EXTRAORDINARY GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3825, 14 February 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY GALE.

FEABFUL DESTRUCTION AMONGST THE SHIPPING. SACRIFICE OF HUMAN LIFE. [FBOJI THE " HERALD," FEBRUAEY 9.] o>' Saturday night last one of the most fearful gales swept over Auckland harbour that have been known during the past 15 or 20 years. It

I was fiercer in intensity than that which was experienced here some four or five years ago, when much devastation waß mado amongst the shipping in harbour. It has been our boast latterly to speak with pride of the fleet of coasters belonging to this port, but with one puff destruction has been dealt out to the Auckland shipping that will tako months of labour and a vast amount of capital to reinstate in its former position. Scarcely a vessel escaped damage, and such as are now riding safe at anchor may look upon their safety as miraculous. What has transpired within the H past twent.r-four hours at other ports along §§ (be coast we shall hear in due course, while the H sea will tell its tale of that dreadful night

I which has just passed. The only wonder here is that with so many vessels sunk or wrecked and driven ashore, the sacrifice of lifo has been so small (as far as we know at present), details of which will bo found below. On Saturdav morning tho weather was squally, and as the day advanced the temperature and clouds indicated iu tho east bespoke what i| miebt be expected before night. Inthoafter--0 noon a heavy downpour of rain and fitful i-| rusts of wind, and later the still falling glass wjk shewed what was unmistakably preparing, rif Ye: little or no preparation appeared to be l|p made for the coming storm. Nearer and |ftj more near it approached, when at ten o'clock it PI burst upon us in all its fury. The very flood. fW calc-s of heaven seemed to be open and the pll waters of a second deluge hurled upon us. In BP company with this came a mighty wind, in Iff rower and duration unequalled by anything IP tbat we have had since the year IS6I. It K caire first from the south-east, then changed pf to the north-east, from which wo had it in all Bps its intensity and force, when it afterwards R'l shifted to the N.N.E. and later to the S3 rortb, in fact it may be said that we were B§ enveloped in the tail end of a cyclone. The i| destruction amongst the shipping has been E| enormous, and all within the space of half-an-If hour when the tornado was at its height. It Hf is usual on Saturday evenings for the harbour [jj to be well dotted with coasting craft, most §|j of which are moored to the eastward of the |j§ wharf. It was here that the havoc comes rnenced. It may be described as similar to a H game of ninepins,—a 3 one vessel broke adrift H another was borne away with it, and so if another and another as they fouled, until all P came down, driven by the sea, on to the wharf, II where they stove in, were pounded to pieces, H and eventually sank. No greater proof of tho Fl destruction was wanted yesterday morning p tban the sight of the heaps of ships' timbers, H planks, &c., all driven by the flood tide into the eastern corner of the wharf against the || new silt basins, and which were left by the ref| ceding tide in one heterogeneous mass, ■s as evidence of the terrific havoc made | amongst the shipping. It is impossible :| at present to assess the loss occasioned on this I ereEtful night, for the damage was not con- | fined alone to the coasting craft, but was p extended to the larger vessels, having full and II valuable cargoes on board. It is believed, jp however, to exceed £12,000. ft! At 10 o'clock the barque Beatrice, lately *! arrived from New York, via Adelaide, was I' caught by the gale as she lay at anchor to the north-east of the wharf. She dragged her | anchor, and bore down on the ship Chile, lying I alongside the eastern tee of the wharf, smash- | iag in her bulwarks and carrying away her | own