DREADFUL CALAMITY. LOSS OF H.M.S.S. 'ORPHEUS,' AND 206 LIVES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1734, 9 February 1863, Page 3

DREADFUL CALAMITY. LOSS OF H. M. S. S. 'ORPHEUS,' AND 206 LIVES.

At an early hour yesterday (Sunday) morning it became rumoured in town that H.M. B.s. 'Orpheus,' 21 guns, carrying the broad pennant of Commodore Burnett, C.8., was a total wreck on the Manukau bar, and that many lives were lost. On taking steps to learn the particulars, we found that the report was, unhappily, but too true, and the loss of life understated. The ' Orpheus ' left Sydney on Saturday week, and made the Manukau bar at about one p.m., on Saturday last. The day was fine, with a fresh sea breeze blowing. Steering by Drury's chart, the ship was kept too far to the northward, and at half-past one she struck on the sand-spit. She immediately heeled over and the sea at once made a clean breach over her. The first wave earned the main-mast by the board, and all who were on it perished. The guns Avere knocked from their carriages and maimed several, besides lulling one man instantly. Those who were in the after-part of the ship were swept off, among whom were Commodore Burnett, C.8., Commander Burton, First Lieut. Mudge, and Mr. Strong, master. When the vessel struck, the pinnace, launch, and cutter were hoisted out, and the Commodore directed Paymaster Amphlett to save the ship's papers and money, which Mr. Amphlett succeeded in doing. The launch filled and went down with from CO to 80 officers and men, all of whom were drowned. The Commodore refused to go off in any of the boats, and died with his officers, at the post of duty. Those m the fore part of the ship were principally among the saved. When she struck and heeled over a rush was made to the rigging, and those on the main and mizen masts were washed off almost immediately into the surf and drowned. The foremast soon followed the other spars, and as it fell, many of the men jumped off and swam to the bowsprit, from which they dropped either into the boats, or into the sea, and made their way to the boats as best they could. Many were drowned in the attempt. The pinnace and cutter succeeded in landing their men. While all this was going on, 26 miles from Onehunga, aseapoit town, in broad daylight, and in full view of the pilot station, no signal of the disaster was given. Her Majesty's ship 'Harrier,' 17 guns,. Commander Sullivan, was lying at her moorings at the Bluff, within 23 miles of the disaster; the Colonial steamer ' Avon' was also unemployed at the Onehunga wharf; and the ' Moa,' Admiralty tender, was available in such an emergency at the Bluff. We do not blame the pilot, for he was doing his duty on board the ' Wonga Wonga,' which sailed at half-past twelve on Saturday, and we suppose there was no one to telegraph for assistance. The noble ship was left to her fate, and her gallant crew to the mercy of the waves, without a helping hand being stretched out to safe a life, although help in such abundance was at hand. We have not been able to ascertain the exact number of officers and men on board the ' Orpheus.' We have been informed 275 souls, all told, and of these only C 9 have been Scived. The rost have perished, victims of official neglect. It has been for a long time known to nautical men that the channel laid down in Drury's chart has shifted considerably, and that to steer strictly in accordance with the directions would ensure the destruction of any large vessel. Commodore Burnett and Master Strong —(than whom a more efficient mariner did not hold a commission under Her Majesty) —were strangers to the Manukau harbour, and as the change in the channel had never been officially notified, the ship's course was kept in accordance with the Admiralty chart. The fearful calamitj', which has cast such % gloom over this community, and inflicted such a heavy loss upon the nation, was the result. As we have said, help was available if a proper pilot establishment had been at Poponga to make known the disaster. But although the ' Orpheus' struck at half-past one o'clock on Saturday, it was ten o'clock at night before intelligence was communicated to the' Harrier.' About ten p.m., the pilot boat, with four men, came alongside the ' Harrier,' and reported the loss of the ' Orpheus.' Commander Sullivan at once despatched an officer to Auckland, to report the event to the senior naval officer on the station, Captain Jenkins ; and at one a.m., on Sunday morning, the fact was reported to Captain Jenkins, who left for Onehunga, after apprising his Excellency the Governor. The Inter-provincial mail steamship ' Wonga Wonga,' Captain Renner, was fortunately in time to sf.ve several lives. As soon as intelligence of the disaster was reported to Commander Sullivan on Saturday night, he tookmeasuros to have the little steamer ' Avon' despatched to the wreck in the hope of saving life; but a piece of the machinery was in Auckland, undergoing repairs, and the ' Avon' was, consequently, not available for the time being. A messenger- was despatched to the engineer in Aucklaudj and in an hour and a half he returned with it. Meanwhile steam had been got up on board the ' Harrier,' but it was found that the tide was too low for her to turn, and she did not get under weigh till near noon yesterday (Sunday). Wh.en it was found that the ' Harrier ' could not proceed to the scene of the wreck, steam was got up in the * Avon,' and she left the Wharf at three o'clock on Sunday morning, and reached the heads at daylight, when she met the ' Wonga Wonga ' returning with the survivors, who were transferred to the ' Avon' and fetched up to Onehunga. One poor fellow was picked up inside Poponga yesterday by the * Matilda,' schooner, after being eight hours in the water. He had floated with a piece of a spar, but his life is in danger. The constant friction of a piece of copper which was attached to the spar, cut his ohest completely open. He was placed in ah ambulance cart that had been sent from Auckland for the use of the survivors. John Pavy, captain of the foretop, met his death by hanging. When descending from the maintop to the foretop, the stay was carried away, and the coil caught him round the neck and strangled him. The following ia the list of officers lost, so far as we could ascertain yesterday: — CoMMODOBE BtJBNETT, C.B. Commander Bttbton, FIBST-LIEUTENANT MVDGE. Lieutenant Jykii.. > Mn\ Sxbong, Master.

