WRECK OF THE ROYAL TAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 14

WRECK OF THE ROYAL TAR.

THE MATE DROWNED.

AUCKLAND. November 26.

The Royal Tar struck Shearer Rock about, 2 this morning. The steamer Ngunguru, when passing, saw the vessel pending up signal rockets, and proceeded to render assistance. Before she got alongside the Koyal Tar slipped off the rock, and sank in deep water. The steamer found ths captain and crew of the barque in two boats. The captain's wife and child were landed 011 Tiritm.

Captain Morrison and the crew of the Royal Tar were brought to Aueklaud by the tag Admiral. The jN or them Company's steamer iSsfunguru, which arrived trom Whangarei early this morning, was the firs 1 - ve^el to bring any definite news of the wreck. The malectated: — "We were coming up from Whan-i garei, and just as we rounded Kawau tho-e 011 deck noticed rockets in the direction ot Tiri. Captain Scott was on deck at the time, and. ho at once headed in the direction of the rockets. Of course, we were all soon on deck. When we first caught sight of the Royal Tar the 'hull wa? ibove water As we drew nearer she suddenly slipped off into deeper water. The man at the wheel shouted out : ' There the is \ There she is ! Oh, she* cono ! ' At tin; minute the Royal Tar c'i?ajjpeared irom sight, only the topmast and topgallant masl showing above water, fehe had a big list to port, and it would seem as if she must fust have been on a ledge of rock, and then slipped off intc deepei water, takni" a heavy list as she sank. Captain Scott instructed me to go off in a boat when the "\ gun guru was about halt a mile from the lock. We soon got to the wreck, and found the crew had the boats out. five men being in one and four in the other. They appeared to be returning from the direction ot Tiritiri. I told them they could communicate with Auckland from the lighthouse, «ud tlien offered to bring them dv to town. The mm ;a:d they had been firing rcckets biiue 2 (/clock, but, of cour=e, nc could ljot sej them until we rounded Kav.ui. it was about 5 o'clock when w* got to uics v reck. Tne men said they ivou'd not coma up with us, as the mate had been drowned, aim they were going to look for l:is bodj . They had some of their tilings in the boat. 111 1 hen returned to the Nguuguru end reported to Captain Scott, who, upon airivol in Js"iiCia::nd, in turn reported the wreck 10 ihe c ..stums. To get where j-ke is tho ivoyal 'i ar must ha\ c gone round outside Tin, and then followed a northerly course up the coast. She now lies with her head to the north, just as she struck on Shearer Kock."

Another account states that apparently the death of Kirby, the mate, was due to his anxiety to save all his effects. As a matter 3f fact, he had got out a lot of his things. "When he again went into the cabin for some more, the men in the boat called out to him to come iway, but he delayed, and a few minutes afterwards the vessel slipped off the rock into deeper water while Kirby was still below, 'lhe inrush of water caused the imprisoned 'auto blow up the cabin, which was on deck, and no doubt the falling timber stunned the mate, as he was never seen again. Kirby was the last to go on board last night, and it was thought he would lose his passage. He was native of Ormskirk, Lancabhire, between 35 and 4-0 years of age, and, as far as is known, was unmarried. He joined the Royal Tar on her last trip from Newcastle, and this was hie first voyage on the New Zealand coast. When the vessel struck the small boat was promptly got out, the first care being to get Mt3 Morrison and her child safely on board. Captain Morrison remained on board his vessel, and several of the crew _ pulled oft" to iiri with Mrs Morrison, the object being to land her and some of the crew, and then return for the rest, as it was feared that the heavier boat could not be got out before the small boat returned. However, the four men. left on board the Royal Tar decided to get out the big boat, as the vessel was listing the whole time slowly towards deep water. As the sea encroached the vessel began to list, and subsequently the ballast must have shifted, causing her to slip right off the rock. It was the dangar resulting from this steady listing that caused the men on . board to get out the big Doat. The task was a heavy one, but men can accomplish a good deal when their lives are at stake, and thus Hunt and the others successfully launched the boat. While waiting about they secured as much of their effects ar possible, but at last, deciding it was risky to try for any more, - they tookto the boat, with the exception of the mate, Kirby, who decided to make another attempt. CAPTAIN MORRISON'S STATEMENT.

