THE MONTEBELLO'S WRECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 5

THE MONTEBELLO'S WRECK

CREW'S NARROW ESCAPE

FROM DEATH

STORY OF THE RESCUE.

THE steamer Governor Musgruve, which was despatched by , the superintendent of the life-saving service to pick up the crew of the,wrecked French barque Montebello, returned to Port Adelaide on Thursday, November 22. The weather during the trip was exceedingly roimh, but a succession of fortuitous circumstances ashore and afloat enabled the task to be carried out with every degree of satisfaction.

The ship, which was bound in ballast from Hobart to Port- Piiie. was apparently further to the eastward than her officers expected. On the Satutdiiy night,the captain was looking out for South Neptune Lighthouse. The day bad been cloudy, precluding sight of the siuj being taken, and at- night a heavy southerly gale was blowing. Captain Kervegan shortened sail, and at about nine o'clock when the chip's position was, he estimates, about 60, miles south-west of the Neptuues, several sails were taken in, and under reduced canvas it was hoped that the land would he sighted at daybreak. The ship was on the starboard tack, and was kept on that course throughout the night. Just before two a.m. on Sunday the cry of " Breakers ahead" was made. Although an attempt was made to get the vessel's head round off the land the ship crashed on the rocks within 150 yards of th- shore, about three-quarter* of a mile west of Stunsailboom River.

111 a few minutes the mainmast went over the side, and seas were breaking ominously over the vessel. The crew stood by her until daylight, and then two men gallantly endeavoured to swim ashore to establish communication. At first the boatswain failed, but Louis Yvebet, an A.R., reached the rocks after a gigantic struggle, and through his instrumentality all hands, numbering 25 in all, 'were carried over the turbulent, foaming surf on to the dry land. Some provisions wore taken from the wreck, and aftei spending two nights in the bush Percy May came across tlio captain and two others at a but on Stunsailboom River, and brought relief. The shipwrecked men were well cared for by the settlers at Karatta and Mount Pleasant stations, and on Wednesday joined •,the. rescuing steamer Governor Musgrave at Vivonne Bay, and were brought into Port Adelaide.

About eleven miles distant from Vivonne Bay and 18 miles east of Cape de Couldie the Musgraye was. abreast of the wreck. The Montebello was about three-quarters of a mile west of Slunsailboom River, close in shore. Her stern was. high upon an out--lying reef, and the hull appeared to have parted abaft, the foremast, that portion of the ship being almost invisible except when high waves receded. The mainmast was lying over the port side,' the end apparently resting'on the rocks, and forming a .bridge between the ship. and the shore. Captain Alphonse Kervegan is able to speak but little English, but his chief mate, Henri Dticos, acting as interpreter for the captain, told the story of the wreck as follows: — "We left Hobart in ballast on November 8, bound for Port Pirie. . We' came originally from Liverpool and Brest in ballast, and called at Hobart for orders. ; The first few days out the weather was favourable, and on Saturday last, at nine p.m., we were, accrding to our estimate, some 60 miles' south-west of South Neptune Island. We were ' expecting to pick up .Neptune Lighthouse preparatory to entering Spencer's Gulf, but our position was only approximate, for we obtained no sight of the sun on .Saturday on account of the cloudy weather.: i At 'nine-' o'clock on Saturdaynight it was blowing strongly from the south,* and we took in the maintop gallant sails and two upper topsails in order to reduce her speed, and to make the land by daylight. We stood on the starboard" tack all night. All hands remained on deck, and a good-look out was kept for Neptune Island light. Shortly before two o'clock on Sunday morning we heard the roar of breakers, and then we knew we were close to land. All 'hands were called to put canvas on with the hope of getting clear of the land, but the warning came too late, and within a few minutes we struck. The' ship bumped hard several times, and seas commenced to break over her from end to end. The night was pitch dark, and even when we struck the land was still invisible, being obscured by heavy rain. We must have been only a-quarter of a mile off land when wo discovered our position, but it ; was too late to do anything. A quarter of an hour after the Montebello struck the mainmast went over the port side with a crash, but no one was hurt. We could do nothing in the darkness, and we remained huddled under what shelter was afforded until the daylight. At dawn we could realise our position. We found, the ship not more than 150 yards from shore, close up to the'rocks. The boatswain volunteered to swim ashore with a lifeline fastened to him. He went over the side, but the sea was great, and after a struggle he had to give up and was hauled on board again. A second attempt was made by another sailor (Louis Yvebet). His first effort resulted in failure, and he had almost reached a rock in the second attempt when the backwash swept him away, but the following wave caught him and landed him on a rock. He was bruised in his struggle, and his clothes almost torn from his back, but he held on. and reached a place of safety. A larger line was then attached to the lifeline, and yet another stouter line when the second had been hauled ashore. A breeches buoy was formed, and those on board were hauled to shore. The crew brought ashore ample provisions in the. shape of biscuits, tinned meals, and fresh water, and, being well shod, their feet did not suffer to anyappreciable extent by rough walking." Captain Kervegan. continuing his story, said: —''After landing we divided our party. Some went to search to the west, others to the east. The mate, one of the men, and myself went east, and late in the afternoon crossed a river (presumably the Stunsailboom). It was then easy to ford. We went on, but found nothing to indicate the presence- of settlers, and retraced our steps. We reached the. river again at ten o'clock at night, but- in the meantime heavy ruin was falling, and the river was deep and wide, so that we could not cross. We tried to sleep in the bush, but it was cold, and our clothes were wet. The following morning (Monday)' we again tried to cross. Then we picked lip the track of a. shod horse rind came to a fence. We followed this tip, and at six o'clock in the evening reached a hut on Slunsailboon River. We knocked at the hut, and, finding no one there, entered. There were provisions in the hut, and we made a meal. We were just beginning to light a the and warm ourselves and dry our clothes when Percy May arrived on a horse. We told him who we were, and he went to fetch assistance." ■ '