ruainyard. The Chile then broke away I from her moorings and fouled the steamship | Victoria as sbe lay moored to the western tee. if The Chile's foretop-gallant mast went by the I board, followed by the foreiopmast of the | Victoria, which latter vessel had also her port > bulwarks much damaged. The Chile then \ drifted up the harbour, but was brought up to i the westward of the wharf by an anchor being let I go. The Beatrice was also brought up between [ her and the wharf without sustaining any i further damage. The Chile was reported ! yesterday to he making water, but this has not ! been authenticated. Shortly after this the barque Lauderdale, lately arrived from London, broke away from the vrbarf. She was moored by strong hawsers fromstern and stem to inner berth of theeastern tee. Her head hawser rove to a ring bolt on the wharf became cut with the chafing, and the vessel's head swung round broadside on to the wharf. Her martingale caught the roof of the Auckland Steam Packet Compsmj's office, tearing it open, and finally brought down the front of the building. The Etem of the Lauderdalo then came in contact with the A.S.P. Company's tee, and made a breach in it to the extent of abqut three feet, doing also considerable damage to her cutwater and stem. Her counter also caught the back of the Queen's warehouse and drove the whole of it in. The front of the iron store was also broken open with the strain, exposing a quantity of tobacco and other bonded goods. The office attached to the store was driven out on the wharf about four feet. The Lauderdale's counter is much damaged by chafing against the wharf. She now lies imbedded between the two tee 3, it being impossible to extricate her until the weather moderates. It is feared that the friction caused by rubbing againßt the tee will do her irreparable damage, as all day yesterday piece after piece of her stem became ' detached, and there is no doubt that sbe will be stove in at the head if she has to . remain long in this poitiou. Only a portion of her cargo has been discharged. The schooner Golden Isle, which had been lying alongside Ihe Lauderdale, was driven broadside on to the wharf, and had her Btern stove in. She escaped further damage, owing to the protection afforded her from the gale by the ship, and she lies now as snug as in a dock. The b.s. Rowena lay alongside the Auckland Steam Packet Company's tee, with her head to the gale. Fortunately, Bhe rode it out in safety, although she ran a narrow escape from being fouled by tho cutter Janet Grey, which, having dragged her anchor, was smashing her stern in against the end of the tee. The whole of the cutter's stern is driven in. On this tee lies a broken dingy. Some idea may be formed of the force of the waves when we state that this dingy waß lifted clean up by a sea, and deposited on the tee close to the Auckland Steam Packet Company's office. By far tbe greater part of the damage wbb done between tbe watermen's steps and the Ferry Company's tee. Here vessels lie sunk and disabled in numbers, and it appears wonderful tbat there were no lives lost. Ihe Bchooner Dauntless, having broken away from her moorings, came across tho bows of the steamer Challenger, which was moored alongside the wliarf with two anchors and chain down. She dragged the steamer from her moorings and finally smashed her up, when the Challenger Bank. Great endeavours were made to save the vessels by passiDg a line from the Dauntless to the head of the tee, and this feat wbb after considerable difficulty accomplished, but not before the Challenger had become a complete wreck and sunk. Her funnel and masts are the only parts of her now Visible above water. The Dauntless suffered severely : her stern is smashed in, and ber cabin can be seen through the breach, her port bow is also etoye in. Beneath the steamer Challenger lies the coming in contact with the wharf, was stove in and sank, the steamer afterwards settling down on the top

