SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13831, 19 February 1907, Page 5

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

THE ACCIDENT TO THE FRENCH BAUQUE. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. HOW THE CREW GOT , ASHORE. PERILOUS EXPERIENCES. STATEMENT BY THE-CAPTAIN. Tlio threo-mnsteil French barque Marguerite Mirabaml, tho wreck of which at Akatoro Beach early on Sunday morning was reported in out columns yesterday, lms not changed Jier position sii'co striking, and according to latest information was .'till lying close in to shore, her nose well on to iho beach, and firmly (imbedded in tho sand. Tho chances of getting her safely oft' appear to bo very slight, and licr position grows gradually worse.

A VIEW OF THE WRECK. A representative of this paper went, to tho sccno of the wreck yesterday morning, reaching tho Akaloro Beach about 12 o'clock. By that, time the almost impene-

trable fog ihiit liail prevailed all along tho coast for the, last week or so had lifted completely, tho sky was blue, aml nno could sno fat out to sea. As seen from tho hill ovtfnooking tho beach, where a first view of tho barque is obtained, she stands almost direct into tlio shore. Her halffilled sails flap idly in a gentle breeze, and the heavy seas break over her amidships. Coming down on to tho beach, one sees that sho is no more than 30 yards out from tho shore—almost us close in as rfio oould possibly get. The mum mast is b'roken off at the nitijt-head, but, supported by tho rigging, remains almost orect. Tho breakers roar and roll in and over her unceasingly, mid hurl themselves monaplngly over tho barque's stern, and as they recedo water pours out of Jicr scuppers on both sides. Hoi' bulwarks on (he starboard side aro only about 2ft above water-line, and should tho seas continue to break over her as they havo been doing it is quite possiblo sho may turn over on -her side and break up. Her three lifeboats, in which the men came off, together with ropes and lifebelts, aro hauled up on tho beach. Two other boats remain on board. THE CREW. With tho rough treatment and buffeting tho men received in effecting a landing they were naturally considerably knocked about and soaked to the skin. Tho whole crew had made a hurried departure from the vessel, and had hastily snatched such clothing as they could lay their hands on, The. beach was for the timo being converted into a drying place, and the native bush, and flax treo were hung with a varied assortment of wearing apparel. Tho men really saved nothing of their personal effects. Captain Tatterin liimsolf hns left personal property on board to the value of two thousand francs (about £85 in English inonoy), wbilo tho other members of tho crew are also losers.

WHERE THE BARQUE STRUCK. TJie exact point where the barque struck ia about two miles south of ( the well-known Bull Creek at Akatore, and about four miles north of the mouth of the Tokoinairiro Hiver. The barquo lias fouml a resting place on a small stretch of sandy beach. Had she struck a few yards higher up the coast the disaster would have been sudden and complete, for there huge rocks stand out prominently and threatening. But, as it is, those who are acquainted with the beach aver that a. belt of invisible rocks runs under where her stern is, and it is quite probablo that these aro supporting her. But should such be the case her bottom will almost assuredly have suffered considerable damage,