Lieutenant Hill, Royal Marine Artillery. Rev. Mr. Hazlewood, Chaplain. Mb. Gillham, Commodore's Secretary. Mb. Johnston, Assistant Paymaster. The Subigeon, . Chief Engineijb, . Mr. Hudson, Gunner. Mb. Veb'neb, ") Mb. Broughton, [ Midshipmen. Mb. Mallock, j Mr. Tozer, Master-assistant. Mr. Ay£an, Assistant Clerk. Mr. Vickery, ") Mb. Miller, [Engineers, v Mr. Adams, ) The officers saved are — Second Lieutenant Hill. Lieutenant Yonge. Paymaster Amphlet. Me. Barclay, ") Mr. Fielding, [ Midshipmen. Mb. Hunt, ) Me. Mason, Boatswain. Mb. Beer, Carpenter. The survivors were conveyed to Auckland yesterday evening, by the military — all being put on board the 'Miranda.' Several -were rather severely injured. Dr. Mouatt, V.C., was in attendance at Onehunga, to render the necessary surgical aid. His Excellency Sir George Grey, attended by his Private Secretary, Capt. Bulkeley, rode out to Onehunga yesterday, and remained until the survivors came up in the ' Avon.' Among these was Mr. Barkly, son of Sir Henry Barkly, X.C.8., Governor of Victoria, who rode into Auckland with his Excellency. General Cameron, C.8., Colonel Gamble, Assistant Quarter-Master General, and other military men were likewise out to learn the extent of the disaster, and render what assistance lay in their power. The public likewise manifested their sympathy with their ship-wrecked countrymen on the melancholy occasion. H.M.S. ' Miranda ' and the guns at Fort Britomart, fired minute guns in the evening. The flag was hoisted half-mast at the Fort yesterday evening. The ' Harrier ' was still at thescene of the wreck, when our repoterleft Onehunga last night. None of the dead bodies had been washed ashore. Allusion was made to the shipwreck in most of the pulpits of this city last evening. We are enabled to give a slight sketch of the performance of the • Orpheus,' through the kindness of one of the officers who come out from England in her. She was put in commission on a Friday (an unlucky day with seamen), for the Australian station ; but, owing to the Trent affair, was ordered to America. She left England in December, 1861, and conveyed^ the ' Melbourne,' transport ship, with -troops, to Halifax. Kncountered very severe weather in the Atlantic, having nearly foundered in a gale. When at St. John's, N.8., she went ashore. After peace had been assured between England and America, the ' Orpheus ' made the passage to Sydney by way of Bermuda and the Cape of Good Hope. Since her arrival on the Australian station, Commodore Burnett and his officers and men appear to have been favourites both in Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart Town, where they touched. She was. the largest and finest man-of-war we have ever had on this station, and her loss is a public calamity, quite apart from the greater one of so many valuable lives being sacrificed. We cannot vouch for the accuracy of all the details in this report, as it was impossible to obtain precise information yesterday, owing to the confusion ; but in the main it is right. We will publish a detailed narrative, if practicable, to-morrow. We have been informed that "a meeting will be held at the Mechanics' Institute this morning at ten o'clock, to raise a subscription] towards relieving the immediate want of the survivors from the sliipwreck, before their departure for England at twelve o'clock. The poor fellows have lost all their personal effects.