FOUNDERING OF THE POLICEMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3384, 1 June 1881, Page 3

FOUNDERING OF THE POLICEMAN.

THE CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT,

Captain Champion and the crew of the Policeman arrived in town by the schooner Medcsi'a from Awautti last evening, and we are thereby-placed in possession of full particulars regarding the passage of that vessel from this port, and her ultimate fate. Our telegrams regarding the loss of the vessel did hot furnish any minute particulars, aud we therefore place a full uud correct account of ..the catiistropho before our readers. Captain Champion's statement is as follows :—

Wc left Auckland ou the 18th inst., in ballast, bound for Hokianga, nt which port it was intended to ship a cargo of timber and proceed to Noumea. The crew of the schooner consisted of seven persons besides myself. A. strong south-westerly breeze carried us to tho East Cape, which was reached on the 20th. Shortly after passing the East Cape, I discovered that the vessel was

MAKING MORE WATER THAN USUAL, but no one was alarmed at the circumstance, as she had on previous occasions opened a little, subsequently closing np again. The wind being adverse, I deemed it advisable to anchor in Spirit Bay, between the North Cape aud Cape Maria Van Dieman. We lay there until four o'clock on Sunday morning, At-heu, as the water did not seem Ito be increasing, we set sail. The wiud was light, and I succeeded ia working the vessel down the coast, making stretches of about thirty miles oft'the land. The water was kept under easily, until about G o'clock on the same (Sunday) evening, when wo determined to stand off for the night, there being a heavy W.S. W. swell ou the coast. . . THE PUMP WOULD NOT SUCK. The mate tried the pump, but it would not suck. I was not satisfied with the state of the vessel and in order to discover the true position iv which we were placed went into the cabin. After listeniug for a few moments I became convinced that there was a great deal of water in the vessel, and without further delay ripped up the cabin floor where the ship's .-ttores were stowed. There was about a foot of water, which fact I called Mr Brown, a passenger, to witness. I immediately gave orders that all hands be called, and had the top-gallant sail stowed, with the object of easing the veisel, Some of the men were then started to pump, while others baled with buckets aft, to try and free her. The passengers also assisted. At 9.30 p.m., they succeeded in getting a rolling sack from the pumps, and the men were divided into two watches. I DETERMINED TO FETCH AIHATARA. The weather was calm and the wind about east, that is blowing off the land. At daybreak on the following day (Monday) the point bore about 20 miles distant. Unfortunately, however, the wind veered round to the S.E„ and a dead calm ensued, which, lasted until four o'clock. A strong breeze then sprang up, and I had hopes of getting in before dusk. Great was the disappointment of all concerned, therefore, when before lialf-an-liour had passed, the wind died away again, leaving the vessel in a dead calm. ALL HANDS WERE QUITE EXHAUSTED. All bands were quite exhausted, and with the faint hope of securing communication with the shore, a signal ol distress was hoisted. There was nothing to indicate that tho signal had been observed^ end we had, therefore, to take precautions against the schooner driftin" on shore. At S p.m. the lead was dropped in 35 fathoms. There was a heavy roll from the South-west, audi deemed.it advisable to drop the kedj-e. The nearest land was 4 miles away, and I am certain ! that had we drifted oa shore the yes-el would have been smashed to pieces by the ! breakers and our lives sacrificed. At this time the wa'cr was increasing. Ailiapara was about eight miles distant. Renewed efforts were put forth to keep the water under, but the attempt proved fruitless and it stiU continued to rise. We did not give up, however, until wc were compelled to do so, by the spear of one of the pumps breaking. This was the crowning catastrophe of all. As it would have been useless to attempt to keep the water under by means of ono pump THE BOAT WAS GOT OUT.

Taking several of the crew with me I proceeded in the direction of Aibapara. I intended to procure the assi-tance of a blacksmith and have the pump repaired. On arriving there, however, 1 found it impossible to land owing to the surf. Mr J. W. Beid was en the beach, and in answer to my request that a blacksmith might-be found to mend the pump, informed me that there were no workmen of that class in the district. I then made further.inquiries as to what means Mr Keid had at hia disposal to assist in removing the men, and was offered tho use of two whale-boats. I accepted his kind offer, nnd the gentleman, after procuring native crews, went with mo to the assistance of the remaining portion of my crew. I reached tho vessel at 10 o'clock, aud the two whaleboats about half-an-hour afterwards. I found the ship in a sinking state, and saw that she could n*>t be kept afloat many hours longer. Provisiot-s and clothin" were placed in our boat, nnd all hands ordered off the ship, as I did not know at-what moment she might go down. The boats, with one exception, were then pulled on Bhore. I remained alongside the vessel with a boat's :crew, keeping about thirty yards off, until 11.30, when THE SCHOONER FOUNDERED. Thewater'wasperfectly calm and although I abandoned her for safety I did not anticipate that she would disappear so suddenly or within such a short space of time. She took a lurch and that was the last we saw of her, for she went down instantaneously, I believe the whole starboard side must have been burst out and that the deck parted from the side. The whole party reached the shore at 2 o'clock, and although regretting the loss of the vessel, fe't thankful that " NO LIVES WERE LOST. Me«srs Keid and Bowman received the shipwrecked crew, and after fumahiDg them with asubtaiiti-1 meal, provided them with beds, and in every possible way ministared to their comfort. On the following lay Ye made arrangements to proceed to Mo-BOTUI, but learning thatj the schooner Media was on the vA^JTVSf^SS. for Auckland, interviewed M Sobr■ sky Here again we were well dealt with, and of his kindness during the passage we cannot speak too highly. | He made tea, prepared beds, and placed the cabin at our disposal. The Medora. left Awanni on ; Friday, last,, but calm weather being : experienced - till Monday, we were unable to reach Auckland harbour before Uast evening. With reference to the

real cause of the foundering of the Policeman, it is my opinion that during the last trip to Norfolk Island, when we met with a sevore hurricane, otic of tho butts must have been started. The copper may have kept it tight until the time when the vessel begau to make water, when _it had worn through. 'Although Captain Champion aud his crew wore never in any very real danger of losing their lives, they arc very thankful to he again on shore, and tender their hearty thanks to all who aided them iv their misfortune.