WRECK OF THE BRITISH ADMIRAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1831, 18 June 1874, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BRITISH ADMIRAL.

LOSS OP SEVENTY-NINE LIVES. ; [ARGUS.] Another tale of disaster comes to us from over the sea. The story of the. wreck is a most heart-rending o^e. for. nq less than 79 lives have been lost, a great proportion of those who perished being women. Out of 49 passengers and a crew of 39, only nine have survived to reach this pork. The survivors consist of the third officer, Mr Charles Wm. MTSwan j Cunningham, A.8. ; Baker, A.8. ; Wagard, A.B.J and Davison, 0.5.; Mr O'Grady, saloon passenger; David Keys, Thomas Jones, and John Harold, steerage passengers. ] The first news that reached town on June 1 of the catastrophe was a telegram from Queenscliff to the Argus, to the following effect:— "Ketch Kangaroo, just arrived from King's Island, reports^he total loss', of the ship British; Admiral on King's Island. Saturday, 23rd. irst. The vessel struck on . the west side, • and sank in a quarter, of an hour, not a.vestifflß jps her remaining. Four of the crew,' !f oi^r passengers, and the third mate -.managed to escape by getting, up the foremast, arid subsequently .'. drifting ashore on the wreckage.; She had > 49 passengers and about 39 of acrew, all of whom, excepting those: above - mentioned, are ; drowned, The ; saloon passengers were - Messrs O'Grady and Nicholson of Wood's Point. The former was saved. The officers names were— James Randolph 1 Taylor, master ; Charles Qeorge, first mate • Chas. Henry Baker, second mate ; Charles Wm M'Ewan, third mate (saved) ; and Albert Parker, fourth mate. '', ' ( / The British Admiral has apparently been an unlucky name for a ship',, especially to the British Shipowners' Company, of Liverpool, to whom the Vessel which has just been lost belonged; . They had an iron ship of the same hame v an^ of 1286 tons burden, built in Liverpool \n 1?67, but she was los^ in'~the Norta Atlantic a couple of years since,'; when coming from the States with; a cargb^of grain. They then Tgave Messii'Royden and Co., the well-known iron shipbuilders of Liverpool, a commission to build another iron ship, to be of 38OO' tons register, and to bear . the same name as the one lost. This was the ship, which has now on her first ocean voyage come to an untimely end. : From what can be learned from the survivors it appears that the British 4.dr miral consigned to Mesrs James Service and Co, left Liverpool on the 9th January, 1874, under the command of Captain James, Randolph Taylor (who, was out herd some two years ago in 'command' of the ship Jumna), and made, good way down the Channel, although the weather

was thick and dirty. In the Bay of Biscay, however, she encountered a heavy gale from the westward, in which she lost her bowsprit, fore and main topmasts, and foreyard, in addition to springing the head of the foremast. She put back to Liverpool, and after undergoing a thorough refit, she made a fresh start for Melbourne by hauling into the fairway of the Mersey on the 22nd of February, and taking her departure from the stream on the following day. The officers were Jas. Randolph Taylor, master ; C. George, chief officer ; Charles Henry Baker, second mate; Charles "William M'Ewan, third mate; Albert Parker, fourth mate. She had also 35 of a crew, two Baloon passengers, 11 second-class passengers, and 36 steerage passengers. As far as can be ascertained, the following is the passenger list : — Saloon : Messrs Nicholson and O'Grady. Second cabin : Mr and Mrs Thomas, Messrs R. Burkett, Godfrey Yielding, Hunt, Nosworthy, G. Allan, Wm. Lawton, Andresen, Cantarowitch, and Stewarte. Steerage : Mrs Dale, Miss Lizzie Dale, Miss Tilly Dale, Miss Maggie Dale, Miss Mary Trahey, Miss Mary Conly, Miss Lizzie Conly, Mr Wm. Conly, sen., Mr Wm. Conly,' jun., Mr and Mrs Mills, Mr and Mrs Blackburn, Miss Ellen Hayes, Mr John Hayes, Messrs Wm. Murphy, Boland, W. Pierce, George Brooks, John Rice, John M'Garry, Thomas Allely, John Neville, Owen Hughes, W. Hughes, W. Hawkins, W. Miller, Robert Hart, Dahlberger, Edouard Yarbourg, David Keys, John Harold, and Thos. Jones. After leaving the Mersey, heavy weather from the eastward was experienced until the ship was clear of the land, and a smart rnn was made to the latitude of Maidera. The N.E. trades were shortly afterwards fallen in with, and wete carried well to the southward, the S.E. trades being picked up about 2deg north. These trade winds were also favorable, and the ship made such a good course that great anticipation were indulged in of making a rapid passage out. After losing the S.E. trades, however, some dirty weather was experienced until after passing the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope. Captain Taylor evidently did not intend to run his easting down in a very high latitude, as he kept well to the northward, and at the time of year necessarily met with some heavy weather. He was compelled to heave the chip to when off St. Paul's Island, and during this time she shipped some very heavy which it is believed somewhat distfpEurbed the chronometers. That was the impression of Captain Taylor, who during the remainder of the voyage made observations at every possible opportunity iv order to correct the chronometers. For some days before the wreck the weather was too thick to take a meridian observation, and it may therefore be surmised that Captain Taylor was unable to get the exact latitude of the vessel, and being somewhat to the southward of his reckoning, brought his ship in too close proximity to King's Island.^ There is no doubt, however, that he thought he had plenty of seaway in front of him, as on Friday, May 22, when the first watch was called, from 8 p.m. to midnight, the ship was running under two lower topsails, reefed foresail, fore topmast staysail, and main staysail, the wind being on the starboard quarter, and the course somewhat to the northward of east. The exact course steered cannot yet be ascertained. The second officer, Mr Charles H. Baker, had the first watch on the night of Friday, May 22, and when he took charge of the deck the ship was making about six

