SHIPWRECK.
On the morning of Christmas Day, a large brig, evidently in distress, was seen off the land near Killard, county Clare. She was boarded by Lieutenant Whitcomb and the coast guard under his command; also by Lieutenants M'Nevan and Morris, R.N. Mr M'Nevan, as senior officer, assumed (with the consent of the captain) the command on arriving on board.
The ship proved to be the' Mercator, John Gibbon master, timber laden and bound from St. John's, New Brunswick to Belfast. She had sprung a leak and on sounding it was found that there was eighteen feet of water in the hold, A heavy sea running at the time the coast guard galleys were in imminent peril on getting alongside. An attempt was made to get the vessel into the bay of Doonbeg but owing to the insufficiency of water this was found impracticable.
The captain let go both anchors and she soon after drove upon a ledge of rocks at Killard point, Captain White, R.N., inspector of the coast guard was in attendance and afforded every assistance and protection necessary indeed the peaceable habits of the people of that portion of the coast and the exertions of influential residents left nothing to be feared an the score of violence or plunder.
The Mercator is nearly thirty years built, and it is feared there is no chance whatever of ultimately getting her off. Mr. Patterson as agent for Lloyd's has taken charge of the wreck cargo, &c.
- Limerick Star.