THE LATE WRECKS AT WELLINGTON HEADS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1752, 17 March 1874, Page 2

THE LATE WRECKS AT WELLINGTON HEADS.

From Wellington papers we extract the following relative to the wrecks of the ship Wellington and the barque Cyrus : — The snug little bay at the foot of Happy Valley, near Sinclair Head, was on Saturday night the scene of a severe disaster, attended by a great loss of life and property, intelligence of which was brought into Wellington at six o'clock on the marning of the Bth, by Captain Hill, of the ship Wellington, who reported that his own vessel and the Cyrus were both wrecked during the previous night at a point between Island Bay and Sinclair Head. The exact position where the vessels were wrecked is at the outer points of a small bay at the foot of Happy Valley, next to Island Bay. It is about, a quarter of a mile across, and only about 600 yards from the entrance to the shore ; but little smooth water is to be found, as the bay is studded with rock 3of a honeycombed flakey formation. The locality is, in fact, a perfect hornet's nest of rocks, I and it was not a matter of very great sur- I prise that so little of the vessels had hung I together. The Cyrus, which' struck first, I was lying about 50 yards nearer Sinclair I Head than the 'Wellington. Her back I had evidently broken in two, as frag- I ments of each half of the vessel had drifted in different directions. The stem and some of the forepart of the ship remained where she . struck, ; while the force of the waves had lifted the after part of her ribs over a rock which is at low water about twelve feet high. Her masts and a few other heavy piece 3of wreckage had also, been lifted clear of the outer rock by the combers which expend their power on the face of the reef, but the smaller waifs were drifted into the bay by a strong current which sweeps along that part of the coast. All that remained to indicate the spot where the Wellington went ashore was a large piece of the vessel's side, lying flat upon the rocks. Her masts and ribs had been carried away by the constant beat of the sea, but the principal portion of her wreck found its way into Happy Valley Bay, which was covered in the water and on the strand, with articles from the wrecks. The adornments and conveniences of the cabin were mixed up in a heterogenous mass with the rougher equipments of a collier. Huge stanchions and cabin furniture, stained glass skylights and coal baskets, sails torn in ribbons and remains of boats, heavy pieces of planking and water kegs, dead bodies of sheep and pigs, and articles of wearing apparel, were thrown together in admired disorder. Some pieces of copper sheathing, which curiously enough had come ashore unattached to any buoyant material, were crunched up like tissue paper, and, fit symbol for disaster, the ensign from one- vessel had floated ashore and was lying torn and draggled amongst the rocks. STRUGGLE FOR LITE. The physical powers of some of the boldest were unequal to that short but sharp struggle hardy seamen though they were, and they succumbed in a lauda\u§H .attempt to resue their fellow beings. fIRM fate of these men is pitiful enough, butH the death of Mrs Wrigglesworth is stillfl more sad. "Anguish after rapture" isfl doubly keen. It must, therefore, havefl been heartrending to the poor woman,H having left her home in a joyful state offl ( For remainder of News, seeith^mgej^^

mind, to find herself so suddenly confronted with the King of Terrors. With her children at her side and with a mind distraught she was . preparing to face the danger of getting ashore when a green sea' smashed the deck-house of the Cyrus crushed Mrs Wriggleworth and her infant dien beneath its weight, nad in instant they were swept to eternity. These are scenes that soften the hardest hearts and brief as was the time for reflection, there were eyes that were moistened by other than, the salt water of the ocean. The Cyrus seems to have been the toughest ship; that is to say, she held together long enough to allow a portion of the crew to await help from the shore. Everything on board the Wellington had to be done in the twinkling of an eye, for she sank bodily ten minutes after striking. Captain Hill and his men were prepared fos the worst, but a miraculous occurrence, one that should teach every mariner, young or old, a lesson, placed within their reach the means of rescue. It is, it seems, a standing maxim with Captain Hill to keep his boats in readiness for any emergency, and this precaution, thought to be of no benefit after the first boat launched was stove by the sea, proved the salvation of the ten men who reached Wellington in her. TAKING HIS LAST SLEEP. At the dawn of day not a vestige oi the vessels was visible ! The sea and the rocks had too surely done their work, and everything was laid with the level of the ocean The Cyrus's men went down as quickly as possible to search for Mrs ■VVrigglesworth and the other bodies. They had not proceeded far towards the shore when they found Rushton, one of the Wellington's men who swam ashore, sitting against a bush as if resting. A closer examination changed their joy into sorrow. Rushton had slept his last sleep, and was now numbered with the dead. The strain upon his system had been too ■evere, and death was the result of exposure and exhaustion. Like the rest who got ashore, he was bruised about the face and hands, but he had suffered more severely than they. With the strength that remained after battling with the waves, he crawled up to the hill side, and sat down beside a bush, where he was found as described. The first mate of the Wellington, who is unable to swim, reached the shore by means of a lifeb uoy. He saw the boat put off from the Wellington, but preferred the risk cf being mangled upon the rocks to venturing in the boat. He watched her for some distance, but suddenly lost sight of her, he concluded she had gone down. The search for bodies was continued, but none being found, the men started for town, Mr Hamill, the second mate of the Wellington, being the firat to arrive overland. ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE BODIES.) A number of persons improvised a raft at the scene of the wreck, and got on to the outer reef in the hope of finding some of the bodies, but although a long search was made no trace of any of the missing was discovered. From the strength of the current which runs past the reef, it would very improbable that the bodies will ever be found. Even close in shore the water rushes between the rocks with the rapidity of a mill-race, which rendered it difficult to carry on the search yesterday. A CHARMED LIFE. Mr Hammill, the second mate of the Wellington, is the hero of the City of Newcastle wreck, aud from the foregoing account it appears that that he has again distinguished himself by his intrepidity. Since wreck of the City of Newcastle he had given up going to sea, his voyage in the Wellington being the first since that disastrous occurrence. His opinion of the chances of escape from death in cases of this kind seems to be strongly in favor of swhnmiDg ashore, which hb did on Saturday after performing his duty as an officer as long as his services were required. Like the rest of those who saved their lives by swimming ashore, he was very much brused, what little clothing he had on being torn to ribbons by the sharp edges of the rocks.