The Wreck of the Holyhead.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5709, 4 March 1890, Page 2

The Wreck of the Holyhead.

Melbourne, Feb. 18. Following closely upon the wreck of the s.s. Riverina which occurred off Ram's Head about three weeks ago, another large vessel has come to grief in Victorian waters. The four-masted ship Holyhead, Capt. F. Williams, 74 days out from Liverpool, ran on to a ree foff Point Lonsdale on Wednesday afternoon last and became a total wreck. She was a new vessel and this trip was her maiden voyage. She was valued at L 25,000 and her cargo on board to the value of L 60,000. She was regarded as the crack vessel of the line owned by Messrs W. Thomas and Co., one of the best known in Liverpool shipping firms. Captain Williams was on his first visit to Victorian waters, but a number of years since he was engaged for a considerable period in the coastal trade o New South Wales, and also between Newcastle and New Zealand. At the time of the mishap the weather was thick and a squall was blowing freshly from the south-east quarter. The captain was not sure of the coast, and signalled for a pilot for nearly three hours. He was unable to attract the attention of either of the pilot shooners which are usually outside the Heads, and resolved to continue till nearer the entrance to Hobson's Bay, keeping, in the meantime, as he thought, well out from the land. He erred in his calculations, and when the man on the look-out pronounced breakers ahead, it was too late to save the ship. She was travelling at the rate of seven nnd a half knots an hour, and was carrying rather a full spread of canvas. The captain thought he had sufficient sea room, and even when the man on the lookout gave the alarm, there appeared to be through the haze fully half a mile between the vessel and the shove. Soon afterwards the reef on which she struck was found in dangerous proximity. In order to get out into open water a tack was made with the object of wearing off, but the desperate effort proved futile, as the wind came down violently from the- opposite quarter. The result was that the Holyheacl missed stays, and dashed right on to the projecting reef which extends into the water for about half a mile from Point Lousdale. She has since remained firmly fixed there, and a small quantity of cargo has been saved. The ship was in charge of J. Roberts, the first mate, at the time she struck, and he lias made the following statement : — "I was in charge when she reached the heads, and I stood in boldly. There is no reef marked on our chart off Point Lonsdnle, and I thought our course was clear. We had one of the Admiralty charts, but I can't say of what year. The weather was very hauy and the wind was fresh. I saw some signals hoisted at Point jonsd;ile, and was just trying to make them out when she struok. ' There was a man named David Jones on the look out and another at the lead. When tho look out called out " breakors ahead" we put the wheel hard up, and tried to wear round, but she missed stays, a.n,d I saw there was no chance far heiVand gave orders to lot go. the anchors. Just as, qno anchor was let go she struck^ the, yeef. The seas soon began to bre^k; over her. One of them knocked n.ie over and hurt me so that I shftll have to go and see a doctor. I sent the third mate down to call the captain, who was below, as soon as the cry of * . breakers ahead " was raised. He came on deck soon after. The lifeboat tcok the crew and the captain off^ and I remained on board with, the boatswain." [The captain and mate had their certificates, suspended.]