WRECK OF THE GENERAL GRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1310, 28 January 1868, Page 3

WRECK OF THE GENERAL GRANT.

NARRATIVE OF THE WRECK, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE SURVIVORS, ON AUCKLAND ISLANDS. (From the Southland Times, January 15.) We take the following narrative of the wreck of the General Grant, and of the doing 3 and sufferings of tho survivors, from the Times. It \i the work of Mr. Teer, one of the aDd as he vas formerly an acting pilot at Uokitika and elsewhere, he was no doubt a capable observer of what happened. The Times states that the narrative was written during the time passed on board the brig Ambrrat; Mr. Teer'a writing materials heicg some eealsfcin parchment and a piece of charcoal. It was transcribed bv Mr. "W. M. Sanguily, for publication: —

The ship General Grant, Cuptain "Wm. IT. LottgTilin, left Hobson's Bu.y on Friday, May 4th, 1866, bound to London, with eighyl-three souls ou bourd. Experienced fine weather with htjht westerly wiads until tho 11th, when the weather became thick and foggy, and the c:iptain ordered a look-out for land to be kept on the 12th, as ho had tnken no observation after 8 a.m. on the 11th. A uhurp look-out was ordered to be kept on Sunday, 13th, for the land, which was sighted at half-past ten o'clock p m., on the weather or port bow. The -watch below was callod on deck and oniera given to square away the yards, to clear hor for the land, which wua instantly done. The land wae soon lost sight of and I went to bod. But ae I had not fallen asleep I heard the man on the look-out give the cry of ".Land on the starboard bow." While I was below the captain had haulftd her on hor course, again. The land had the appoarance of a f :.•£ bank, and it was on our lee beam, about three or four miles distant. The wind was fast falling away, and in a few minutes it was a dead calm. I afterwards noticed that iu this region westerly winds fall away at nigbt, and commence to blow with the rising sun. The Und first sighted was Disappointment Is'aml, one of the Auckland group, 'i he cuptain thought he could pass between it and the main island, but as 1 mentioned bsfuri; thsfc the wind had fallen to a dead calm, the ship was totally unmanageable. Tho captain did all in hU power, with every flaw of wind from the fi ipping eails, but his attempts were uselesj. The yards weie hauled in every possible direction tbnt might enable the getting his ship off the shore, but all to no purpose, ae the heavy S.W. swell was constantly setting her nearer and nearer to the futal rocks.

About 12 or 1 a.m. the ship was close to the shoie, and the current seamed to be setting her northward along Jhe const, uutil a rock stoppo.l her progress, tihe touched it with her jib-boom and curried it awny. She then shot astern to another point, which she struck with her spanker-boom and rudder, injuring severely the man at the wheel. It was just halfpast 1 a.m. on the 14th. The two points struck formed the eutr&nce to a cove. Her head fell off towards the cove, and her side was rubbing against the perpendiculur rocks. Owing to the darkness we saw nothing save tho dark mass above and arouud us. Lamps were held over the aide, Uβ the ship was lying very eafily. We could then see the overhanging rocks, and no place where a bird could re?t upon them. Soundings were taken, and I think it wus twenty five fathoms under her stern, and all the while she kept working into the cave. The boats were then thought of, but the captain, finding her lying bo easy, and pieces of spars and rock coming continually down, made Jit dangerous to at'urnjit g tting them out until daylight. The water being so btnooth as wo entered tho cave thut lie concluded it was best to wait uutil daylight before he would be able to launch them. The ehip continued to go farther into the cave. She caught the overhanging rocks with her fore ro3 ? al mast, and carried it nway ; the topmast and lower mast also fell; the stumps of the masts touching the top of the cave brought down large pieces of the rocks; one piece went through her foituastle deck, while another went through her starboard deck house. During this time all on bnard kept aft, as the alter part of the ship still continued to bo safe. Nearly at daylight the mizzen top-gallant mast came down, and at daylight the captain gave orders to get the boats in readiness. There were three boats on board, two quarterboats, each 22 feet overall'and 5 feet beam, and a long boat, 30 feet keel, and sis or seven feet boam, A quarterboat was then launched over the stern by means ofn spar rigged for the purpose. In this boat thero were three men, Peter il'Nevin, Andrew Morieon, and David M'Clelland, A.B.S. A line and some iron were placed in the boat to be used as an anchor, and dropped outside t> haul out the other boots with, she was also to see if a landing could be made outside the cave. In the meantime the second boat was got ready. A quantity of beef and pork, and about fifty tins of bouilie were placed on board her. This boat was inieDded by the captain for the transmission of women and children to the first boat, and then to return to the ship. Mrs. Jo noil (stewardess), was mado fasttoa rope, and jumped into the water, her husband following her, and with the assistance of tho writer, both were got into the boat. After her H. Caughley and N. Allen (passengers), slid down the lope into the boat. These were all that could be taken in the boat, owing to the heavy aea which was getting up. This boat took five of her passengers to the other boat, leaving Bartholomew Brown, CO., Mr. W. Scott, Corn, Drew, A.B.'e, and myself, who were to go back to the ship again for more. By this time the long boat then lying on the quarter-deck was filled with passengers, and the ship was sinking rapidly (the main-must having evidently boen driven through her bottom by contact with the rocks above), till the boat with its cargo was floated off her decks. Owing to tht email space in the cave ire were obliged to wait till the long boat was quite clear of the ship, but the sea breaking over her filled her with water, and she was swamped when nbour 100 yards from ths ship. We then went as near the boat as it was safe to go, and three of tho passengers, being all who were able to swim through the surf to us—L. Ash worth, passenger; William Sanguilyand Aaron Hayman, two of the crew. Mr. Brown wished to go to the ship io save his wife who was on board, and also the captain who was seen in the miz2eu topmueC croestrees. The hull of the ship was under water. The rest of us wished to save some of those in the water, but in a fow minutes they were no more. One man was seen at the bottom of the boat, and we made signals to the outer boat to save him, but prudence forbade them from rendering him any assistarfee, as* the boat was aonear the rocks, with the sea breaking heavily.