(For remwndw tfNws, see 4th page,)

by the hunter MTherson, who gave them every assistance in the way of food and dry clothing. The whole of the rescued men came together next day, and as the ketch Kangaroo waa seen at anchor under New. Year's Island, one of the hunters pulled a boat across to her, and she at once made for King'B Island, and taking the shipwrecked men on board, made a start for Melbourne. When the Kangaroo, with her living freight of castaways arrived in the bay, she was boarded by Mr W. 0. Rees, of the Harbor department, and the shipwrecked men were conveyed to the Williaiiastown railway pier in one of the harbor boats, and forwarded to Melbourne by train. The piers were thronged with people at the time, and as the word passed round that the survivors of the wreck were in the boat, quite a rush took place to have a sight of the poor fellows, who were scantily clad and looked battered aud careworn. On arriving at Melbourne they were taken to the Sailors' Home, where their immediate wauts were supplied, and where they will be cared for for a time. The British Admiral left Liverpool originally about the same time as the Bhip Chrysomene at present in port, and the ill-fated passengers of the former ship, ,it appears, were shut out of the Chrysomene, there being no space allotted in her for their accommodation. Only one passenger, Mr R. T. Cronin, came out hero in the latter vessel, and he on leaving felt more than half inclined to take his passage ia the British Admiral for the sake of company.

