WRECK OF A BARQUE.

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1893, Page 7

WRECK OF A BARQUE.

DRIVEN ON ANTIPODES ISLAND CAST AWAY FOE EIGHTY DAYS. RESCUED BY THE HINEMOA. DthfEblN, Monday. The Government steamer Hinemoa, Captain Eairchild, arrived at the wharf this afternoon with the survivors of the barque Spirit of the Dawn wrecked on Antipodes Island. THE SIGNAL OBSERVED. On the Hinemoa nearing the island on November 30, Captain Pairchild observed a flagstaff erected on a knoll on the south west end. Proceeding to the north-east end, where the depot with provisions is situated, he expected to find someone there, but no one put in an appearance, and lie 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 the flagstaff was observed oil a low terrace, and some men walking about on the rocks. A boat was lowered and sent ashore, and then a piteous sight was beheld. THE SURVIVORS. Eleven men, some of whom had very little clothing, were found standing on the rocks, some with pieces of raw penguin flesh, which they had been eating, in their hands. Their first salutation was, " God bless you! We have been hero 80 days." The wli»le of that time they had been living; on raw flesh of mutton birds, penguins' eggs, roots of the pleuraphyllium. plant, and creepingplants resembling celery. They proved to be survivors of the barque Spirit of the Dawn, belonging to Johnston, Bell and Co., of Livprpool, bound from Rangoon to Talcahuano. HOW THEY LANDED. After landing from the wreck 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 depot can be seen. They ware so exhaused that they could not. walk about. ; They recovered strength as soon as the penguins came about, and they got their eggs. The greatest hardship was being without fire and a proper place to sleep in. During the time the castaways were on the island they saw four vessels pass to the southward, but their signal was not observed. Strange to say, though there are a number of goats, sheep, and cattle on 1 island, which is only 3000 acres in extent, not one of them wore observed by the castaways. GETTING THE MEN ON BOARD. On the men getting on board, Captain Fairchild managed to find clothes for all of them, and it is needless to say that he treated them with that characteristic kindness which distinguishes him That the men are grateful they showed at once by getting up a testimonai to him. The particulars were kindly furnished by Mr Gordon, ; Inspector of Mines. THE MATE'S NARRATIVE. The following are supplied by Mr Homer, chief mate : — The Spirit of the Dawn, Captain R. T. Millington, left Rangoon on the 17th of June, bound for Talcahuano, Chili, with a cargo of rice. We had squall}' weather down the Bay. of Bengal, and then variable winds and moderate weather to the New Zealand coast. On the morning of September 4, about half-|. Ast four o'clock, the man on the lookout reported that ho thought lie saw breakers ahead. I wa° in charge of the watch, and at once van forward, but could sag nothing. However, finding the fog dense, I thought it prudent to call the captain and all hands. Captain Millington on reaching the deck ordered the helm to be puV hard up, but owing to the small amount of sail the vessel had on her she did not payoff sufficiently quick, and it was then diecovered that sh« was close to a reof of rocks, upon which she immediately struck. The captain at once' ordered life-boats to be cleared away, as the vessel was settling down yery rapidly. However, we. had no< time to get the boat into the ' davits ancU the Captain then ordered the men to take to the mizzon-rigging. J his they did all but the second mate and myself. We remained on the main deck and got into the boat as she lay ou the skids, and as the vessel went down she

