THE FITZROY WRECK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 21

THE FITZROY WRECK.

A TRSING NIGHT.

The A.U.B.N. Company's steamer Ti'zroy went ashore 10 miles &outk of Port Stephens,. on the New South Wales coast, shortly aftar 1 o'clock on Saturday morning, 11th inst. It was bitterly cold and raining, and tbe plight of 70 passengers and 42 of a crew who were on the vessel waa miserable in the extreme. All, however, were landed from tha vessel, and passed the night on the beach in pelting rain. How the Fitzroy got into the position she wa« in is a mj sbery ; but serious as the affair was it would have been much worse had she -gone 200 yards - further on, as she would then have struck on the , rocks of the point, and in the saa "which wa« running it is not difficult to imagine what might have been the result to those on board, Instead, she was brought up on a soft, sandy bed, and in a position broadside on to' tbe beach.When the ship, struck order was given for all hands to be brought pu^ deck. It^was obeyed with alacrity, and 'Before many , raityites - had elapsed everyone was' supplied., with, a lifebelt.- Captaili Grahl * came to a a early determination to stand by the ship till daylight. The whistle was kept blowing, and rockets and guns were fired off, bub, although heard by a resident close by, ib was regarded as but an ordinary occurrence in those ptrts and failed to bring any assistance. For a/ time the ship remained in an upright position, with waves frequently breaking right- - over ■ her. Thiii her starboard ports were smashed in * and > I she took a' list to starboard, towards, the breaker?, and remained that way for a ooupla of hours, her decks being at an angle of about 35 degrees. The passengers had up to this time been Luddled up together in the vioinity of the afterhouse. Meanwhile Captain Grahl and his crew, with the assistance of several of the more able-bodied passengers, were making endeavours to launch the boats. This taik was a trying and perilous one. Heavy seas completely smashed the starboard boats, and the bumping of the ship, added to the list o£ the decks, made the work in connection witli the baats on tbe port side very heaVy. They had to be lifted bodily over the vessel's side, and many times everybody engaged in the workwere thrown oa the decks. Ultimately the boats were got oat, and allowed to remain hanging down tho side until they were required at daylight. When dawn came and the beach was made out, it was resolved Jhat an immediate attempt should be made to land. Tho vessel had in tho meantime bumped 1 in aboub 75 yards from the position she originally occupied, and was still broadside on to the breakers about 100 yards out in the water. Although her hull broke the force of the waves somewhat there was still a nasty aea. on, the ' sweep of water round her bows 'and stern meeting and causing -a dangerous chopping. , A line was sent ashore in a boat, and an effort made to • get a hawser after it, but the latter gob in a bight, and ths task proved too much forthe limited number of men. The thin line was then made fast to a stake driven into the / sand, and an attempt was made to work the* boats by means of it, but the stake soon gaVe way, .and paddles had to be resorted to. All the ladies, ' except two, were put in tbe first boat, which was landed without: much difficulty. A rougher time awaited the second boat, the fate of which was for a time very uncertain. Five trips in all were made, and the captain and chief engineer were the )ast to leave the ship. Half an hour after all hands had been got ashore the Fitzroy gave a lurch to port, and righting herself, began to> settle down in the sand, with the seas breaking mercilessly orafher. The work of getting ashore had not been begun any too soon. One of tha crew managed with great difficulty to light a firs on the beach, and others' were sent in search of habitations. About a quarter of a mile away was found the residence or C. Blanch, a butcher, whose wife readily consented to do her best foe the ladies and children, and they were all removed to the cottage by 7 o'clock. Many of the ladies were in their nightdresses only, but the steward had provided them with blankets ia \ which to wrap themselves. All were wet witli ' spray and raio, and much fatigued by ex- * posure. The news having spread around, other settlers about turned up with spring carts and drays, and nearly the whole of the party were conveyed to Nelson's Bay. ' Scenes on the vessel during the two aud a-half hours in which the passengers and the crew were compelled to remain oh her wer« heavt-rending. Men and women prayed to« gether, and children clung to them in terror. One lady wrapped her lifebelt round herself and her infant child, thus clasped securely to hec breast. The conduct of everyone concerned is described as of the best possible description. There was no panic or confusion, and the \ women particularly behaved with marvellous I fortitude and resignation. The stewards wera i most attentive under trying cucumctabces, and. their thouehtfulneas in providing blankets £■> ,

women and children- mitigated to- a large extant their discomfort. Of the conduct of Captain Grabl no one seems able to B peak too highly. His cool and masterful bearing did much to reassure passengers and to keep up their gpirits during their weary wait for daylight;. Everyone connected with the ship, in fact, appears to have done only that which wiil uphold the best traditions of the British sailor. Gaptiin Grabl was much cub up by the events of the day, and complained of a return of New ' Guinea fever as the result of his exposure.