broadside on. In doing this there was but the smallest possible 
choice as to the part of the beach on which he would run, though he strove hard and manfully to reach a small spot 
less rough than the surrounding rocks; in this he failed; he then determined on running her stem on, this being the only 
preferable chance that was left. The Delaware first struck the rocks at about twenty minutes to nine o'clock on Friday 
morning, being then some 120 yards from the shore, and the tide making. After the vessel had struck, the mate, who 
was a good swimmer, volunteered to attempt reaching the rocks with a rope around his body. The attempt was 
fruitless and disastrous, for by it he undoubtedly received the serious injury which led to his being left on board the 
ill-fated vessel. Life-buoys were thrown to him, and failing to catch them he was hauled on board again, but was then 
apparently dead. Even in their then perilous condition those on board used every effort in attempting to restore 
animation, by rubbing, &c. He at length spoke, but again relapsed, and, being apparently lifeless, was taken forward 
and placed in the house on deck. At this moment Maoris were seen running towards the vessel, and, on their arrival 
opposite where the Delaware was fast on the rocks, they plunged at once into the sea, and succeeded in reaching a 
lead-line thrown to them by one of the crew, named Morgan. A rope, after being made fast to this line, was hauled 
ashore by the Maoris, and made fast round one of the rocks. This rope was made fast on board to the cat-head, it 
being feared that the masts would speedily go, the wind and sea being so fearfully high. Down this rope the several 
persons on board singly passed, by holding on with hands and legs, and working themselves down into the raging sea. 
When the ship rolled landward, down, down beneath the water sunk the struggling man, to be suddenly again jerked 
up, and held high in the air as the vessel rolled to the sea. It was a fearful struggle, but in it they were nobly 
aided by three Maoris (two men and one woman, named Martin, Robert, and Julia), who rushed into the water, 
and wading towards the struggler helped him to the shore; this passage from the wreck to the shore, it need not be 
said, was a most dangerous and hazardous one. The captain was the last man to leave the vessel, and even then 
before he left he went and looked at what all thought was the dead mate, captain Baldwin examined him, and, thinking 
him dead, came down the rope, but was not one instant too soon, for ere the Maoris had reached him, the rope parted. 
About one hour after this, to the astonishment of every one on the beach, the mate was seen standing at the side of 
the vessel near the fore rigging. The Maoris, though urged by every possible persuasion, replied that it was impossible 
to attempt to rescue the man, the sea was still running so high, and the tide also coming in. Those who had been saved 
frequently went down to the water's edge, and gave him cheering words,' telling him to hold on until the tide should 
turn, and that then he certainly would be rescued. He was warned to go to the main-rigging and hold on there till 
succour should arrive, and, while passing along the vessel, in obedience to their advice, Mr. Skeet stood far in the 
water with a life-buoy ready to assist him, should he fail to reach the spot. He, however, succeeded, and putting his 
arms around the rigging, held on for a considerable time. At length fatigue, and, no doubt, the injuries received when 
in the water, caused him to loose his hold, he was washed overboard, and his body was not found till the following 
morning.

When ashore, the Maoris behaved most kindly. They lighted a large fire for the shipwrecked party to dry their clothes 
by, and, as soon as they could obtain it, also plentifully supplied the whole of the survivors with food. They also very 
kindly received the party at their pah, and gave up to them a whare and blankets.

The beach, for two miles, was fairly strewed with broken cases, torn blankets, candles, shawls, saddlery, and wearing 
apparel.

An inquiry, concerning the death of Henry Squirrel, late chief mate of the brig Delaware, was held on the beach, near 
the wreck, by Nathaniel Edwards, Esq., who acted as Coroner, and a jury, consisting of Messrs. G. Bennett (foreman), 
J. S. Cross, G. Horner, J. Penny, G. White, R. G. Gibbon, T. Whitwell, and A. Brown.

R. C. Baldwin, being examined, said: I am master of the Delaware. That vessel went ashore, about one mile above the 
Maori pah, at Wakapuaka, at about nine o'clock on Friday morning. Deceased was first mate, and, when the vessel had 
struck the rocks, he volunteered to swim through the surf in order to take a line ashore; it was the ship's lead-line. 
While sliding down the rope from the ship, he struck against a rock, and began to sink. I hove two life-buoys to him, not 
knowing at that time that the lead-line was fast around his body. When, however, I had discovered that such was the 
case, I gave orders to the man who had hold of the line to haul him in, and this was done. When again placed on board 
he showed but the slightest symptoms of life. After unavailingly using all the means in our power to rescusitate him, we 
laid him in the house on deck, that being the handiest place. After the whole of the crew, and Mr. Skeet, the passenger, 
bad landed, and the ship then lying with her keel out of water, I went to the forecastle to see if the deceased was alive. 
I found him apparently dead. I then left him and came ashore by the rope. About one hour after, and to my great 
astonishment, I saw Squirrell crawl out and come over the side by the fore-rigging. The masts were then standing. 
Deceased lay over on the ship's and remained there for some time. From thence be went to the main-rigging and back 
again to the fore-rigging, where he clung for about two hours. I sang out to him to hold on, and wait until the tide 
should ebb, but, being exhausted, he let go his hold. I, this morning, heard that his body had been found by a sawyer on 
the beach. I went down and saw a dead body, and after cutting away his clothes which were then lying over his face, I 
saw that it was the body of my chief mate. I assisted to carry his body up out of reach of the tide, where it now lies. 
Mr. Henry L. Skeet was also examined, but his sworn testimony as to his knowledge of the sad occurrence will be found 
fully detailed in the report of the Coroner's inquest. 

The jury returned a verdict of  "Accidentally drowned." 

Transcribed from the Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, of 8 September 1863, Page 2