floated off with us. Then the men j umped from the niizzen rigeing into the water and then crawled into the hoat ■with us. The captain was in the rigging at the time, but he did not jump with the rest. The ship sarile bodily, and Captain Millingtoft wont down with heV. The carpenter and ah able seaman were also in the rigging. The log became very dense, and wo in the boat could not see rocks or anything else. The boat drifted out to sea with the tide and wind. \V r o had oars and water in the boat, and she was supplied according to the regulations. Wo lost sight of; the Island', the tide taking- us further seaward. Next day about eleven o'clock in .the morning the fog lilted and we saw the island. It was perhaps seven or eight miles, away, but 1 -could hardly give the distance, as thk.weather w gg stll 1 thick. We made for the island, and got there about three o'clock in tb,e afternoon. I guessed that by the sun. We had no watches. We looked about for a landing-place, but could find no beach. AYe, however, discovered a sort of entrance among the rocks and got in 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 she broke away. We started to look around for food and water and some chance of shelter. We were lucky enough to find water in abundance, and as for food, wo caught mutton birds and dug up roots, which we ate raw. Thus we were satisfied that we would not starve, The first night we slept in the boat sails, and after that we knocked up a hut of tussocks, roofing it with the boat oars and sails. We also erected a signal staff out of the boat's mast and an oar, and set a sharp look-out for any vessel that might come that way. We had no means of getting fire at, all. The people all kept in good health, excepting- aEangoon native boy named Herbert, who suffered in the feet. We attended him and washed hiui. After a week ortwo we caught ponguius, and in a month we got eggs. All were eaten raw. The HiDemca came in sight on the 30th November, and we hoisted our flag : . She saw it, sent a boat ashore, and all hands were takeu onboard. The men behaved remarkably well throughout. THE STEWAED AND Till-: COOK. The second mate (Mr Morrissey) here said that the last he saw of the steward was his coming into the cabin. That was after the vessel was on the rocks. The steward and the second mate shared one cabin. When the second mate went into the main cabin, he was getting- out stores,. and the steward made the remark that he was afraid they were going down. The second mate advised him to keep cool, adding that all 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 Morrissey saw him in the galley with a light. Nothing was seen of his movements after that. As the boat was leaving the captain called out to them to pull clear of the rocks, and they did so. NAMES OF THE LOST. The names and rating of those who were lost, are a follow : — Captain E. T. Millington, married man, belonging to Liverpool ; J. Peterson, Swede, carpenter ; Peter Dawson, cook, belonging to Liverpool; Lettie, steward, of Copenhagen (men do not know his Christian name) ; Frank Vautier, A.8., of Jersey. NAMES OF THE SUEYIVOES. The names.and lating of the survivors are as follow : — OR,.. S. Hornier, chief officer ; J. Morrissey, second officer ; W. L. Davis, third officer ; T. E. Ballard, A.B. ;J. Peers, A.8. ; C. D. Mason, A.B. ; F. McLaughlan, A.B. ; B. V. Anderson, 0.8. ; F. W. B. Cleamentson, apprentice ; E. Bergtheen, apprentice. The apprentice Herbert was taken to the hospital as soon as the Hinemoa arrived. He has lost two toos from his right foot and a joint is gone from each of two other toos on the same foot. All the other survivors are in capital lietilth.

The charge against the Eev. S. ,T. Noill, Presbyterian Minister, at the Thames, has been referred to tho General Assembly. A Chinaman was fined £100 and costs, £8 ss, for opium smuggling at the Thames, and opium valued at £40 was also forfeited. - In the Chamber of Deputies, a Bill to proclaim a general amnesty to Anarchists was tin-own, out by a majority of 31, the Government opposing 1 the measure A groat sensation was caused at Pentridge Pv ; «on by an attempt on tlio part of in * operate criminals lo sealo the walls aud escape. After a desperate struggle the prisoners woro secured. It appears that while working they -broke off-iheir leg-irons with Btono-fcreakj^Jiatamers and armod themselves' with a pie&e of metal, tied in a handkerchief . . $ Commenting on fche, 1 general elections in New ,Zaala.iifJ,-..tbo Daily Telegraph says they'lmvef-'shown that the women exercised the franchise with intelligence and enthusiasm, rind uninistakeably expressed the decided approval of tho whole colony of the cciirsn .followed : l>y the Government in ! the pnst; and ilio policy outlined for the future With such a following Mr Seddon should occupy an impregnable position, mid how" fur he will use his chances and uvail himself Cv'isolv of them will be a matter of profound interest to the whole of Australia.