Perilous Voyage of a Barque.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3353, 26 April 1881, Page 3

Perilous Voyage of a Barque.

Capt&lu Grange, of tbeDoon, barque, has favoured the Brisbane " Daily Ob<eiver" with the following report of his departure from, aud return to, Moretou Bay : —

'• The Doou left Brisbane Bar on 2nd April, at 6 a.m. ; passed Cape Moreton at noon, aud bore S.S.W. ; strong S.S.E. winds, which continued for two days; on the 4th the weather was unsettled and squally,l>aromcter3o"ls ; at G p.m. the wind increased, but no appearance of very bad weather; on the moruing of the sih the wind increased, with raiu, and at 6 a in,, barometer 2955, and falling fast; reduced s;iil to lower maiutopsail, fore-topmast staysail, aud mizen staysail; at 9 a.m. to>k in maiutopsail, barometer 29 56', and in a short time after tho foretopmast staysail and raizen staysails blew away, wind S. E. At noon, latitude 22deg. S, longitude IGOdeg. E., a heavy sea (the storm wave) threw the ship on her beam ends, the lee side of the deck under water; cut away the masts. In about an hour afterwards the centre of the hurricane passed over v*, barometer 28'S4 ; the sun was seen through a haze ; the rain, which had been incessant and heavy, ceased, and for half-an-hour, or so there was little wind, almost a calm. A great many birda sought Eheltcr on board, and we had time to get clear of come wreck, after which the wind from the S. W. blew terrifically, with heavy rain ; and a heavier sea spray which was blinding ; this fortunately lasted about two hours, which the barometer rose rapidly ; at 4.30. it vibrated between 2950 and 29• 40 ; G p.m. hurricane passed away leaving a heavy sea, On the 6th and 7th, rigged jury-masts and arrived off Cape Moieton on tho morning of the 14th, was towed by the James Patersou from Cape Moreton to the Pilot Station, and arrived at Brisbane bar at 7 p.m."