When British signals elicited no response, the craft was approached.

The crew noticed that the ship's masts and sails were covered with some kind of green moss, and that the vessel seemed abandoned by its crew.

Upon boarding it, the skeleton of a man was discovered beneath the helm. The deck was decayed to such an extent, that it gave under the footsteps. Three more skeletons were found near a panel, ten were found in the crew's quarters, and six on the bridge.

Upon the ravanged prow of the vessel, the words,Marlborough Glasgow, could still be discerned.

The Marlborough left Littleton, N.Z. in January 1890 with a cargo of wool and frozen mutton, and a crew of 23 men under Captain Hird.

In April 1890 an unsuccessful search for the vessel was made. Nothing was ever found of them until 1913. Effectivly missing for 23 years.