A PERPETUAL ROLL. From tho time when sho struck at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, when the wind howled dismally and tho sea was running high, and the fog dense, up till early yesterday morning, eho had by the action of tho breakers been subjected to an almost pcrpotual roll, which must have strained and shaken her badly. She has, however, to all appearances now settled down firmly, but has a decided list to starboard. During yesterday morning there was no perceptible change in her position. Loaded as she is, and so firmly embedded, considerable difficulty would bo experienced in getting her off by means of a tug. In fact that seems hardly possible. ' GETTING ASHORE. When the vessel struck early on Sunday morning it was without warning. Captain Tutterin and his officers had no idea that they were near tho coast, and hoard no roar of breakers. Naturally, when the vessel did strike, and with such a heavy sea running and a fierce gale blowing, the position was regarded as a hopeless , one, and no time was lost in making a departure. But Iliat proved a heavy tusk. Tho first mate, Guihu, undertook to go ashore with a line. In such a Jieavy sea it was impossible to swim, and ho was practically tossed ashore. Connection ashore .being established, a boat was put out. Tho line broke, and the boat was capsized, but the men managed to scramble* on to dry land. Two moro boats followed, and on eaoh occasion tho lino broke again, but no mishap resulted. The captain was tho lust to leavo tho barque, after securing Iho ship's papers and some scanty clothing. His boat was also capsized, and ho received a nasty blow on tho head. WILLING HELP. The crew being all on shore and in a pitiable plight, the local people, who had by this time become aware of tho djstistor, immediately set about housing , and attend-1 ing to tho wants of the-men, and this was without loss of time satisfactorily accomplished. Residents of Akatore Beach could not do enhugli for tho men. The news of the disaster spread apace, and by availing a large number of peoplo .had arrived on the scene from Milton and tho surrounding districts. Arrangements were made overnight to have -the men taken into Milton, and two drags wero sent out to Akatorc from Milton. Tho crew, (excepting the captain and two of bis men, were placed on board the drags, leaving Akaiore at 5 a.m. yesterday, and reaching Milton before 8 o'clock, Tho crew were. lodged and breakfasted there, and by the midday express procecdod up to Dunedin. THE VESSEL, Tho Marguerite Mirabaud originally left La Roclipllo, a once famous seaport in the I?iisqtio Roads, on the West Coast of Franco, alxnifc 296 miles south-west of Paris, on November 6 of last year, wil.li a cargo comprised of 400 tons of merchandise, wines, spirits, etc., 1000 tons of charcoal, ana 1200 tons of ballast. Her destination was Tahiti, Fiji Islands. She arrived at Ilobart on February 4, and left again on tho 6th. The Snares were passed and recognised on Wednesday last, and shortly after the barque ran into a thick fog, which continued right up the coast. For about three or four days previous to striking there was very heavy weather, and with a strong easterly wind blowing the barque was evidently driven into the shore at Akatoro. Tho fog was so heavy that iho sun was not visible, and the captain was unablo to make observations a,ml ascertain his exact position. The stranding of the barquo on Akatore Beach was a surprise to all on board.

THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. Captain Georges Tutterin has remained near the socno of the wreck, and is now lodged in a small house about 200 yards from tho beach. Tho captain is in tho unfortunate position of not boing ablo to speak a word of English, When standingon tho bench yesterday gazing forlornly on tho wreck or seeking consolation in .walking along the sand, ho was froquontly approached by probably well-meaning people, who plied him with such questions as "Are you going to get your-vessel off, captain?" or "Is she badly damaged?" and so mi: but tho questioners cither met Willi a "Jo no comprcmls pas!" or more often a stony and incomprehensible stare. Tho average person does not boast of sufficient French lo warrant bis attempting a conversation in that language. Tho task of our representative, thus placed, w.is, however, raado easy yesterday by tho 'kindly proffered assistance of Mrs H. Peavco (of Milton), who visited the 6ccno of tho wreck, and afior formalities and expressions of regret with tho raptain at his iinfortunato position, acting as interpreter, managed to draw from him, reticent though he was, his story of the wreck and what led up to if. " Our barque, which is of steel, with a net register of 1732 tons, left La Roohelle, Prance, on November 6of last. year. I had a cargo comprised of merchandise, charcoal, and ballast. My destination was Tahiti. I reached Hobart on February 4, and left, two days after, tbo 6th. Almost immediately after leaving Hobai-t wo ran into a demo fog, and remained in it, for about, seven days. About Wednesday last we passed tho Snares, which w« sighted and recognised. 1 then look my bearings, and that was (he last land I saw until wo struck on the beach here. After passing tho Snares the fog became even more douse; in fact, it was such that wo could not see the sun, and accordingly wero unable to take observations and loam our exact, position. .Accurate navigation was practically impossible. To make matters worse, during the last (ew days of our voyage prior to striking vory heavy weather set in. We had no idea wo wero in so closo to tho shore, nor did we think we had made so much progress. Wo expected lo hnvo been much

further down Iho coast. Our sinking tho coast was without warning of any kind. Wo saw and heard nothing; to indicate, where

we were. At tho limo o£ striking there was a galo blowing with great force, and, with the heavy 6cas, the vessel wne for a time rolling and pitching frightfully. Wo could not distinguish tho roar of the breakers abovo the. wind and heavy seas. The vessel was uudor fairly easy sail when we were driven in. Not knowing our position, iliid thinking wo may hnvo been on tho rocks, wo immediately made preparations, to get ashore after ascertaining that wo wero only about 30 yards out. But to get ashore was a frightful task. Tho mato essayed to lake a lino to land, but was buffeted and knocked about, and practically tossed ashore. Tho first boat was then put out, hut Iho line snapped and the boat was capsized, and tho men hurled into tho sea. They managed, after a. hard struggle, to get ashore. A second and a third boat were put oh", but on bolh thoso occasions the new lines thrown out again broke. I was tho last to leave the ship, and when I was thrown out of the boat on its capsizing I received a. blow on the back of the head. Altogether wo wero four or five, hours trying to get ashore. We have left alt our personal effects on board, and aro heavy losers thereby. I think it is too dangerous to attempt to get back to the boat. Wo had plenty of provisions on board. We managed to almost furl tho sails before leaving tho ship. There, was considerable wator in. it on Sunday. I have been for 15 years on the seas, and this is tho fourth boat I hnvo been master of, and my third oharge with tho present owners. I havo never yet in all that time had an accident of any kind. Tliie is my.first. If thero is a good deal of wind and the heavy sesis continuo I think the ship will break up entirely. Sho must bo full 'of wator. We were going very slowly when sho drifted on to tho beach. I thought I was much further south. Tlio denso fog and then tho heavy weather wero the causo of our mieliap."

