SHIPWRECK AND PLUNDER OF THE AMERICAN BRIG FALCO.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 15, 13 September 1845, Page 2

SHIPWRECK AND PLUNDER OF THE AMERICAN BRIG FALCO.

In our last number we intimated an opinion, as no intelligence whatever had been received of the Falco from the numerous small vessels that had arrived from the East Coast, that she had probably sailed direct for the South Sea Islands The arrival in our port of the small schooner, Uncle Sam, on Wednesday last, having on board J. B. Williams, Esq.. American Consul, with the Captain and crew of the Falco, proved not only that our surmises Avere incorrect, but most unfortunately brought intelligence of the wreck of the Falco, on the Eastern coast, to the northward of Hawke's Bay and Table Cape, on the night of the 26th of July, in the same tremendous gale from the north-east, which occurred, and occasioned so much damage in the town and neighbourhood of Auckland. On a lee shore, in such a tempest, there could be but little chance, under the most auspicious circumstances, however skilful and collected the commander of a vessel might be s exclusive of any casualty to the gear or rigging. The narrative which we are enabled to give of this truly lamentable circumstance, most completely proves that every thing was done, that the most skilful seamanship could accomplish, by Captain Moseley ; and had it not been for the villainous j piracy of Europeans, aided by the Natives, the vessel, and all the important mail,' would have been saved. The annexed account will excite the greatest indignation — and, we trust, instigate the Executive Government to take some prompt- and decisive measures to secure these lawless and piratical Europeans. There are above seven hundred packages j of gunpowder, &c , in the hands of the robbers. Whatever the conditions of the sale of the wreck may have been, it cannot'be expected they will be observed at such-a distance from all authority, and most probably it will very soon be distributed among the Natives. It is highly necessary that this notorious act of piracy by Europeans and Natives should not pass without every effort being made to bring the offenders to merited punishment. If it is passed over, the Natives will become pirates on every opportunity, and a*ll the coasting trade be ruined, for they will not scruple to plunder the small vessels at their anchorage, if they conceive they can |do so with impunity A man-of-war should be senf to Table Bay, and a reward of some few pounds offered to the natives for every European they could capture and prove as being one of the predatory gang, and then the whole would be very quickly taken, and could be brought to Auckland — tried by special commission, an<l punishment summarily and fully inflicted. The brig Falco, having on board W. Williams, Esq , the American Consul for New Zealand and the Feegees, sailed from Boston on the 19th Nov 1844, on a tiading voyage to the South Seals lands. She touched on her way at Swan River, Kiug George's Sound, and Adelaide, thence proceeded after a prosperous voyage to New Zealand, and arrived in June last at Port Nicholson, and sailed thence with the Government mails on board (six large bags) for Auckland, via Table Cape, having previously obtained permission from the Collector of Customs at Wellington, to to»ch on the coast for a supply of provisions for the crew of the vessel ou her intended trip to the

