The Earl Derby.

The voyage of the barque Earl Derby from London to Wellington in 1885 was marred by a melancholy accident which involved the loss of the lives of six seamen. The vessel left London on April 11, under the command of Captain Kerr. For several days after rounding the Cape of Good Hope she experienced very heavy weather, and on June 20 an exceptionally heavy gale was encountered. At 8 a.m., when the crew were engaged in hauling on the port braces, a tremendous sea swept aboard and flooded the deck and saloon. When the water had subsided it was discovered that six men had been swept overboard. No one saw the men being carried away, and owing to the tremendous seas running at the time it was impossible to lower one of the boats, as it would never have lived. Further heavy weather was experienced during the voyage, and the barque arrived at Wellington on July 23.