of her. On board tho cutter Otahuliu aro 150 bushels of wheat. Tbo steamer Gemini did not escape. Sbe has her bulwarks and bridge carried away, and a considerable portion of her hurricane deck, besides damage to her null.

Tho cutters Triad, Tweed, and Jennie, all used as cargo boats, are sunk alongside the wharf, tho Jennie being undermost. Not a vestige of her is visible aboYe water. These boats were anchored to tho eastward wharf, but breaking away from their moorings bore down and pounded one another to pieces. A small yacht named the Crest, belonging to Mr. iniditcb, of the Batlis, also got adrift, and came in contact with this part of the wharf, where sho sank, her mast only being discernible. Tho new cutter Coralio, belonging to Mr. Jackson, of Tairua, has also come to nrief. She was fouled by the cutter Avon, belonging to Mr. M. Niccol, and both vessels were driven against tho watermen's steps on tho eastern side. Finally, the Avon was sunk, tho steps were carried away, and tho whole of the Coralie's stern smashed in and bulwarks carried away. The vessel lies in a pitiable condition. Prior to this the Avon fouled tho steamer Eclipse, throwing Mr. Logan, her owner, off tho forecasts into the water, and ho with difficulty recovered himself. Tho steamer, however, escaped unhurt. Amongst the othor small vessels damaged and sunk aro the cutter Harvest Home, with bowsprit carried away ; tho Teaser, dismasted; Miranda, sternpost and rudder carried away, and bulwarks injured ; the Dee, sunk. The schooner Prima Donna was amongst the fortunate vessels. Although lying alongside the wharf, and receiving the whole forco of tho galo on her broadside, sho escaped almost scatheless. Beyoud her two boats ' being store in and swamped, thero is little ] further to report regarding her. The North Shore Ferry Company are great sufferers by tho gale. Two of thoir steamorß were placed hors de combat. The Takapuna is by far the most injured. She was driven clean through tho Devonport wharf, North Shore, and finally ran her nose on tho rocks opposite Mrs. Brown's Hotel, her stern afterwards being shored. The Enterprise No. 1, at the commencement of the gale, was lying alongside Holmes's wharf. Her captain seeing the danger at once steamed over to Auckland for shelter. Whilst coming over her starboard paddle - bos and sponson were washed nway. She mado for the Breakwater, where she lay all night in comparative safety, and wa3 enabled to run during yesterday. The Devonport has received injury to her port paddle, sponson, and paddle-box from contact with the Queenstreet Wharf, but with a little repair it is expected she will be enabled to resume her trips in two or three days. A survey will be held this morning on the Takapuna, and the extent of her damages ascertained. Arrangements have been made for the Enterprise to ruu trips at advertised hours until the company's boats are repaired. The loss is considerable to the company, who were only just in a fair way to declare a dividend. No arrangement has yet been announced for the Woodside trips.

A small yacht named the Columbia sank at her moorings near the baths. It is feared that in this vessel life has been sacrificed. There were two men belonging to her who went on board on Saturday evening, and wore heard to remark they intended to make themselves comfortable for the night. One of these men, named Benjamin Washington, has not been seen since, and Mr. Carr, tho boatbuilder, states that he believed he was on board at the time of the vessel going down. To confirm this suspicion, Mr. Hilditch, the bath-keeper, states that shortly before one o'olock on Sunday morning he heard a scream, which appeared to come from the direction of the yacht. There are grave doubts that the man is drowned. A dingy belonging to the Columbia was picked up yesterday. Several Maori boats were in harbour on Saturday, and various reports were circulated yesterday that some of these had been capsized, and at least four Maoris drowned. In Official Bay a Maori boat was swamped, and a Maori wa3 seen swimming ashoro with a child lashed to his back. Another boat capsized near the wharf at eleven o'clock. Two of the Maoris in her were rescued, but nothing was seen of any others. These two were conducted to tho station by Constable Shiels, and Dr. Nicholsou sent for. Before his arrival the Maoris had left. Nothing positive 13 known as to the number in the boat before she broke up. At this time the sea was breaking completely over the wharf, and it was dai>gerou3 to proceed down it.