When the mate wished again to return to the ehip, we thought it uealess, as we were unable to render aeeietance, and placed ourselves in great danger, owing to the heavy sea and the constant increase of wind. While outside deliberating upon what was beet to be done, I had an opportunity of teeing the whole of tho cave. The rooks around it, I think, were about 400 feet high, and overhanging. The ship was in underneath these about two lengths of herself, ihe coast, a3 far as we could see, was high perpendicular rocke, and -we saw no possibility of landing. Wo now consulted with each other, and with thofe in the other boat, what was best to be done. We concluded we could not assist those inside, ns it was only endangering ourselves, owing to the constant increase of tea and wind. We thought it best to pull for Disappointment Island, about six miles distant in a weeterly diraotion. We had more trouble than we expected to get there ; Our boat having such a quantity of beef and pork and bouille tins in her and seven men, it was only with incessant bailing we could keep out the water which from time to time ehe lifted. Once or twice she was all but full, and and at laat we gave up and intended to run our chance -..mong the rooks to leewaid, trying at the same time to get as far towards the north end of the island as possible, hoping to find a beach whore some might get ashore; but as we proceeded to the northward we saw that the sea and wind were decreasing. We again pulled head to wind, and seeing a large rock about one and a half mile distant to the N.TC. of Disappointment Island, we pullod for ifc, and reached it just nt dark. The other boat, which, like ourselves, had given up, before it moderated, came to the island about twenty minutes after we did. At this place we put in a most miserable night, wet and cold, and without a drink of water. Wβ opened some bouille tins, but little of their contents -were eaten. We were obliged to keep on our oars all night, so as to prevent our being blown off the land, At daylight on the 15th we attempted to pull round the north end of the main island, but owing to the increasing sea and wind during the night, we could make but about half a mile after an hour's pull. We turned back, and during the day we were able to reach Disappointment Island, where we found good shelter, but on attempting to. maks a lan.ing with the baat containing the provisions, she

was capsized. We were able to save but three pieces of porfc and three bouiile tine. The other hoat regained the swamped one, bailed her out, and her crew got on board again from the rooka. We afterwarda landed, got some water, but wero not ablo to procure any wood for a fire. The wind wae falling awßy, and about 10 a.m. it was a dead calm. Wβ pulled away, and eucceeied in rounding the north, end of the island (main), and entered n place called. Worth Harbour; but, not thiuking it a fit place to stop at, at diij light on the 10th started again, and reached Port Roes. On tb it evening camped within quarter of a mile of the trees marked by the steamers Victoria and Southland, on Enderby'o eld Bot.lement, but did not notice them at that time. Had a few matches: tried one, and it lighted; hut as we had no dry brush or grass in readiness, it was wasted. Gathered some dry wood and grass, bnt could get hut one match out of all that remained to light. this one match we obtained a fire, which, by constant car», we nerer allowed to go out .Turing the eighteen months we were on the island. Boiled one or two birds obtained on Disappointment lelund and one tin of bouilli. G-atheivd some limpets, which were cookod with the birds in tho empty bouilli tins. This was our first meal afwr three days and two rciirfcts of suffering, and never did sumptuous rep at taste better to a king than did this frugal meal to Uβ. On thn 17th gathered some li rpets an i made opt breakfast. Having; now but seven tins of bouilli, we kept them for casas of sickness. Pulling along the south side of the bay we fell in with an old hut; tbe wall* had fallen in, and the roof rested on ths ruftere. We left one boat and nine persons to fix up the hut and arrange it for the night. The other b jat started in search nf a better ehslter, and were fortunate enough to find some old huts, one of which was in. pretty srood condition. Wo went back with the news, guthered some limpets, took our supper, and retired to rest on a shake down of grass juet gathered. Next morning, 18th, made u breakfa-t on limpets, when one of the boats started to explore, aud the other boats tt-irted for the hut. This day fortune again favored us. We killed four seals on the sandy beach at Enderbv's Island ; eaw the goats which the Victo« ria landed there, Dut we did not succeed in catching any of them. gaturdaj, 19th. Pulled round Enderhy's Island in search of Muagrave's hut, but wo lenew not at this time where it was situated. We intended leaving no spot on the iiland without a thorough search, as we expected to find there a depot for clothing and provieiou?. 1 may here mention some of ue were without shoe 3 01 stockings, while some had neither these nor coats or hats to keep them warm in a cold aud wet climate. We had four or five knires amongst us. Our only cooking utensils consisted of four or fire empty bouilli tins. We were able to roast the seel on the fire, and boil some so as to drink the broth, but the worst thing was the want of salt. Sunday, 20th. * Keeled from our labours, as we were nearly knocked up. Monday, 21 e t. Andrew Morrison, Cornelius Prew, P. David M'Olelland, Wm. Ferguson and I started to go along the coast (east) to geek for Musgrave's hut, looking in all the bavs as we proceeded. Night coming o", we campfd, having brought fire in ths hoat. °We also bro-Jght some cooked eeal and a piece of port, which was saved from the boat which was capsized. (To be continued.)