Barque LOUISA CAMPBELL

WRECK OF THE BARQUE LOUISA CAMPBELL.

On Saturday evening last a boat arrived from Massacre Ray, bringing intelligence of the tdtil wreck of the Louisa 
Campbell on the sand-spit near Cape Farewell. The facts connected with this accident we have since learned to be 
these:— 
The Louisa Campbell was bound to Nelson from Auckland, and had called at Taranaki on her way to leave a portion of the 
cargo which she had brought from London. She left the roadstead of Taranaki on Sunday morning, the 9th instant; but the
wind being very light, she made but little way that day. On Monday, the 10th, she had a fair wind, and carried all sail.
At noon, Captain Darby got an observation, which enabled him to ascertain, as he thought, his true position. Towards 
evening, land was seen on the starboard bow, which the captain supposed was Separation Point; and remarked, that the
vessel had sailed faster than he had calculated on. He then decided on standing on a little longer, and afterwards 
heave-to for the night. The weather was rather thick, so that distant objects were not clearly discernible. About six 
o'clock, while tea was being served in the cuddy, the vessel struck, and the bow was found to have grounded on a 
sand-bank, while the stern was in deep water. An attempt was made to get her off, by carrying out an anchor, but it was
quite fruitless. As the tide fell — for she struck about the time of high water — part of her was left nearly dry. It 
was not until daylight the next morning that those on board discovered where they were. They then found themselves to 
be on the sand-spit about two miles from Cape Farewell, which is several miles to the westward of their proper course. 
Efforts were now made to save the cargo; but a gale of wind springing up, soon broke the vessel to pieces, and 
scattered the cargo up and down the spit for a distance of eight miles. About one-half the cargo has been saved, but 
nothing belonging to the ship. So complete is the wreck, that not a plank or timber remains entire, the whole having 
been broken into two or more pieces by the heavy surf which rolls in on the bank.

Transcribed from Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, of 22 May 1847, Page 46.