H.M.S. Calliope, 26. Captain Stanley, arrived in port on Sunday, from Nelson and Wanganui, having on board as passengers his Honor the Superintendent, his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman. R. Strang, Esq., and officers of the Supreme Court.

When off Wanganui a melancholy accident occurred, involving the loss of two lives. On arriving off the bar the Calliope fired a gun. Lieutenant Holmes left the river in a boat, with four prisoners, whom he conveyed on board.

On returning, a fresh breeze sprung up from the north-west, and he was unable to make the bar. He accordingly decided on beaching the boat towards the Wanganui, but when about a mile from the shore she shipped a sea and eventually capsized. Two of the men made at once for the shore, which they reached in safety. The unfortunate deceased became frightened, and losing their presence of mind, began to sink. Lieutenant Holmes, with a gallantry in every way to be admired, remained with them, assisting them on to the boat which had turned uppermost. All his humane efforts were unavailing, for the poor fellows were washed off and drowned. Mr. Holmes then made for the shore, but so exhausted had he become through his exertions to rescue the two men from a watery grave, he would have lost his own life in the surf, had not the two who previously reached land ran in and saved him. The remainder of the party, by holding on to the boat, reached the shore in safety. One of the unfortunate men was a sailor, named Clatworthy, and the other a corporal of the 58th Regiment.-
Wellington Independent, April 14, [1847].

SG & SGTL ; Vol 4 ; Page 124.

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