PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2076, 7 December 1893, Page 35

PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK.

The Spirit of the Dawn was an iron barque of 716 tons gross and 692 tons net register ; classed *Aal at Lloyds. She was built at Sunderland in 1869 by T. R. Oswald and Co., and was owned by Messrs J. Bell and Son, of Liverpool. She was commanded by Captain R. T. Millington, a gentleman very well known in that port, as the record of his certificates will show. The Spirit of the Dawn took a full cargo of rice at Rangoon for Talcahuano, in Chili, where she was to call for orders, and had a crew of 16 hands all told. She left Rangoon on June 17, and had very squally weather down the Bay of Bengal, followed by the usual doldrums and variable winds, which veered from B. to S W. during the rest of the passage. Her troubles appear to have commenced when she reached the meridian of New Zealand, and on the morning of September 4- Mr Homer (the chief officer), having the morning watch, was told by the man on the look-out (T. B. Ballard) that he thought he saw

Breakers Ahead. The chief officer immediately went forward to ascertain the truth of the matter, but could see nothing of any breakers owing to the dense fog which prevailed. • At once, however, he called Captain Millington and all hands, and only a minute or two elapsed before everybody was on deck. Captain Millington at once ordered the helm to be put hard-up, but owing to the vessel having insufficient sail on her, she did not pay-off quickly enough to avoid going ashore. It was then discovered that they were close on to a reef of rocks, on to which she immediately struck. Captain Millington, prior to this, however, ordered that lifebelts should be served out to all hands and the starboard lifeboat cleared away. Very unfortunately, the vessel went down so quickly that there waß no time to carry this order into effect, nor could the boat be got clear of the davits. The captain then ordered all hands to take to the mizzen rigging, which thay did, with the exception of Mr Homer, the chief officer, and Mr J. Morrissey, the second. The steward and cofk were not seen after the vessel struck, save that Mr Morrissey saw the steward going into the cabin, as he supposed, for stores. He said to Mr Morrissey, "We shall all go down." Mr Morriasey said, " Have no fear ; we shall all be right." The second mate is also certain that the cook was in the galley, and had a light (as necessarily he would have at that hour in the morning). The chief and second officers remained on the main deck, while the captain and crew took to the mizzen rigging, and jumped into the starboard boat, which floated off the skids, and the crew jumped into her, principally from the rigging ; others fell into the sea and were picked up. Shortly after this

The Ship went Bodily Down, taking with her the captain and three men. The rest of the crew in the boat, which was fully equipped with water, oars, &c, were then drifted out to sea, and nothing cculd be seen of the land until 11 a.m., when the fog lifted a little, and the island was ags>in seen. Aftr? a pull of some seven or eigbfc miles the boat reached the lauding place »fc, as far as they could ascertain, 3 p.m. All hands were vtry exhausted, and after taking all the gear out of the boat, they endeavoured to haul her up, but uufortunatsly they could not do co. She was made fast, but during the following night she broke adrift, and was never seen again. On reaching the land the msn looked for food and shelter, nothing of which was found in that part part of the island. However, there was plenty of water, and they managed to pass the night under a tent rigged from the boat's sails and masts. After this mutton birds were caught and roots dug up, all of which they gladly eat raw, being unable to procure fire. The first thing to erect was a signal-staff, and this was done by means of the boat's mast and an oar, whilst a shelter hub was built of tussocks, roofed in by the boat's sails. All the men enjoyed fairly good health, with the exception of a Eurasian boy named F. Hewbett, who suffered very severely from his feet, losing two toes off hie right foot and two joints from other two toes of the same foot. Of cour3O the poor boy was rendered incapable, but, true to his nature, the British seaman showed his nympatby, and the boy wa3 tenderly cared for by his companions in distress, and on arrival at Bunodin on Monday afternoon was conveyed to the

hospital, accompanied by Captain Fairchild (of the Hinemoa) and Mr Homer (chief officer of the late barque). After being 87 days on the island the Government steamer Hinemoa rescued them on the 30 bh November, and brought them on to Dunedin.

THE SURVIVORS.

The names of the survivors are :— R. H. Homer, chief officer J. Morriasey, second officer Harry Davies, third officer E. M. Bergthiem, apprentice W. Clementson, apprentice T. Ballard, A.B. Frank M'Laughlin, A.B. C. D. Mason, A.B. John J. Peers, A.B. B. V. Anderson, A B. F.^Hewbert, A.B.

THE DROWNED. Those who went down with the vessel were :—: — Captain R. P. Millington J. Petersen (carpenter), a Swede Peter Dawson (cook), native of Liverpool — Ceto (steward), of Copenhagen, and

Frank Bauttier (A.8.), of Jersey,

On being rescued every care and attention was paid to bhe wants of these poor fellows by Captain Fairchild, who left nothiDg undone which might conduce to their comfort, and so grateful are the men that they have presented that gentleman with the following testimonial expressive of their feelings :—: — S.S. Hinemoa, DunediD, N.Z., December 4, 1893 This is to express the gratitude of the survivors of the Liverpool barque Spirit of the Dawn, which was wrecked on the Antipodes Island on the 4th September ]893, in a thick fog, and afterwards rescued by the s s. Hinemoa on the 30th November, after being on the island 88 days. We cannot speak too highly of the treatment we received from Captain Fairchild, the officers, passengers, and all on board from the moment we were taken off the island up to the time we lef£ the Hinemoa, everything being studied for our comfort in the way of food, clothes, and accommodation. Thanking one and all for their Unlimited kindness, we remain, It. H. Homer W. Glejientson J. MORIUSSEY BERNIIARD ANDERSON Harry Davies C. D. Mason B. M. Bergthieji Felix Hewbert John J. Peers Frank M'Laughlin Thomas E. Ballard,

Survivors of the crew.