Bessie, cutter; The vessel sailed from Dunedin on December 6, 1887, Bound for Catlins River with stores for settlers, but owing to the state of the bar was unable to enter the river, and anchored near Long Point, 14 miles south of the Catlins River. On December 8, heavy seas set in, with a change of wind, the cable was slipped, but the shackle jammed in the hawsepipe, and the vessel was driven ashore and totally wrecked. The master, Captain Charles Edward Hayward formerly harbour-master at Catlins River, his son Frank, and W. Wilson were drowned, the sole survivor being Andrew S. Hayward, who swam ashore, then walked to Owaka, from where news of the wreck was then telegraphed to Dunedin.In the Marine Departments report of the wreck of the Bessie is described as a cutter of 20 tons register. Earlier in the year, on June 28, the cutter, then named, Dauntless, stranded about 200 yards from the Old Man Rock, Catlins River Bar, when outward bound with a cargo of sawn timber, and was thought to be a total wreck. However, she was refloated and purchased by a settler, who sold her to Captain Hayward. He sailed her to Dunedin, had her repaired, and renamed Bessie. The Dauntless was described as a cutter of 28 tons register, built seven years previously.
Back to the Long Point Shipwrecks Page.