Sad havoc was made Bmongst the yachts. At eight o'clock tho yacht Energy, belonging to Mr. Waymouth, was observed to bo dragging her anchor, aDd drifting towards Shoal Bay. Mr. J. Waymouth and Mr. W. A. Graham at once put off with Conley, the waterman, and succeeded in clearing her anchor, and they left her to rideouttbe gale that was about springing up. It was with difficulty that they reached the wharf against tho strong wind and sea. Yesterday morning tho yacht wa3 observed ashore in Shoal Bay, but her owners have been unable to ascertain whether she is much injured. The new vachfc Winona dragged her anchor also, and drifted down to the reef inside the Watchman, where in the morning she was apparently safe. The yacht Daphne, belonging to Mr. Kissling, left on Saturday afternoon for the Eawau, with her owner and a party of relations and friends. It is to bo hoped that she was enabled to find a place of shelter from the gale. The same remark may be made of Mr. T. Henderson's yacht Spray, which left on Saturday afternoon for Motutapu. Mr. B. Waymouth left also on Saturday, for Waiheke, with the new yacht Pearl. She has also, no doubt, found shelter under one of the numerous islands, and was reported by Captain Harding, of tho Challenger, to be clear on her way to Waiheko when he passed her in tho afternoon. The iron yacht Good Templar was driven ashore by the gale near the College Road, and r.arrowly escaped destruction. At low water yesterday she was provided with a second anchor, and she is believed to be in safety. The yacht Dart and another sank at their moorings, while another Bmall yacht was observed yesterday as having drifted up the river. The Sabriua held to her anchorage. Mr. Graydon's yacht Venture got adrift, but there being people on board of her she was kept beating about all night, and was taken into Freeman's Bay yesterday morning. Tho yacht Jessie is ashore at Shelly Beach. On Saturday evening young Dutliie put off to his father's yacht, accompanied by two other lads, on purpose to make her snug. A raft of timber fouled hor, and in endeavouring to cut the raft adrift in the dark thoy cut the painter of the dingy instead. They theroforo had to remain on board until three o'clock yesterday morning, when they were taken off. A cutter, name unknown, lies sunk off Kauri Point, while several small boats are missing from Dedwood. The ketch Tirtiri has been driven up on to the Freeman's Bay embankment. The Bay is also strewn with pieces of wreok. The cutter Start, belonging to Mr. E. Coombes, while lying alongside tho sea-wall, had her bowsprit and olevon stanchions and rail carried away. Sho was saved from destruction by her owner jumping overboard aud swimming with a line to the wood-wharf, by which means Bhe was hauled off. Four large broaches havo been made in the sea-wal) breasting Custom-house-street, which will cost a considerable outlay to repair. Tho sea-wall in Mechanics' Bay was near completion, only 100 feet remaining between tho two sections. Bets had been made that theßo would bo closed up by Saturday next. The 1' gale has swept at least 150 feet of the earthwork away on each side, aud the wall is as far off completion as ever.

I Vessels lying inside the wall did not escape I the fury of the gale. The cutter Spey, belong- / ing to Archard and Brown, dragged her I anchors; and the cutter Morning Light also dragged, and was driven on to the railway

works. A white wbaleboat has been driven up on to the Bea-wall and uiuch damaged, also a yacht. Another boat was washed completely over tho wall, thus shewing that the wail is too low. A fishing boat is reported to bo sunk off W ynyard pier, while a quantity of wreck was washed ashore in tho bay during yesterday.

Intelligence was brought to town yesterday that Mr. B. Keane's cutter Waipu was wrecked off Wangaproa.

The steamer Golden Crown did not make the wharf until half-past five o'clock yesterday morning, just twelve hours after starting. Wo learn that off Aliuriri, on her way up, she refused to steer and fell oil into tbe trough of the sea. fjfccain was at once got up in all the boilei-s, and she made for tho North Head. Here Captain Farquhnr sought shelter from tho storm shortly after miduight and anchored tho steamer. She lay in safety until tho morning, tho only damage sustained being tbe loss of the maiuinusthend, which was blown completely away. Tho feelings of her forty or fifty passengers may be better imagined thau described. Few expected to see daylight, and many woro observed on their kuecs during the long night, praying for safety. Captain Farquhar himself says that ho never experienced such a fearful night at sea. The Crown, however, behaved well, and it is fortuuato that sho was not iu her berth alongside tho tee, othorwise she would have been smashed and sunk by the Lauderdalo breaking loose. Yesterday, Mr. Lodder, the manager of tho company, gave orders for steam to bo got up on board the Crown in case any of the shipping iu harbour needod assistance. Fortunately none was required. Captain Ellis, the Harbourmaster, was on tho wharf all Saturday night rendering assistance to vessels alongside. Ho was also i at his post during yesterday, assisted by Mr. Landers, wharfinger.

