THE LATE GALE.
As in our last issue we were only able to give a hurried and brief account of the recent gale, we now supply a fuller and more detailed narrative. On Monday last it came on to blow heavily from the E.S.E., and the sea rapidly rising, it was soon evident that the roadstead was becoming unsafe. There were at the time lying in the bay the ships "Water Nymph" (Captain Babot) and Star of Tasmania (Captain Culbert), loading wool at this port for London, the former having 244 and the latter 2095 bales aboard. There were also two small craft, viz., the Otago, Captain Campbell, and the Emu, Captain Morland. About noon the Blue Peter was hoisted at the flagstaff at the Esplanade, as a signal to the vessels to stand to sea. The smaller craft almost immediately obeyed, the Emu setting the example, and hauling as close to the wind as possible, but was soon out of sight. Shortly afterwards the Otago set her mainsail, staysail, and jib, and also stood out. The wool-ships making no sign of an intention to move, Captain Sewell, the Beachmaster, hoisted signals intimating that there was no time to be lost, and calling upon the Water Nymph, which was lying to leeward of the Star, by name to run out. It afterwards appeared that some of these signals could not be made out from the vessels' decks. Serious fears began now to be entertained as to the safety of these, and the excitement became very great when it was found that the Star was dragging. She was at the time riding by her own chain attached to the swivel of the Government moorings. This suddenly parted, and she then drifted some 400 or 500 yards. The starboard anchor was then let go, and the vessel brought up. Her crew could then be seen busily engaged in hauling in the chain, which had parted from the moorings, after which the port anchor was run out; shortly afterwards the vessel parted both anchors, and rapidly drove toward the shore. Attempts were made to set sail, but the seas were rolling clean over her decks, washing a number of iron tanks and the deck cargo about from forecastle to poop, and tendering it impossible to work the ship, the hands having to take refuge in the rigging. She then set in rapidly toward the land, and about 7 p.m. came ashore broadside on, with her head to the southward, about 500 yards to the north of the Presbyterian Church. There was at this time an awful sea on, the breakers being of a magnitude never before seen on this part of the coast. The vessel rolled to and fro upon the shingle, and, being heavily laden, strained and creaked as the enormous masses of water struck her and knocked her about. In a very few minutes the copper on the starboard side was torn off her timbers, and the water pouring through her seams, showed that the port bilge had been driven in. Wave after wave leaped clean over her, and the vessel finally fell over on her port side, her masts quickly afterwards falling over into the sea. She now began rapidly to break up, and her crew and passengers crawled to the starboard bow, where, to the number of some twenty souls, they were seen clinging to a rope. Among them was a lady passenger, a Mrs Baker, supported by Capt Culbert. This lady had two little boys, one aged three and the other five years, on board with her, who were just previously to this time, washed out of the forecastle, to which they had been carried by Mr Andrew Culbert, as the safest spot in which they could be placed, and drowned; Mrs Baker herself having a very narrow escape. Captain Culbert, too, who was upon the vessel's poop at the time she commenced to break up, had only just time to clamber forward ere the after part of the vessel was carried away. The position of the crew was an exceedingly perilous one, the sea making every now and then clean breaches over them, canning with it spars and timber, portions of which struck some of them very heavily, seriously injuring the mate and Capt. Culbert. Each wave as it rolled in brought with it bales of wool, iron tanks, spars, planks, and timbers in immense quantities, and rendered the chance of establishing communication between the vessel and the shore the more remote, as any person venturing into the sea, which, breaking round the ends of the ship, ran like a millrace, was so much the more likely to be carried away. To add to the miseries of the scene, it was raining as we never saw it rain before, the water coming down in torrents, and driving with a force which at times made it impossible to look towards the vessel. The spray, too, came over in great white sheets, and struck upon the faces of the hundreds who wero gathered upon the beach in the hope of lending assistance to the unfortunate crew, with a cutting violence which made it appear as though it were a shower of needles. Several attempts were made to heave a life-line to the ship, but (words unreadable) weighted lifelines were then tried, with the same result, and all the time there was no greater space than 30 or 40 yards between the ship and the shore. Mr Stevens, the mate of the vessel, was then observed to jump into the water, and was seen battling manfully with the surf. As a wave receded he was seen on his hands and knees about midway between the ship and terra