FATAL WRECK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10212, 5 December 1893, Page 5

FATAL WRECK.

RESCUE OF THE SURVIVORS. TESKIBLE PRIVATIONS. [Psb Press Association]. DUNEDIN, Dec. 4. The Government steamer Hinemoa, Captain Fairchild, arrived at the wharf this afternoon with the survivors of the barque Spirit, of Dawn, wrecked on Antipodes Island. On the Hinemoa nearing the Island on Nov. 30 Captain Fairchild observed a flagstaff erected on the knoll on the south-west end. Proceeding to the north-east end, where the depflfc with provisions is situated, he expected to find someone there, but no one put in an appearance. He despatched the second officer to where the flag was, and then commenced to steam round to look for wreckage. On getting to the south side a flsgataff was observed on a low terrace, and some men walking about on the rocks. A boat was lowered and ssut ashore, and then a piteous sight was beheld. Eleven men, some of whom had very little clothing, were found standing on the rocks, soma with a piece of raw penguin flesh, winch they had been eating, in their hands. Their first salutation was, “ GOD BLESS XOB ! ' "Wo have been here eighty days," The whole of that time they had been living on the raw flash o£ mutton birds and penguins, penguins’ eggs, roots of the pleura phyllium plant, and a creeping plant resembling celery. They proved to be the survivors of the barque Spirit of the Dawn belonging to Messrs Johnston, Beil and Co., of Liverpool, and bound from Rangoon to Talcahuano. After landing from the wrack they had nothing but what they stood in, and some of them had little more than underclothing. The place where they landed is about three miles from the Government depot containing provisions, but none of them ever searched the island or went to the top of Mount Galloway, 1320 feet, from which the’depdt can be seen. They were so exhausted that they could not walk about.. They recovered strength as - soon as the pongninaj came about, when they got their eggs. Their greatest hardship was BEING WITHOUT EIRE and a proper place to sleep. During the time the castaways were on the island they saw four vessels pass to the southward and eastward, bat their signal was not observed. Strange to eay, though there are a number of goats, ehsep and cattle on the island, which is only 3000 acres in estont, none of them were observed by the castaways. On the men getting on board. Captain Fairchild- managed to find clothes for all of them, and it is needlers to eay that bo treated them with that characteristic Madness which distinguishes him. ■That the men are grateful they showed by at once getting up a testimonial to him. The foregoing particulars were kindly furnished- by Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines. THE CHIEF MATE’S STATEMENT. The following details are supplied by Mr Horner, chief mate: The Spirit of Dawn, Captain R. T. Millington, left Rangoon onJuno 17, bound for Talcahuano, Chili, with a cargo of rice. We had squally weather down the Bay of Bengal, and then variable winds and moderate weather to the New Zealand coast. On the morning of Sept. 4, about 4.30, the man on the lookout reported that he thought he • SAW BREAKERS AHEAD. ' I was in charge of the watch, and at once ran forward, but could see nothing. However, finding the fog dense, I thought it prudent to call the captain and all hands. CapfcpJn Millington, on reaching the deck, j ordered the helm to be put hard up, but owing to the small sail the vessel had on her she did not pay off sufficiently quickly, and it was then discovered that she was close to a reef of rock-!, upon which she immediately struck. The captain at once ordered lifebelts to be served out to all hands and gave instructions for the starboard lifeboat to bo cleared away. Aa the VESSEL WAS SETTLING DOWN very rapidly, however, we had no time to get the boat into the davits, and tho captain seeing this ordered the men to take to the mizzea rigging. This they did, all but the second mate and me. We remained on the main deck, and then got into the boat aa she lay on tho skids, and as the vessel went down she floated off with us. The men jumped from tho mizzen rigging into the water, and thus crawled into the boat with us. The captain was in the rigging at the time. He did not jump with the rest. THE SHIP THEN BANK BODILY, and Captain Millington went down with her. The carpenter and an able seaman were also iu the rigging. Tho fog became very dense, and wo in the boat could not see the rocks or anything else; The boat drifted out to sea with the tide and wind. We had oars and water in the boat. She was supplied according to regulations. We lose eight of the island, the tide taking us further .seaward. Next day, about eleven o’clock in the morning, the fog lifted and wo saw the island. It was perhaps seven or eight miles away, but I could hardly give the distance as

tee weather was still thick. We made for the iaiaad and got there about three o’clock ia the afternoon. I guessed that by the sun,, as wa had no watches. We looked about for. a lasding-placs, bub could find r.o beach. We, however, discovered a sorb of entrance among the rocks, and gob ia there all pretty well exhausted. We passed the gear out and made the boat fast, but there was no place to haul her up, and during the first night buo broke away. We started to look round for food and water and some chaaca of shelter. Wa were lucky enough to find water in abundance, and as for food wa CAUGHT MUTTON EIHDS AND DUG UP EOOTi), which we ate raw; thus wa were satisfied that we would not starve. The first High 6 t we slept in the boat's sails, and after that we knocked up & hut ox tussocks, roofing it with the beat's oars and sails. We also erected a eignal-Etaff cub of the boat’s .mast and an oar, and sat a sharp lookout for say vessels that might come that way. We had no means of getting fire at all. The people all kept in good health excepting r E&agoon native boy named Hewbcrt, who, suffered ia ’ho fe'ot. Wa attended bim, and washed-him. After a week or ttvo we caught penguins, and in a month wo got egga too. Ail were eaten raw. The Hiaemoa came in sight on Nov. 30. We hoisted oar flag, she eaw it, cent a boat ashore, and all bauds were taken on hoard. The men behaved remarkably well throughout.

STATEMENT BY THE SECOND MATE. ; The second mate (Mr Morris ay) here said that the last he saw of the steward was his coming into the cabin.. That was after the vessel was on the rooks. (The steward and the second mate shared one cabin). When ilie steward went into the main cabin he was getting out stores. The eta ward made'a remark that ho was afraid they wore ail going down, but the second mate advised him to keep cool, adding that slj would be well. The steward then went into the cabin again, and the second mate saw no more of him. As for the cook, Mr Mdrrisey saw 1 him in the galley with a light. Nothing was re on of his movements after that. As the boat whs leaving the rlTtp’a side the captain called mit to them to puli clear of the rooks, and they did So. THE CEEVV. The names and ratir-g o? those who were lost, are us follow : — Captain E. T. Millington, a married man, belonging to Liver pool; J. Petersen, a Swede,• carpenter; Peter Dsweoo, cook, belonging to Liverpool; Cefeci, steward, a najbivo o,r Copenhagen (the men do nob know hia Christian name); Frank Vautier, A. 8., of Jersey, The names and rating or the survivors ore as follows.—lt. H. Homer, chief officer; J. ISffwmeyr second officer; K. L. Darien, tbiui effleer; 'J'. B._ Batlsrd. A. 8.; j..J, Peers, A.B.j C. D. ilasoa, A. 8.; F. .M.'Langklm, A3* ; Aucwrawjj JD.S,;

P. Hewberfc, O.S. ' W. B. Clementapa, apprentice; E. B. Bergtheim, apprentice. The boy Hewbert was taken to the hospital as soon as the EinemOi arrived. He has lost two toes from his right foot, and n joint is gone from each of two other toes on the same foot. .All the other survivors are in capital health.