Wrecks at the Islands.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7286, 14 August 1893, Page 3

Wrecks at the Islands.

FURTHER PARTICULARS,

(By Telegraph.)

AUCKLAND, August 14

1 The Janet, cutter, from the Norfolk Island, brings intelligence of two wrecks at the Islands. The Mary Ogilvia, a regular trader between Sydney, Lord Howe’s Island and Norfolk Island, during a gale was driven ashoie, and became a wreck. Captain Garth and the crow came to Auckland in the Janet,

The ship Girvan was wrecked at Lord Rowe's Island in June. The crew were rescued by the borquo George Thomson, and landed at the island. The Girvan left Newcastle on June 3rd with 1997 tons of coal. In a gale off Lord Howe’s Island on the 9th the vessel was thrown oh her beam onds, causing tbe cargo to shift. She was steadily settling down in the water, preparations were being made by Captain Angus and the crew to leave her, and fortunately the barque George Thompson bound from Newcastle to Honolulu, came up, and the captain and crew of the ill-fated vessel were taken on board. At daylight the next morning the Girvan had disappeared, having sunk during the night. The crew landed at Norfolk Island on June 22nd, and were still there when the Janet sailed for Auckland. The following additional particulars of the foundering of the barque Girvan are supplied by the Stars Norfolk Island correspondent, who says she cleared Newcastle Heads on Juno sth, and shortly afterwards met with very unsettled squally weather and strong easterly winds ; consequently she could not keep her course. On the lllh the easterly winds increased to a strong gale. A very heavy sea struck tba vessel, caueing her to lurch heavily to leeward. Immediately afterwards another heavy sea struck her, heaving her on her beam ends and causing the cargo to shift. The leo davit head being at tbo time under water, the fore and aft starboard boats were smashed. The wire rigging was then cut away to try and save tho vessel, she still going further over, and lying with her main hatch half under water and tho sea breaking up to the weather rails. The other mast was carried away, smashing a boat on tha portjjside.-'lhe forward skid of the lifeboat breaking, it. fell on the deck, thus rendering all the boats useless The main mast broke the pumps, and the deck was covered with out rigging etc. These being of wire, and the mast and yards of steel, they could not be freed from the vessel, and helped to keep her down, and kept knocking about. Her position was then 33,30 8., 157.4 R-, or about 24miles from the Australian coast. All hands were busily engaged in trying to free tho vessel, Tho carpenter, Thomas Carrigan, whilst getting a saw for cutting the rigging was washed overboard, but caught a rope, to which he held for some time, and an endeavour was made to throw him a life-buoy, but before this could be done ho disappeared and was not Been again. This occurred about 7 a.m. The captain’s cabin was flooded and he has lost the ship’s papers and everything. About 3 p.m. tha George Thomp son hove in sight and captain Angus showed night signals of distress She therefore stood by all night. At 2 p.m., on the 12tb, Captain Munro launched a boat but could not get alongside. As the weather moderated after some time however, a line was hove to the boat, and ell hands were drawn through tho water to her, she being about 26 yards off. The George Thompson stood by the vessel for two days and nights and sent a boat to try and board the Girvan, bat could not do so. Daring the night the Girvan disappeared, and must have foundered as when last seen her hatches had broken adrift. Captain Angus

and his crew lost everything, being saved simply with the clothes they bad _ on. The captain and crew, 22 in all, remain at Norfolk Island, waiting the chance of a vessel to take them off. The, captain has written to the Collector of Customs at Auckland, stating their position, and asking him to make arrangements for their removal from the island. The disaster is attributed to bad stowing of cargo.