Captain Morrison, of the Royal Tar, states that the barque left Auckland at 7 o'clock yesterday with a light breeze between east and south for Kaipara in ballast. Instead of following the usual passage he went outside Tiritiri in arder to save beating to windAvard. At midnight the vessel was put on a N.E. course, rur.<aing before a light fair wind. It was the second officer's watch at 1.30 a m., and the vessel was travelling four to five knots per hour, whe.l she struck a sunken rock, which proved to be Shearer Rock, 414 miles north of Tiritiri. The offioers were aware of the existence of this rock. He expected the course set at midnight to carry the vessel ivell clear of it. The captain attributes the mishap to the influence of very strong tides. The vessel at once began to fill and to settle. The boats were launched — two lifeboats vad a dingey. Mrs Morrison and most of the crew were put in two of the boats. The captain, mate, and two of the eeamen remained on board. Twenty minutes after the • striking the hold was full of water. The cabin, which was on deck, began to fill. The Gaptain and one man had to jump overboard, aad were taken into the remaining boat, the painter of which the crew were obliged to cut to avoid being drawn down by the sinking barque. Just before the barque sa-nk Mate" Kirby went into the Dabin to get his personal property. Before he could return the vessel listed and sank. The inrush of water forced off the i - oof of the :abin. The vessel sank till the topgallan£ mast only was visible. Some of the crew waited till daylight, wlico the steamer JNgungun: ai rived.

Hunt, the «ccond officer, was In. charge

The night wa« clear, and the moon shining brightly, though obscured at; intervals by passing clouds. The s-ca was smooth. Tho watch below were awakened by the shock, and rushed on deck to find the vessel beginning to fill and settle. A large hole had been torn in tho vessel's hull, and) through this volumes of water were pouring. The vessel herself remained hard and fast on the rock, but it was evident .thatiit was only a matter of minutes until she would fill and sink. There was no confusion. The captain's orders were coolly given and promptly obeyed. Two lifeboats and a dingey were launched. A portion of the crew manned them, and Mrs Morrison and hei infant son were placed in the first boat, which was sent away well clear af the wreck. In the second v, ere a number o£ the men's belongings, which had been caught* up as they left the forecastle and thrown in* There were fi\e men manning this boat. The captain, the mate (Kirby). and a couple of feoasnen remained on board a few minutes longer. The captain entered the cabin and saved ihe ship s article*. The mate also entered hi* room to save -ome personal properly. About 20 minute-- after the vessel had .struck the hold wa* full of water, and the cabin \va= beginning to fill.

GENERAL ITEMS

Mrs Morrison, on 1 caching Auckland, remarked that the aud her child were taken

on shore from the vessel by the fir*t boat, and neither had vifreied any injury during their unpleasant experience. Most of the crew have lost live bulk of their effects, a<? a considerable portion of the articles saved belong to the unfortunate man who vas drowned. As soon as they got on shore the> ciew wcnl to the Sailors' Home.

The following i= a list of the crew: — F. Morrison. master: Kirby, chief officer (drowned); E. Hunt, second mate: H. Carlson. H. Rudert, A. Kerlokmch. A. Binden, Gill, L. Kcnch, J. Kaby, F. G. Deane, J. Millner. W. Mayne, A.B.s; apprentices, T. V. Hill and Tims. Potts.

Tl>e Eoval Tar was entirely uninsured. so> ihat Mr Cr.t'o; i^ n. veiy hei^y loser by HlO r^Mi.iltr. At the time of the wreck the Mrqun wa= carrvino; ill her square canvas (two top-gallant sails) : in fact, all sail except some of her staysails. When she struck the watch nn deck wore just setting the spanker. After she struck the main topgallant and upper topsail halliards were let

Pott=\ one of the two apprentices aboard — 1 the other i.« an Anck'aud boy named Hill — ■ lost all his kit in the wreck. He states that it was hit? watch below at the. time, and he vi as asleep v.hen the barque struck.

The Royal Tar wr-s a wooden vessel, of 593 ton 1 - net. built in 1876. by W. Marshall, of Xambncra (N.S.W.^, pnd her dimensions* were as follow: — Length. 171 ft 2in : breadth, 31ft 4iu ; depth of hold, 17ft 2in. The vessel, it will be recalled, conveyed the members of the New Australia party to Paraguay. After her second trip she was purchased by Mr J. Craig, of Auckland, and has been trading "between this colony and Australia.