firma. Another wave was just leaning its huge front, bustling with hundreds of pieces of timber, and must soon have swept the poor fellow away, when, just at the critical moment, several bystanders rushed in, and seizing him dragged him ashore, barely in time to prevent the loss of their own lives. Ringing cheers lent the air when it was found that one of the shipwrecked men had been saved from destruction But Mr Stevens seemed to have no thought of his own life, his first words being, as he felt the grasp of friendly hands, "The line, the line! I've lost the line." It appeared that he had jumped into the sea holding the end of a line, which he was endeavoring to bring ashore, but which in the effort to save himself he had let go. Seeing that the mate had safely got ashore, two other men, one after the other, jumped into the sea, despite the shouts of the bystanders to remain where they were till a line could be got to them. Much anxiety was felt as they were seen struggling in the surf, lest they should be sucked under the bows by the after-sough and carried out to sea. However, they weer each saved by persons rushing into the water, at an imminent peril to then own safety, and dragged ashore. A fourth now leaped into the water, but he unfortunately chose a very inopportune moment, and was almost immediately, though a good swimmer and seen to battle hard for life, carried under the bow and forty or fifty feet farther out. He was a splendid swimmer, and struck out boldly, but was tossed about upon the breakers, rising now to the top and now almost overwhelmed by the immense masses of water, and it was soon seen that every wave was carrying him farther and farther out; at last he disappeared from view, either exhausted by his efforts, perhaps stunned by some of the floating masses of timber by which he was surrounded. A fifth man then dropped himself into the sea, and he also was carried towards the bow. Here he was washed up against a bale of wool, to which he was seen to cling, and with which he was also rapidly carried out. It then became evident that it was far safer for the remaining survivors to continue where they were than to attempt to swim ashore, and a hundred voices were raised to entreat them to do so. Whether the warning was heard, or whether the fate of the last two showed them the hopelessness of making a similar attempt, fortunately no more left the wreck. At this time a boatman named Mackenzie went into the surf with a line round his waist, and endeavored to throw another to the vessel, and though many times carried off his feet and several times dragged ashore half-drowned, he persisted in his noble endeavor time after time until exhausted, but without success. Darkness was now setting in, and Mr John Hardy went into town for the purpose of procuring materials to make a fire on the beach, and soon afterwards returned, with Messrs Fotheringham and J. T. Anderson, bringing bundles of oakum and a quantity of turpentine. Willing hands soon collected heaps of timber, and in a few minutes the whole beach was lit up by the glare of an immense bonfire. Sergeant Bullon, of the police, then made a fresh effort to carry a line to the crew; venturing boldly into the surf with a line fastened round his waist, and with another, which was made fast by one end on shore, and weighted at the other, he several times attempted to throw it aboard. Once he succeeded so far as that the weight fell right in the midst of the ship-wrecked men, but in the fitful light they did not see it till too late, and it fell into the sea. The Sergeant was now washed off his feet, and was towed ashore, being very nearly drowned, while doing so. It was then suggested that it might be possible to fire a ramrod with a line attached over the vessel, and Captain Steward of the Volunteers started off to town to obtain rifles. He sent up two with ammunition and himself brought a third, with a stout fishing line. By the time he returned the attempt had been made to carry the plan suggested into effect, but unsuccessfully. He then made the attempt himself, fastening one end of a line to the jag of the rod and placing the small end down upon a ball cartridge. The rifle was discharged at a considerable elevation to windward of the ship, but from some cause or other the ramrod went away leaving the line behind, it possibly being cut by the bullet, or possibly burnt through by the flash. A boat had by this time been brought, but it was found that she would have no chance in such a sea if launched. There was not a rocket procurable in town, and it now became evident that a line must be taken aboard or the rest of the crew must perish. Hours had now elapsed, and every effort hitherto had been fruitless. The tide was now ebbing, though little difference could be seen in the state of the sea, and Geo. Mackenzie again attempted to throw a line aboard, and, with a line about his waist and the other in his hand, he advanced into the breakers and time after time essayed to throw the rope over the vessel. He was for a long time unable to do so, but at last — about half-past ten o'clock — the rope was seen to fall among the crew, and to be safely grasped, and a cheer rent the air as hope