At tho North Shoro considerable damage was done. We havo already spoken of tho Takapuna. In addition to this, a cuttor was sunk at the North Head, and tho schooner Susan was scuttled, to prevent her from being furthor damaged. Had this precaution been takeu with vessels ou this side of the water, tho damage would not havo boeu so extensive ; but tho probability is that with the majority of the vessels that have been broken to pieces no ono was on board, or in somo instances ouly ono hand, whose endeavour has been to saro kis own life." The Devonport Wharf, INorth Shore, is a complete wreck, only the pier head and a few piles at the lower portion remaining. A boat belonging to Mr. Drew was lying on the beach near the new pier. This was swept off and carried away. It waß found yesterday morning stove iu alongside the Queen-street Wharf, a fate that has been shared by a large number of othor boats. The barquentiue Prince Alfred, on her way from the Thames on Saturday, anchored shortly before sundown under the lee of Brown's Island with two anchors down. During the gale she dragged nearly as far as Rangitoto, having lost one of her anchors. About eight o'clock yeßterday morning sho ran up under jib only, aud anchored to the westward of the wharf.

We have omitted to mention that tho Hindostan, owing to her protected position, did not experience tho full effects of the gale. She was hauled away from tho wharf to prevent chafing, and was uninjured. The ship Wave Queen, which arrived on Saturday afternoon from London, brought up inside Rangitoto Beef, and rode out the gale with two anchors down. Sho came up harbour yesterday afternoon. A very sad occurrence happened on Saturday night on Raugitoto Reef, near to the ship, by which we regret to say two men havo lost thoir lives.

A four-ton cutter named tho Volante, belonging to Mr. Bush, left tho harbour for Manaia, in charge of two men, named Alfred Arnold, and George Anoff. She beeamo unmanageable through her rudder being unshipped, and was driven out to sea. The men hoisted signals of distress, which were observed on board the Wave Queen. Henry Hawkes, the waterman, was alongside the ship at the time, and volunteered to go to tbo boat's assistance if he could get somo of tbo hands to accompany him. Three of tho seamen of the ship at once offered their services, and thoy proceeded in the direction of tho cutter. On coming up with hor outside the reef, Havrkes placed two of tbo seamen on board to help tbe two men, already named, and directed them to follow in his course. After passing Rangitoto Reef, Hawkes saw the cutter which was in his wake broach-to inside the Beacon, and capsize, precipitating the four men into the sea. They appeared to make for the rocks, to which they were close. He at once put back, and lauding on tbe reef could find nothing of the meu. Ho and the remaining seaman stayed on the reef all night. At daylight they found two of the men on the rocks very much exhausted, and lacerated over the body aud legs from contact with the rocks. These were Alfred Arnold and one of the seamen belonging to tho ship. They said that tho others had been washed off tho rocks at high-water, and were drowned. Tho names of the men lost were George Anoff, of the cutter, and Richard Knott belonging to the Wave Queen. The survivors slated that as the rocks to which they were clinging became submerged by the rising tide they Bwam to other parts of the reef, and so were Baved. They were at once taken in the boat and conveyed to tho ship, and in the afternoon Arnold was landed on the wharf. The ensign of the Wave Queen was hoisted half-mast high when sho camo up harbour.

During yesterday a body was washed ashore at tho Lake, and being seen by Captain Burgess was believed by him to bo that of Mr. B. Waymouth, who had left on Saturday in tho yacht Pearl for Waiheke. The Poarl was known to havo three other occupants when Bhe left. Captain Burgess at once came over in his dingy and gave information, and the news spread. Mr. Waymouth, sen., was on the wharf with his sons, and was apprisod of the sad event. Great sympathy was felt for him by all. Ho insisted on going over to see the body, and was enabled to do so by tho kindness of Captaiu A. Farquhar, who placed tho wbaleboat of the Golden Crown at his disposal, and five of the hands volunteered to row Mr. Waymouth over. On arriving at the North Shore Mr. Waymouth was shown the body, and he was overjoyed to find that it was not that of his Bon. The body was afterwards identified as that of George Anoff, who was drowned on the previouß night off Rangitoto reef. Tho body was thus washed across the channol during the night, as it was found yestorday morning. An inquest will probably be held on it to-day at the North Shore. The soa in Raugitoto channel was described as being ono sheet of white foam all Saturday night, while the wind blew a perfect hurricane. Ihe four men on the reef passed no pleasant night.

