WRECK OF THE SUSSEX.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 77, 24 January 1872, Page 7

WRECK OF THE SUSSEX.

One of Messrs. Money, Wigram, and Sons' fine Bhips trading to Melbourne, the Sussex, 960 tons,' with a valuable cargo and a large number of passengers, was wrecked on the last night of the year within sight of the Heads. The Sussex made Cape Otway on the 31st December, and Captain Collard shaped his course for the Heads, the weather being fine, but as evening approached a heavy mist hung over the land. About 9 p.m. the look-out reported a flash light on the starboard bow, which Captain Collard and his officers concluded was the Schanck light, on the eastern Bide of the bay, while in reality it proved to be a light in the pilot boat. Deceived by this mistake the vessel pursued her course in assured safety until übout hulf an hour after, when land was seen looming ahead, and almost immediately after breakers were reported under the ship's bow. Prompt measures were at once taken to get the vessel out of danger, but before her head could be got to the wind she struck heavily mid* ships and finally stuck fast. A boat was shortly after manned with the third mate and five of the crew to reach the shore and seek assistance, but she capsized in the breakers, and only one of the men reached the shore alive. Soon after daylight the following morning the position of the Sussex was discovered by a passing steamer, "Which went at once to her assistance and took off all on board. Subsequently attempts were mude to save the passengers' luggage and the cargo, but only Bueh of the former as was ready at hand could be got at, and the wreck as she stood was afterwards sold for less than £700. The spot where the Sussex struck was at the mouth of the Barwon, on the western side of the Bay, on almost the same spot where the Victoria Towers was lost two years ago. At the inquiry which followpd, Captain Harrison, of the ship Highflyer, which passed Cape Otway only a few hours before the Sussex, stated that he had made six or seven passages to Melboune, and that in coming up the coast to tho Heads from Cape Otwny he always found himself much more to the westwaid than he ought to have been by the course ho steered, and on his present vovnge, after passing the Otway, he made an extra distance of five miles off the land as an allowance for what he had observed. Cuptidn Harrison observed Unit in deep bights there is usually an vuiderdraught, which possibly was the cause of vessels not keeping their true course. The Navigation Board, after a patient investigation which extended over three cr four days, decided that the ship was lost by Captain Collard's delimit, he not having taken the necessary precautions to verily his position before attempting to make Port Phillip Heads ; first, by not making sure that the Hash, light ho saw was the Cape Sehanuk light ; and, secondly, by Bteering for other lights on his port bow, aftor discovering that there had been wrong steering. Taking i lto consideration Captain Collard's long service and " well-known excellent character as a careful officer," tlic board decided to suspend his certificate for six months only.