began to appear of the ultimate rescue of them all. The line having been made fast to the vessel, a man named Duncan Young, in the employ of the Boating Company, clambered aboard amid renewed cheering, and sent the crew one by one down the life-line. Mr Stevens, the mate, also returned to the vessel and brought a young lad named McLean, who was aboard, and whose parents reside in Oamaru, safely ashore on his shoulders. He then returned for Mrs Baker, who was still firmly held in the grasp of Capt. Culbert, and with the assistance of Young, succeeded in getting her upon his back. He then commenced descending the life-line with his burden, but, just as he reached the water an immense wave dashed over the vessel and hid them for a moment from view. As the wave retired Stevens was seen hanging to the rope with Mrs Baker still clinging to him. Again a wave submerged them, and it was feared that they must both be carried away, but on its subsidence they were found to be still safe and in a few moments Stevens had got near enough to grasp the helping hands held out to him, and the lady and her preserver were brought safely ashore amid loud cheers. The first words uttered by the brave woman on landing were, "Never mind me, save the poor dear Captain." There now remained upon the vessel two sailors, Captain Culbert, and Duncan Young. One by one the sailors got safely ashore, and now Captain Culbert prepared to descend. In a few moments he was also safe, and the bold man to whom the survivors owed their lives was seen standing alone upon the wreck of the Star. Watching his opportunity, he ran to the waist of the ship, jumped upon a portion of the mast which was wedged under her keel, and plunging ashore just as a wave had retired, came ashore amid cheering again and again renewed. Dr Wait was in attendance upon the shipwrecked crew, and was indefatigable in his exertions. Some of the rescued men were so benumbed with the cold and exposure as to be unable to stand, and one man could hardly speak; others had been injured more or less by blows received from pieces of the wreck, but all received every attention that kindness could suggest. They were then convoyed in an express-waggon to town. The following was the number of persons on board the Star at the time of the wreck: three officers, ten A.B.s, one ordinary seaman, the cook, carpenter, boatswain, and steward, Mrs Baker and two children, and Master McLean, in all twenty-two souls, of whom eighteen were saved; those lost being Mrs Baker's two children and two sailors, viz, David Petrie, of Arbroath, Scotland, and William Brooks, of London.
Both Mackenzie and Young, to whom, under Providence, the preservation of so many lives is due, certainly deserve some substantial recognition of their intrepidity and noble conduct, at the hands of the Government and public, and we trust that some such acknowledgement will shortly be made; Sergeant Bullen, also, should not be forgotten. We cannot help remarking too, that an open roadstead like this ought certainly to be furnished by Government with life-saving apparatus. Had there been a few rockets available on Monday night, not a life would have been lost.
About an hour after the Star came ashore the ship Water Nymph dragged her anchor, and Captain Babot immediately let go another under this, in the hope that the vessel would presently bring up by it. Almost immediately the ship parted the first anchor, and the strain then coining upon the second, she held by it for a few minutes, when she parted this also, and it was evident that her fate was doomed. Captain Babot immediately spread all the canvas possible, and the vessel drove ashore about three hundred yards north of the Star, with her head to the northward. Having a good deal of canvas, spread, she canted upon her port side, and all her crew escaped safely to land, saving their effects.
The schooner Otago drove ashore about five miles farther north, and all her crew (four) were saved In the morning nothing could be seen of her but her name board and a few spars and planks.
On Tuesday morning the beach was strewn for miles with bales of wool, loose wool, and pieces of wreck, some of the wool having drifted ashore as far south as the point, the rocks between the landing place and the jetty being all covered with it. At day-break, also, it was discovered that the end of the jetty and the greater portion of the shore end had been completely swept away. On going down to the spot, we found that only sixty feet of the structure was still standing, all that could be seen of the remainder being a few of the iron piles, sticking up out of the water, leaning in all directions.
The boats of both Landing Service Companies are almost all total wrecks, the Boating Company having lost two, and having all the others more or less seriously damaged; and Messrs Traill, Roxby & Co. having lost five. At one time it was feared that the Government lifeboat would be added to the list of losses.
Rumor says that the Dunedin is ashore south of the Point, but we trust that it may not prove to be the case. The Emu arrived in the Bay yesterday, apparently undamaged, but as a boat could not put off, we were unable to learn how she had fared.