Amongst other casualties we may mention that a serious boat accident happened to four lads on Saturday afternoon, off the North Head. They were in a sailing-boat belonging to Mrs. Wells, which had been lent them for the occasion, and were out enjoying a sail. The weather waß very squally, and when off the North Head the boat becamo unmanageable, filled, and Bank in about three fathoms of water. Fortunately, the whole of the youths were onubled to catch hold of the must, to which Lhey clung. It so happened that the cutter Four Sisters had grounded a Bhort time before, within a couple of cablo's length of the boat, and the accident was observed on board. The master of the cutler nt once put off in tbo dingy and reBCUod the lads, and put them on board tho Takapuna, which had also put off to tho rescue. The lads were not much tho worso for their mishap, otherwise Dr. Phileon was on board the steamer, having just returned from inspecting tho Wave Queen. The boya, when osked, | were unwilling to give their names, but one was recognised as a son of Mr. Goosomau, butcher, Wyndkam-street. The boat belonging to the widow of Mr, Eobert "Wolls is lost.

The foregoing, as far as we can learn, is the extonfc of tho damage done and losb of lifo occasioned by the dreadful gale on Saturday night. Numbers of people yesterday visited tho wharf, and inspected the scene of the wrecks of so many vessels alongside. We have yet to learn tho full extent of the damage, both hero and elsewhere. Great anxiety is felt for tho numerous vessels that havo loft harbour during tho past few days for other ports, amongßt which wo may mention tho Star of the South and the Southern Cross, steamers, also a number of coasting vessels. It is to be hoped that these fears will not be realised, and that tho damage has beon confined to this harbour. Unfortunatoly for many tho injuries sustained by tho shipping falls in nearly all tho cases upou tho owners, owing to the almost total ncglect to effect marine insuranco on coasting vessels. Mr. Goo. Henderson has three cutters sunk, while Messrs. Holmes Brothers make a total loss by tho wreck of tho steamer Challenger. In addition to other losses, anxiety is felt for the Bteamer Effort, as it iB feared that little shelter would have beon affordod her from the galo at tho Hot Springs. We may mention that tho Enterprise No. 2 came up from tho Thames yesterday evening. Tho wind blow with great violence all yesterday morning, accompanied by heavy showers of rain. Towards afternoon tbe weather moderated, and the sun shone, but tho sea still remained high. At night the wind fell, and a calm pervaded the harbour.

THE CITY AND SUBURBS. Tho destruction in tho city and suburbs has been the merest trifle as compared with that occasioned in tho harbour. Nothing of very serious moment has occurred, tho full force of tho galo apparently being confined to tho harbour. The galo, it is true, was felt with terrific force about ten o'olock on Saturday night by the residents of buildings iu exposed positions, but no intelligence of sorious destruction has reached us. The most serious occurrence appears to have been the demolition of a portion of Mrs. Cavanagh's boardinghouso in Albert-street, occasioned ■by tho gable-end of Viokery's brick building falling on tho roof. This was completely smashed in, tho bricks driving through the shingles as if they were brown paper, and destroying tho whole of the furniture in what was Mrs. Cavanagh's bedroom. This occurred about ten o'clock. Fortunately no porson was hurt, but tho inmates recoivod a terrible fright. A quantity of tho bricks abo fell on the footway. At tho rear of Vickery's buildings, the gablo end of Masefiold's fitting shop was also blown away, a large quantity of bricks being dislodged, but without occasioning any other damage. Further on in the same street, Mrs. Macintosh's residence also suffered damage, portions of the front and tho verandah being blown away. In Hobson-street, tho chimney of Mr. Burt's residence fell through the roof, doing considerable damage ; and in the aame street the chimney of another residence was blown over. A Bmall store at the corner of Wellington and Hobson-streets appears to have felt the full force of the gale, the front having been blown in, and tho greater portion of the verandah carried away. In Mechanics' Bay the skeleton work of Eraser and Tinne's new workshop was blown down. The Domain Gardens have suffered very seriously, tho trees being chopped about in a pitiful manner. Indeed, tlie same may be said of all tho gardens, the fruit—just ripe and ripening—being strewn about " like leaves in autumn." Fences innumerable have gone by the board, and minor damage has been occasioned to the roofs and windows of private residences and public buildings. We have not heard, however, of ony accidents of any moment.