THE OTAGO WITNESS
21 Dec 1861


TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. OSCAR
We regret to have to chronicle the total wreck
of the s.s. Oscar, in the New River, Invercargill.
The Captain is perfectly free from blame as the
vessel was in charge of the Pilot. Dr. Forster,
one of the passengers, kindly forwarded to us the
following particulars. The agents, Messrs, Dal-
gety, Rattray, & Co., with praiseworthy prompti-
tude chartered the s.s. Guiding Star to call at
Invercargill, and the Omeo will leave the Port
this morning to take the passengers, mails, and
gold on to Melbourne. We understand that when
the messenger left there was eight feet of water
in the hold. Everything was saved out of the
vessel.

                   Invercargill, 3a.m.,
               Wednesday, December 18 1861.
DEAR SIR, - I left by the s.s. "Oscar" Port
Chalmers, about 5p.m. on Monday, and had a fine
run to the entrance to the New River, where we ar-
rived about 11a.m. on Tuesday. The pilot came on
board just after we had crossed the inner bar, and
took command. I heard him give orders first to
starboard an then port the helm. Before he had
been in charge of her a quarter of an hour, the pilot
ran her on the sandbank just opposite the pilot sta-
tion; the captain made every effort to get her off, but
the tide being about the ebb, it was useless, and she
remained till the following tide, in the hope it would
float her; unfortunately, on the captain examining
her, it was discovered the steamer's back was broken,
some of the plates opened, and many of her ribs bent
3 or 4 feet. She is therefore a complete wreck. All
the passengers have left, the luggage is being taken
out, and the gold is also safe. It is fortunate the
weather is so fine, to enable everything being saved.
  The Superintendent (Dr. Menzies) has most
promptly and obligingly sent off  a trooper with all
despatch to the agents in Dunedin, to send the
"Omeo," which passed here on Sunday last, which
we hope will be done immediately, as it is impossible
to house the passengers and crew - 200 in all.
  Captain Steuart has the sympathy of every pas-
senger, not being in the slightest way implicated, the
steamer at the time being in the hands of the pilot.
  I am sorry to have such bad news to send, but it
cannot be undone, and
                Believe me to remain,
                         Dear Sir,
                           Yours truely,
                          John Forster, M.D.

[more letters to come]


Converted to electronic form by Corey Woodw@rd