knots an hour. When the watch was called at eight bells (midnight) the chief officer took charge of the deck, and an able seaman rittmed Joseph Cunningham went on the forecastle as a lookout) and a man was also sent up occasionally to the topsail - yard to look out for the land. Nothing was seen up to fnnr bells (2 a.in.), when William Smith went to the wheel. About half an - hour afterwards the chief, officer, who was looking over the lee side, "saw the loom of the land ahead. He at one called all hands, ordered the watch to "haul out the spanker," and put the helm down to bring her round. The ship came quickly round before the spanker was set, and the mainsail and mizentopsail, together with the jib and maintopmast staysail, were at once put on her in order to claw her off the land. She had not been standing on the new course five minutes when the lookout man (Thomas Orowan) sang out "Breakers ahead." The captain was by this time on deck, but before he could ' give any orders the ship struck heavily, and for a few minutes it was expected that the masts would go by the board in consequence of the manner in which the vessel swayed to and fro. Up to this time the passengers had been totally unacquainted with any possibility of danger, but the severe shock of the ship striking brought them rushing on deck, and a most heartrending scene occurred. There were several women on board — one of whom was far advanced in pregnancy — together with many young girls, and the screams arid prayers for rescue from these were appalling. The women and children had congregated on the poop, and were clinging to the mizen rigging within a lew minutes of the ship striking having been awakened from their sleep by the shock. The captain and mate at once gave orders to " Clear away the boats." Mr Baker (the chief officer) at the same time ran towards the cabin for the purpose of. getting an axe in order to cut away the masts if necessary. The third mate (Mr M'Ewau), who hai been confined to his cabin for the last fortnight with fever, hearing the shock, rushed on deck, and seeing the land close to, at once seized some clothing and took his station on the quarter-deck. The carpenter had in the meantime sounded the pumps, and - was reporting to the captain at the time the men were clearing away the boats. There was no hnrrry or confusion, but, according to orders, the starboard watch ' went to the forward boats, the port watch clearing away the after boats. The for- ' ward boats were secured on the top of the „ house on deck, and the first attempt was made to cast loose the gig. . The first and third, mates, together with several seamenj. cut the lashings loose and tried to launch the boat, but as the ship rolled heavily at the time the gig fell heavily between the bulwarks and the house on deck and was smashed/ At the same moment a heavy; sea swept across the 'midships of. the veeßel,: and the chief . officer, together with sever J. seamen were drowned. The' third officer, seeing the sea coming, made a run for the forerigging, and together with a couple of seamen who followed his example managed 1o secure their escape. The next sea that came on board swept away the roizenroast, and with it the crowd of pas- . sengers who had taken to the poop and were clinging to the mizen rigging. Heavy 'seas continued to sweep across the 111- -,,* fated vessel, and a few minutes afterwards .the mainmast went over the side. The effect of the heavy sea now began to tell, : as the decks showed signs of ' burstin?, and without any great delay those .. individuals who were clinging on to „ the . fore rigging ' found themselves washed away by a heavy sea that "nearly swamped them- j they Had scarcely ■ ; relieved; themselves from this sea when the ship slipped off the rock and went into deep water. The third mate and some others managed to secure some timber which had floated out of the hold, and made,. towards the shore. This was a matter of difficulty, but, trusting to the • tide and ' current, they managed, after considerable bruising and knocking about -among the rocks, to secure a footing on ' dry land. At this time they, were wet, cold, 'and bruised, but as they found* that they had timber, and that some provisions ■ and cargo had been floated ashore, they managed to provide some accommodation ..for themselves.. A cask of spirits was 1 gashed, ashore, and this was found most .' i.useful.' . The rescued crew having rested on Sunday, on the next morning made a start down the coast, in order to ascertain whether there was anyone living on the island. On their, way they saw several dead bodies, but' upon reaching Currie ' Harbor - they found - a hunter named MTherson stopping there, who gave them ' every assistance. They also found with him one of their companions named Cunningham, who had managed to escape from the wreck. . The bodies found on the beach and buried by the survivors were : — Mrs ■ ■ Thomas, second cabin passenger ; steerage passengers, Mrs Blackburn, Mrs- Mills, Miss Tilly Dale, Miss Ellen Hayes, Mr : W. Pierce, ; and Mibs Mary Conly. The body of Mis Mary Trahey was also seen entangled among the rocks, but could not be' rescued for burial. It is said that this young lady has some relation in Melbourne, keeping an hotel in Ireland street, .Weßt Melbourne; ! It may be somewhat a. matter of surprise as to how. the seaman Cunningham should .come across his' comrades on King, Island after both had given themselves up for, lost. It appears, however, that when the order was given to " Clear away the boats," the- second officer and several others' made at once for a boat on the ?' skids," which they, managed to cast loose. It was, however, jammed in the ■ mizen rigging, and it was with the greatest difficulty that they got the boat clear before the ship sank. As soon as the boat was clear, the oars were shipped with the intention of keeping as close as possible to the wreck during the night, but the wind and sea was too strong, for when the day dawned nothing could be " seen of the British Admiral. The crew, being . cold and weary, pulled along the coast with the view of 'finding some place to land. at. After pulling some distance io the northward,, they made for the shore, but in the first row of " breakers " , the boat was capsized. At .the time of the accident, the following persons were in the boat :— Mr Baker, second mate :A. Wellesly, A.8.; William Tyrer, A.8.; Cunningham, A.8. ; James Dutton, boy; Messrs • O'Grady and Nicholson, saloon passenger,; and Mr Jones, steerage passenger. Cunningham, O'Grady,' and Jones M&naiged -to 'get on the bottom of the boat, and were drifted on, shore, where: they were Boon afterwards picked up