The wrecks of the Star of Tasmania and Water Nymph were sold by auction on Tuesday morning, on the beach, by Mr M. R. Miller, for the benefit of whom it might concern. The hull of the Star of Tasmania was knocked down to Mr David Bruce for L40. The wool, of which there were 2095 bales aboard at the time of the wreck, was sold to Mr Geo. Sumpter, for a company, at L1360. The hull of the Water Nymph fetched Ll72, being purchased by Mr Noble. The stores and sundries were sold to various persons for a total sum of L150; the wool (244 bales) being purchased by Messrs Cargills and McLean for L810.
The Star of Tasmania was insured, but in what amount or in what office we are unable to learn. The wool she had aboard was, we believe, almost entirely covered by insurance.
We have been favored with the following report by the first officer of the Star of Tasmania, Mr Stevens: — About 11 a.m. on Monday morning a heavy gale came on to blow from the E.S.E. About an hour before had noticed indications of its coming on, but obtained no warning of the storm from the barometer. At 2 o'clock saw the Blue Peter hoisted at the flagstaff, and shortly afterwards two little craft which had been lying in the roads stood out. About half-past 3 o'clock the vessel, which was shackled on to the Government moorings, parted her cable, the ship canting with her head in, owing to the weight of the chain hanging at her bow (about 50 fathoms). Canvas was spread, but, owing to the ship canting head in, with no effect. Let go the starboard anchor with 90 fathoms of chain, and the ship brought up; springs were then put on the cable to enable the black chain to be hove in; the vessel was dragging all the time, but very slowly. Bent the chain, when hauled in, on to the port anchor, and let it go, the vessel still dragging, and somewhat faster. Paid out all the chain possible upon the port anchor, shortly after which the vessel parted her starboard anchor, being at this time among broken water, and lolling heavily. The sea was making clean breaches over the ship, the hands not being able to remain on deck, the deck-houses being washed off, and some iron tanks which were on deck being washed to and fro. He (Mr Stevens) was washed aft violently, striking heavily against the poop, and sustaining somewhat serious injuries. Two other men, who were also washed aft, were considerably bruised. The vessel now parted her pent anchor, and drove rapidly ashore. Loosed the foresail and foretopmast staysail, in the hope of driving the vessel bow on. The ship took the beach end on, but shortly afterwards canted round with her head to the southward, the seas striking her heavily on her broadside. Mrs Baker, a passenger, was then brought up from the cabin, and her two little boys and Master McLean was carried into the forecastle, as the safest place, and secured in the bunks. Shortly afterwards, the decks being smashed in, the forecastle was filled with water, Mrs Baker's two little boys being drowned, Master McLean managing to escape. The masts then went by the board, and the vessel commenced to break up rapidly. All hands, with Mrs Baker and Master McLean, took refuge on the starboard bow, the vessel having heeled over on to her port broadside, the water washing clean through her seams. The first officer jumped into the sea to try to carry a line ashore, but, being washed away by the backwater, lost the line and barely escaped with his life. Four men then successively jumped off, the first two getting ashore, but the others being drowned. At last a line was hove aboard, and the remainder of the crew and passengers were taken off. In the morning very little of the vessel was to be seen. The Star of Tasmania was a clipper ship, of 632 tons register, built by Hall of Aberdeen, in 1856, and had yet eighteen mouths to run on the A1 letter.
Captain Babot, of the ship Water Nymph, furnishes the following particulars of the circumstances attending the loss of his ship: — About noon on Monday a heavy gale from the E.S.E. sot in, raising a very high and broken sea. At 1 p.m. noticed the Blue Peter flying at the flagstaff and immediately made all preparations for slipping and proceeding to sea; the Star of Tasmania lying right ahead. The gale continued until about 3 30 p m. when a signal to "proceed to sea without delay," was observed at the flagstaff. The wind then shifted to the S.E. and came on with the force of a hurricane. About this time when all was ready for sea the Star of Tasmania was observed to commence driving down with her head canted towards the Water Nymph. She, however, drifted clear, until on the port quarter when she partly brought up.