islands She arrived off Table Cape on the faternoon on the 26th July, and anchored at a place called Wangawai, (where the Governor Hobson foundered, and all hands perished, about two years ago, j on the following day it commenced blowing fresh from the North, veeiing to N.E., and before midnight the wind increased to a gale with a tremendous sea running in from the east, the vessel at the same time riding with both anchors down, in which state she safely could have ridden out the gale, had not the back knees and windlass bits broken off short, hauling tne windlass fore and aft ; the chains being shackled lound the foremast, the ship pitching heavily, when the windlass went, and both chain cables, snapped, when she fell into the trough of the seas Soon after midnight," she passed through the breakers, over a reef a mile in "extent, arid then struck on a shelf of rocks and sand, on a steep bold shore. The masts having been cutaway in crossing the reef, it being high water at the time the vessel struck, it was found at ebb tide that she was high and dry, about 40 feet above low water mark, wholly uninjured in her hull, and might have been, (but for the injuries she afterwards sustained from the Pirates,) got off by parties who would have guaranteed to 1 " do the work for about Jl5O. About 4 a.m., a New Zaalander came on board, and at the earnest request oi thejnaster, took a note to Mr. Brown who was supplying the Falco with provisions, informing him the brig was on shore. Mr. Brown arrived about 6 o'clock, but about an hour previous there came o"n board some 20 natives, who immediately commenced pillaging the cook's cabouse, and other trifling articles on deck, without offering however, personal violence, or otherwise molesting the crew ; some of them indeed making protestation of friendship, (the native chiefs after having set their slaves at plunder,) and offering some unavailable assistance. The Consul having a large amount of specie and papeis of great value on board, deemed it advisable to lose no time in seeking out a place of security, and accordingly proceeded about 9 a.m , on Monday to the residence of the nearest European taking the most valuable things with him, until he could communicate with Mr. Perry at Waikokopn, distant about six miles. On the Consul's' departure, all the natives betook themselves to their pahs, leaving about 20 Europeans and a few people of colour at the wreck. However shortly after the Consul left, the natives returned, and in. concert with the Europeans, assembled from all the whaling stations in the neighbourhood, and composed of the greatest ruffians in existence, rushed on board the vessel, and hemmed in the captain and officers on the'quarter deck, threatening them with violence, broke open the hatches, get into the hold, and destroying and carrying away the cargo. The mail bags and boxes we're opened, and their contents scattered into the hold, and about the beach, all the letters' likely to contain any inclosures were opened as well as the Government despatches, several of which were seen in the hands of natives offering them for sale j< ten figs of tobacco for a large one 5 and so in proportion down to one fig for anfordinary sized letter. In the work of destruction on the cargo and mail bags, (and 'what- they thought not worth pillaging, they destroyed,) the whites were even more eager than the natives, and seemed particularly pleased in tearing the' Go vernment despatches. One European was seen opening aprivate letter, and abstracting its contents, which appeared to be Bank notes' of the Wellington branch, and several* others did the same. Among the letters were some for Mrs* Fitzroy, Mr. Keesing, Mr. Kempthorne, Mrs. Kempihorne, Mr. Buttry, Messrs. Giahain and . Dickson, with a bill of lading, Mr. Church, Rev. Mr. Churton, and in fact for almost every individual of note in and about Auckland. However, it is gratifying to know that all or most of the letteis,&c. were recovered, through the exertion of the Consul. At the time these proceedings were going on in the hold, several Europeans were busy in the work of destiuction in the cabin, breaking into the, lockers and canning away every thing they thought might be useful to them, and destroying that which would be of no service to them in the., bush. Among the latter were a large quantity' of books and private papers of the Consul's, with which the beach was literally strewed, they also took all his clothes, leaving him barely the suit on his back. They then began to strip the hull, tearing off the copper, cutting the main rails, staunoheons, bulwarks, &c, and destroying with axes taken out of the hold, the hull in every part. And as they hauled up the spare sails, some were employed in cutting them with axes, on the combings of the hatchways. The spars aud standing riggi ng that had been hauled ashore, were also cut to pieces, and all this was done to prevent the possibility of her being got off. The natives in all cases of shipwreck, are quite bad enough, yet on this omision, it was quite evident that had the whites kept aloof from the natives, and been disposed to save the ship and <*argo,the latter would never have made an attack on the vessel. When Mr. Brown made his appearance many of the Europeans and natives dispersed with their plunder, and the crew with his assistance succeeded in driving the pirates out of the hold rind off the decks, and then put on the hatches and fore scuttle, which were battened down. By this time, Mr. Perry at the risk of his life f put a stop during the rest of the day to any further scenes of plunder, notwithstanding on the following day, when the hatches were removed to discharge such of the cargo as remained, the same acts of piracy recommenced by the natives who had got possession of the long boat, which they refused to deliver up, until payment was made to them of a cask of tobacco By this time a quantity of goods had been landed by the crew from the ship, and plundered almost as soon as sent ashore by the pirates. They then threatened to burn the vessel, and were only dissuaded from it b) Mr. Perry, but for vr hose exertions throughout the whole of this unfortunate affair there is not the least doubt but that the remainder of the cargo and the entire vessel would have been destroyed. Indeed it is a wonder how the vessel escaped being blown to atoms, as there were five tons of gunpowder, and a large quantity of rockets and blue lights on board, all which were dashed promiscuously together in the hold by