. THE CREW IN DUNEDIN. -Shortly after noon it was announced that the castaways, or most of them, had left Milton, and woro speeding ■ along by tho Jnidduy oxpress to'Diinodin, and the Shipwreck Relief Society busied itself with preparations for tho men's comfort. It speaks nyoll [or our Anglo-Saxon courtesy, and for the maintenance of l'ontente- cordiale, that tho French sailors wore given a very hearty -welcome by a fair-sized crowd, and were mado by the officers of tho Shipwreck Relief Society to feel very much at homo in an extremely short space of timo. The members of the society who met the men woro Messrs F. 0. Bridgma'n (who also acted on behalf of tho French Consul, Mr P. 0. Neill), E. D. Graco (secretary), and J. A. Park. These gentlemen wero assisted by Messrs 0. W. Harris and Thomas liarland, who possess a. 6ounil knowledge of tho French language, and were invaluable as interpreters.

The sailoi'3, numbering 21 in all, proved to bo Bretons of tho ordinary seafaring type. In ago they ranged from hoys in their toons to shaggy-bearded men of well past middle age. Standing in little groups on the railway platform, they chatted volubly together, and seemed to bo by no means overcome by their recent terrifying experience. Tho first mate, M. Guilui, has a small stouk of English, upon which ho nm<lc heavy calls in his efforts to return tho politeness of tho members of tho Shipwreck Relief Society. Each sailor has his kit— a- roughly-sown bag stuffed with articles of clothing and tho knick-knacks doar to Ihfi nautical heart,—which he shouldered, and balanced with one hand whilst carrying a pair of heavy sea boots in the other hand, and, thus laden, tho crow made their way to tho end of the platform, , where expresses wore- in waiting to convey them and their belongings to various coffee palaces.

Before they wero free lo mako a move in tho direction of tho lodgings provided by tho Shipwrenk Relief Society, however, the sailors, had to face the ordeal of being photographed, and. seated on their kits, which camo in handy for the purpose, they mado a picturesquo group. This over, a batch of eight sailors was driven to the •Ship Restaurant, Hie second batch of eight to the Federal Coffee Palace, and the remainder to the Leviathan.

■Subsequently, in tlio course of a brief conversation with a Times reporter, the niaio (M. Oitiliu) stated that the ship Mruclc tho bench at Akatoro heavily, and was now full of walor. The officers and crow had lost most of their effects. Tho voyage from La. Roohcllc to ITobart. en route for Tahiti, lasted from November 6 to February 4, and after that a series of donee fogs proved very troublesome. On Wednesday Ihc Snares wore sighted, and after that no land was seen until Akatore Beach loomed up under the ship's bow. As far as he was concerned, the trip to Dunedin would bo a short one, as it was his intention to roturn to tlio wreck Iliat day. Captain Tutterin and two of the hands had been left behind.

Mr Bridgmaii, acting French, Consul in Mr P. 0. Ncill'fi a-bsonco on the West Coast, informed our reporter that ho was cabling to Iho owners of tho vessel, the Socictn dfls Voilliovs JYancais, whose headquarters wcro in Paris, for instructions. iio had also telegraphed to the Consulgeneral in Auckland, M. Boeufve, and had received a reply from that gentleman, instructing him in tho cvont of tho Maxguorite Mirabaud being condemned to send the crow to Melbourne in care of the Frenoh Consul thore. "In tho meantime," added

Mr Bridgman, " I am having a survey made. This will be dono at once," Too much praise cannot bo accorded Mi Gilbert Scott, of Milton, who hastened t<l tho wreck at Akatoro on Sunday night, and, on behalf of the Shipwreck Relief Society, made preparations for thn crow being transferred in drags to Milton,. [or their breakfasting and lodging there, and thenco for their enfo conveyance by rail to Dimcdin.