LOSS OF THE BARQUE WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6255, 3 December 1881, Page 7

LOSS OF THE BARQUE WELLINGTON.

Through the courtesy of Captai;i D. H. McKenzie, owner of the barque Wellington, we arc enabled to publish Captain Dick's account of the loss of the vessel, as printed in the Japan Mail :— "Captain Dick left Newcastle on the evening of the 9th of July, and on the 10th experienced a heavy gale from the northward, which continued until the evening of the 12th. From this date to July the 16th he had fair weather, and found the south-east trades in about 24° south. The ship proceeded between the islands of New Ireland and Bougaville, reaching them on the 26th, had light weather up to the Equator, which was passed on Amgust Ist. From this to the time of sighting the Redfield Rooks, on the morning of September 9th, had light variable winds. The wind then suddenly changed to the N.E. and blew a fresh breeze. On the morning of Tuesday, the 13th; weather looking very dirty, tried to beat up against a heavy north-east wind, and, in so doing, split fore and main top-gallant sails and fore lower topsail. After replacing these sails, wind and sea gradually increasing, reached Vries Island at 6 p.m. About midnight the wind fell light. At 1 a.m. on

the 14th, bar. standing at 30, the wind suddenly sprung up from the S.E., increasing so rapidly that all small sails had to be taken in, the glass filling rapidly to 29.70. At this

time Vries Island bore S.E., distant about four miles, dirty-looking weather, with heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, and every appearance of a typhoon. I was obliged to further reduce sail until all was

taken in except the two lower topsails. At 2 p.m. sighted Joko3hima Light, which bore N. E. by E. After making this light steered two points higher, and after changing course, wind being south, the port lower topsail sheet was carried away, and also the quarter block in the fore-yard. Sent crew aloft to make the sail fast, as it was impossible to set it again. The operation was accomplished with great difficulty; tried now to set fore and aft-sails to assist the ship as much as possible, but in endeavouring to set the jib and mizzen-staysail, both sails were blown completely away, together with the foretopmast staysail (all of these sails were nearly new), with great difficulty got the inaintopmast staysail set. The baro-. meter still kept falling and now stood at 29.50, the tvind blowing with terrific force, and a tremendous sea running, ship making bad weather of it, and drifting bodily to leeward although I kept as close to the wind as possible to try to weather Sigami Light ; but a sudden and violent gust blew the starboard side of the lower maintopsail, away, leaving the remaining half still hanging to the bolt ropes, thus taking away all control of the ship and causing her to drift very fast towards the rocks at Jokosima. This was about 4 a.m., barometer still falling and showing 29.20. At 4.30, Jokosima Light bearing E., distant about li miles, and the ship still continuing to drift rapidly, got anchors ready to let go at a moment's notice, in the hope of saving the vessel, keeping two hands constantly employed heaving the lead. After drifting about five miles to the northward of Jokosima, ship being about a quarter of a mile from the land, we sighted a small bay on the port quarter, and shifted the helm to try to let the ship pay off, and get towards this bay, where we hoped to be able to anchor until the typhoon was over. On entering the bay, and close to the reef of rocks got soundings in ten fathoms water. Instantly afterwards the lead gave only 7£ fathoms, when both anchors were immediately let go. We veered out all the chain, and, as soon as this wa3 accomplished, sent the hands aloft to cut away the remnants of the sails, hoping to ease her, and ride out the typhoon ; but the wind changing to the S.W., and a very heavy surf breaking clean over the ship, caused her to

drag and thump very heavily. It was now breaking day, and seeing 110 possibility of saving the vessel from being driven on shore, the boats were got ready to try and save the crew. The whale-boat on being launched was immediately filled with water and dashed to pieces. The vessel now commenced to break up, and was quickly a complete wreck, not allowing time even to launch another boat, before they were smashed to pieces and washed away with the fore part of theshipaud deck-housing aft, where the crew were all

gathered together. A volunteer was asked for, to carry a rope ashore, and George Bradsliaw, the second mate, immediately came forward to make the attempt. He succeeded in reaching the shore, with the assistance of the Japanese there who crowded the beach, but unfortunately the line was torn from him by the heavy surf. Two sailors then managed to swim ashore, and another ventured with the life buoy, as he could not swim, but on jumping off the port quarter of the vessel, the back water caught him, and carried him to the weather side of the ship, and round the bow amongst the wreckage, where he was seriously injured, receiving a severe scalp wound and being otherwise badly contused about the head and face. Whilst he was being knocked about among the wreckage, the poor fellow's clothes were completely torn from his back. The after part of the ship was now close in shore, and the rest of the crew, with the aid of the mizenmast, were able to reach the beach in safety. The Japanese treated the shipwrecked people with the greatest kindness, and on Thursday the authorities forwarded them in a fishing boat to Yokohama, where they arrived safely, but without a change of clothing, their chests having been lost in the wreck. In fact, some of the crew had on only a shirt and pair of trousers, the captain himself being in that condition. The crew speak most highly of the bravery and devotion of their captain, who was mainly instrumental in saving the life of the injured man, whom he consoled and tended as well as he could in spite of the storm, promising him in the moment of greatest peril that he would succeed eventually in getting him with his life-buoy ashore, a promise that he was able to fulfil." The wreck was sold for 855 dollars. It may be mentioned that the Wellington was supplied with sails worth within a fraction of £100 before she started from Auckland on this disastrous trip.