the pirates, amongst several cases of lucitet matches, the contents of which were strewed about in all directions. The scenes above pourtrayed continued until the arrival of Archdeacon Williams from Poverty Bay, on the 2nd August, to whom the Consul mentioned the whole affair, and solicited bis assistance. The Archdeacon requested the natives to hold a committee of themselves on the following Monday, and to mark a sense of their misconduct, tefused to hold native service on the Sabbath, but read prayers and preached a discourse in English to the crew of the Falco, at the house of Mr. Brown where the Consul then resided. On the Monday as was appointed, a committe of the native tribes was held at the place of the wreck, at which were present the Archdeacou, the American Consul, Mr. Perry, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ellis, and several of the Europeans implicated, these latter making uncalled for reflections on the venerable Archdeacon. With one or two-ex-ceptions the natives professed to be friendly.many of them seemed desirous to give up their portion of the booty, which they stated never would have been taken, had they not been urged on by the •whites} that they were very sorry for what had occurred, and seemed desirous to make restitution of w hat they could j but it was found that for the articles they brought back, they expected and demanded as much as they were really worth. They offered also to protect Mr. Williams from all personal violence, he having been threatened before by the whites, indeed he afterwards found it necessary to call in their assistance, some of the Europeans having expressed their intention "of drinking his blood," and some of them had the audacity to go to Mr. Perry's, where he was residing, for the purpose of doing so ; but were deterred, on finding that preparation had been made for them. On the departure of the Archdeacon, the small portion of the cargo, nearly all damaged, was removed to the stores of Mr. P. B, Perry, at Waikokopu, aud where such portions of the letters, and despatches, as could be saved or procured from the natives, weie deposited. Some natives having brought intelligence that a concerted attack was to be made on Mr. Perry's house by the whites, Mr. Williams' treasures being there, on which 200 natives were set on nightly guard. On Monday the 18th, a sale of all the remaining portion of the cargo took place, subject to the duties levied by Government, which in the mean time, were paid to the Consul. The powder, muskets, rockets and lead- were sold on condjtiou of not being resold in New Zealand, without the sanction of Government,™ consequence of present hostilities. The wreck was sold for £35. The fisheries are all broken up, a'mosi all the whalers have retired into the bush, to enjoy their portion of the spoil, obtained from the unfoitunate Falco

Total Abstinence Society. — On Monday evening ' last, Mr. Hart delivered his second lecture on the beneficial effects of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. The Mechanics' Institute was numerously attended on the occasion, and the lecturer was listened to with the greatest attention. Mr. Hart commenced his lecture by citing the proverb, " There is nothing new under the sun," — but the manner in which he treated his subject did not confirm the quotation, for instead of dry, common Place sentences, in promotion of the doctrines and practice professed by the Society, which are geuerally put forth on such occasions, Mr. Hart embodied in his lecture, in more than ordinary language, with effective persuasive delivery, much that was interesting as i t was instructive. As a lecturer, he possesses an aptitude for illustrating his subject by examples — most pertinent and vividly wrought. The history of the utterer of the forged note as related on his conviction, told well ; — but the touching tale and scene, of the first day of the election, although perhaps a fiction, was related in simple but beautiful language. Such lectures must have much good effect, when listened to with deep attention, and we think Jhat Mr. Hart is most highly deserving of the applause he received for hie literary exertions to increase the professors and practitioners of Total Abstinence. Coroner's Inquest. — An inquest was held on Thursday morning, on the body of a soldier of the 96th Regiment, who died suddenly at the Victoria hotel on the previous day. It appeared by the evidence that he went into the tap room very much intoxicated, with a comrade, and they both laid themselves down to sleep. Some little time afterwards one was awakened, but the other was found to be life, less. The Jury very properly returned their verdict—" Died from the effects of Intemperance." Supreme Court. — This Court met by adjournment on Monday last, for the trial of civil cases, but there was no business of any importance. There is much talk of a company for running stearaets to the Australian colonies. A letter written in London on the 17th of March, received the other day by a gentleman in Nelson, s lys, " In my next I will send 3011 a prospectus of an East Indian and Colonial Screw-propeller Navigation Company. They intend to have branch steamers from the Cape to Australia and New Zealand." — Nelson Examiner, July 2G.