AN EXCITING INCIDENT AT SEA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4489, 30 January 1886, Page 3

AN EXCITING INCIDENT AT SEA

Captaik William Thomas, of the iron barque West Riding, which arrived at Sydney on Jan. 13 from Bristol, gives the following report of an extraordinary incident that occurred during the voyage. On Nov. 27, at 4 a.m., saw the island of Tristan d'Acunha, S.E. by S. true, there being at the time strong squalls, with a heavy sea, though the weather was clear. Ths settlement on the island bore S.W. , distant nine miles, and a large fire was observed on shore in the vicinity. Soon afterwards a sailing boat waß sighted steering for the vessel, being then distant about six miles from the settlement. Capt Thomas immediately took in sail, and had the ship brought to the wind on the port tack. At 7.40 a.m., when the boat was on the barque's port quarter, distant about li mile, its sailing mast suddenly disappeared. The boat was afterwards seen apparently making towards the vessel with paddles. Thinking some accident had happened, Captain Thomas mado sail, and stood toward the supposed Sot where the boat was first seen ; but ihongh the ship cruised in the vicinity for two hours, with the captain and mate in the mizzen-top with telescopes, she failed to discover any vestige of it or its occupants. As the wind was from S. W., and the vessel waa rolling dreadfully broadside on to the sea, it was found impossible to communicate with the Island, Captain Thomas not deeming it prudent to launch a boat. Atten a.m believing that nothing more could be done to assist anyone, Captain Thomas kept the vessel on her course. Seeing that the inhabitants were so eager to communicate, during the prevalence of strong winds and a heavy aea, in a small boat, with a vessel nine or ten miles direct to leeward of the settlement, it is conjectured that some of the shipwrecked people have probably got ashore on the Island.