THE WRECK OF THE BRITISH ADMIRAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4135, 22 June 1874, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE BRITISH ADMIRAL.

The Steam Navigation Board of Victoria commenced an inquiry into the wreck of the ship British Admiral on June 3. The.following evidence was taken : Charles M'Ewan said that he had been third mate of the ship, and held a certificate of competency as second mate. He joined the ship in Liverpool, and her late voyage was the first one she took. Her burthen was about 1781 tons. There were thirty-six steerage, eleven second cabin, and two saloon passengers, making in all a total of forty-nine, and the crew numbered exactly thirty-nine, all told, so that the total number of persons on board reached eighty-eight. The names of the officers were James Randolph Taylor, master ; Charles George, chief officer ; Charles Henry Baker, second officer ; and Albert Parker, fourth officer. On the 22nd February she left the dock, and in the run down the channel she experienced very heavy weather. The vessel behaved admirably, but she was a "wet vessel," and made some water in rough weather. After passing the meridian of the Cape they experienced a heavy gale of wind between Amsterdam and St. Paul's. One very heavy sea was shipped abaft the main rigging, which shifted one of the boats. He (the witness) was taken ill with brain fever on the sth May, and he believed it was produced by the bad treatment of the captain and chief officer. During the day he was hard at work with the passengers, serving out stores to them, and he had also to do his duty at night as third mate. Personally, he had never been assaulted, but he was " nagged at" in every way, more especially by the chief officer. From the sth until the 11th May he was ill, and unfit for duty. The weather was pretty clear, but he did not see any observations taken from the 12th until the 23rd May. On the 12th he experienced a relapse of his illness, and was nearly always confined to his bunk. Early on the morning of Saturday, the 23rd May, he was asleep in his bunk, when he was awoke by a bumping noise underneath his head. He immediately jumped up, went on the poop, and then saw what had happened ; but as he was only half dressed he went down below again for the purpose of obtaining some additional clothing. The steward and chief officer both passed him ; the former went into the cabin, and called up the passengers, and the chief officer went into the pantry to get a small axe. As soon as he got on deck again he heard the captain sing out, "Starboard watch to the for'ard boats," and then saw him talking to the carpenter, the latter having a sounding rod in his hand. There was a strong breeze blowing from the south-west, and it was a very dark night; a heavy sea also running. With some difficulty he got on the " house," when lie saw the chief officer endeavoring to get out the gig, and he lent a hand. They managed to lift the boat over the side of " the house," but instead of dropping overboard it fell on the deck, which was flooded with water between "the house" and bulwarks. Immediately afterwards a heavy sea struck the vessel and carried away the chief officer and several persons who wore on " the house." The vessel was now rolling and bumping very heavily, heavy seas sweeping over her every minute, and he then mounted the fore rigging. Soon afterwards the mizzenmast, on which were several persons,went by the board, followed by the main and foretopgallant masts, and he heard loud cries from persons in the water after the mizzenmast fell. There were nine persons in the fore rigging, who all appeared to bo remarkably cool and collected, with, perhaps, the exception of the cook ; but when they had been there an hour another heavy sea swept them all off, except witness. Two men named Davidson and Raw managed to regain a position on the foretopmast, but they had only been there a few minutes when an immense wave came, carried away the mast, and the vessel seemed to go over. He let go, and when in the water came across Davidson, and having found some planks, they managed to float ashore on them. While he was in the water he turned round to look at the vessel, but could see no traces of her, and was of opinion that she had gone to pieces. He remained in the locality of the wreck at Perry's Harbor for nearly a week, and with the other survivors was taken to Melbourne by the Kangaroo. The reef on which the British Admiral was lost was pointed out to him as the Tea Tree, and it was situated about two miles to the southward of Netherby Head. The reef described on the chart as the Water Witch he believed to be identical with the one said to be the Tea Tree. During the voyage _ the captain and chief officer were always " nagging" at the other officers, but this did not interfere with the discipline and proper working of the ship. He saw the captain taking observations day by day, and the crew all worked cheerfully and well. He believed the compasses •were out considerably from the result of altitudes that were taken before and after passing the line, and his reason for forming this opinion was that he saw the magnets shifted several times in order to correct the compasses. After the ship struck the reef, he heard the chief officer tell Mr. Nicholson and several others that the captain said his chronometers must have boen shaken by the heavy sea the vessel shipped when near St. Paul's. Frank Wagardo, sworn : I was A.B. on board the British Admiral. I remained on deck at a quarter to three on the morning of the 23rd. Though the night was very dark I could see the land about five miles off. We could see the stars occasionally. From twelve to two it was very dark. I did not see the master on deck. I saw the mate looking about on the starboard side forward. I heard him say to the captain, " I suppose the light would boar about that position," putting out his hand over the starboard side forward. (This witness went on to detail the nature of the observations made by the captain and mate, which wore apparently taken with care, and in the ordinary way.) Some time before the ship struck the mate came down out of the mizzen rigging, and the captain asked him if he saw the light. He said he saw the land, and that the ship must be put about quickly. Orders were given immediately. The wind was about W.S.W. to S.W. The ship wore round, and brought on the port tack. Before the ship struck she weathered a rock, but after striking all hands were ordered to get out the boats. The weather was too rough to let us get out the boats. When the first sea came it carried away about six men. I went up to the mizzen topsail yard, The mast gave way and I was washed overboard. I got hold of the pighouse, and got on shore by that means. I am quite sure the captain took the time the day before the wreck. Daniel Baker, A.B. on board the British Admiral, said at'about half-past two the man at the masthead reported that he saw land, and the ship was "wore up" at once. We were just about setting the maintopmast staysail when the vessel struck. After a time a sea took me away. I got hold of some pieces of wood, and managed to get on shore. I cannot swim. I have no complaints to make. Thomas O'Grady : I was a saloon passenger. I am almost certain the sun was taken on Friday. I believe the latitude was 'll deg. 1(3 min. I heard several times that the chronometers were out. The captain attributed their derangement to the shock the vessel got off St. Paul's. On one occasion I heard the compasses were sluggish. It was rcxiortcd the ship would make the Otway light on Saturday morning. I heard the second mate observe the ship was badly disciplined. The first mate was a very severe man with the crew. Several men were put in irons on the voyage for refusing to do duty. No men were in irons when the ship struck. 1, got ashore by means of a boat. We tried to stay by the ship, but could not. The boat was capsized, and the second mate, two men, and a boy were drowned, but I afterwards succeeded in getting on again. Jones, a passenger, and myself struck out through the bush for the lighthouse, and wo were three days without food. I afterwards found a little ketch under New Year's Island, and went on board. I spoke to the captain after the ship struck, and he said " Is this not awful ? The chronometers must have been out." He told the passengers to trust in God. After considering the testimony, the Board gave tho following decision ;—" The official

Court of Inquiry held at Melbourne on the 2nd and 3rd days of June, IS H, having carefully considered the evidence of the survivors, returns the following decision :—l. That there is no direct evidence to satisfy the Court as to the causes which led to the loss of the British Admiral on King's Island, on the morning of the 23rd ult. 2. There is evidence to show that a meridian altitude of the sun had been taken the day previously. 3. There is also reason to show that a heavy sea struck the ship off St. Paul's, which was supposed to have affected the rates of the chronometers. Taking the above facts into consideration, the Court is of opinion that the stranding of the ship is probably due to an error of longitude. In justice, however, to the memory of the captain and officers, it is right that the Court should record that the evidence shows they were careful and attentive to their duties during the voyage."