The Star of Tasmania being in that position it was impossible to cant the Water Nymph without fouling with her, so that we were compelled to hold on. Shortly afterwards observed the Star to let go a second anchor, seeing which knew that Capt. Culbert, finding that he could not go to sea, intended to ride out the gale; consequently we also let go our second anchor under foot. About 7 p.m. the Star rapidly drifted inshore. About 9 p.m. the starboard chain of 105 fathoms parted, the vessel dragging the whole of the port chain out of the locker, riding by it at about 105 fathoms. The vessel still drifting loosed topsails, foretopmast staysail, spanker, and foresail, intending to get to sea. By the time sail was set, the vessel still dragging her anchor, and sagging in shore, and it being impossible to get below to cut the lashing of the end of the cable, endeavored with mall and cold chisel to break it, but was unsuccessful until the ship, getting into broken water, at the same time drifting fast and heeling over heavily, being very light, and the sea making a clean breach over her, found that there was no other course than to run her ashore. The helm was put up, all sail being kept on the ship, and a few minutes afterwards she struck lightly and after striking three or four times rolled broadside on to the beach, with her head to the north and canted inshore. The whole of the crew then managed to escape by the assistance of a line thrown to persons on the beach. Shortly afterwards the port side broke and the starboard side was completely broken in all along the bilge, the sea sweeping clean through her, the masts still standing. The vessel was the property of Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co., and was built in Painboeuf for a French Corvette in 1855. She was never in commission, but was bought from the French Government by the well-known firm of De Pas Brothers, and was employed by them in the Melbourne trade for eight years, being one of the fastest vessels in that trade. In 1865 she was purchased by Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co., expressly for the New Zealand trade. She was a clipper ship, and on her last voyage out and home the time occupied was only seven months and ten days. The homeward passage, which was done in seventy-four days, was the fastest made by any wool ship from New Zealand last year. It is not known whether either ship or cargo was insured.
Capt. Campbell, of the schooner Otago, furnishes the following particulars of the circumstances attending the wreck of his vessel: — Slipped anchor and put to sea on Monday last at 3 p.m., under close-reefed canvas. The wind was blowing a heavy gale from the E.S.E Kept the vessel close to the wind, steering E N.E., and making about a N.E. course. The vessel behaved well up to 5.30 p.m.; was then between five and six miles off the land, when the rudderhead gave way, and the vessel became unmanageable. Lowered the mainsail, and got the vessel before the wind to run her ashore, finding it was the only chance left. Came ashore off the Boundary Creek, about six miles to the north of Oamaru. Beached the vessel end on, but being struck by the breakers, she filled with water in about two minutes, everything being washed off the decks. The vessel fell over on her starboard broadside, and all hands, with great difficulty, escaped to shore, saving nothing. The vessel almost immediately broke up, not a vestige of her being left, portions of the wreck drifting down to the wreck of the Water Nymph. She was the property of Mr Charles Clark, Port Chalmers. She was built at Dunedin about four years ago, and was of 26 tons register. It is not known whether she was insured. At the time of the wreck she had 160 bags of coal aboard, consigned to Mr Aitken, of Oamaru, and 7000ft. timber, consigned to Mr Lemon. The cargo is also a total loss, scarcely an article having come ashore. -North Otago Times, 7/2/1868.
We stated, in our first notice of the wreck of the Star of Tasmania, that Mrs Baker and her two boys had taken passages, in order to join Mr Baker, at Home. This was an error. We have been requested to state that "Mr Baker has never left this province, and has been residing with his family ever since " he sold his business in Oamaru. -Otago Daily Times, 14/2/1868.
We are requested by Mr James P. Baker to express his sincere thanks to the people of Oamaru for the kindness and sympathy shown to Mrs Baker upon the wreck of the Star of Tasmania. -North Otago Times, 25/2/1868.
In strolling through the grounds we noticed that several new monuments have been erected, some of which are really ornaments to the cemetery. We are, however, sorry to perceive in one or two instances that a bad quality of stone appears to have been used, which is chipping away under the influence of the weather. Among the most noticeable of the new monuments is an unpretending headstone, in the form of a Greek cross, bearing the following inscription: — In memory of Malcolm West Baker, aged 3 years; and of James Elphinstone Baker, aged 5 years; who were drowned in their mother's presence, during the breaking-up of the ship Star of Tasmania, which stranded at Oamaru, on the evening of February 3, 1868. At foot of the cross appears the following very appropriate texts: — "He cometh to them walking upon the sea." "Those that Thou gavest me I have kept; not one of them is lost." -North Otago Times, 6/10/1868.
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