TIMARU WRECKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 13

TIMARU WRECKS

ANNIVERSARY DAY Even though the incident occurred 53 years ago to-day, the day of the wrecks of the ships Benvenue and the City of Perth in Timaru is still fresh in the memories of many 'Jimaru residents, who witnessed the tragedy. The City of Perth was hauled off, but the bones of the Benvenue still lie under the cliffs named after her. On May 14, 1882, the City of Perth lay at anchor in the Timaru roadstead, in company with the almost equally well-known Bevenue. At 1 a.m. a tremendous gale burst upon the exposed anchorage, and brought with it a high rolling surf. All the ships could do was to hold on, with cables full out and green water washing them from stem to stern. The Benvenue went shortly after daybreak, her captain and crew making an almost miraculous escape by boat through the boiling surf to the City of Perth. Borne up by the waves, the Benvenue was dashed broadside on to the shore of Caroline Bay, a total wreck.

With every cable parted, the City of Perth started the same journey, but her sheet-anchor, bent to her best hawser, held her for a while. As the two ships’ crews left the vessel’s side in a successful attempt to reach the breakwater, a volunteer boat’s crew under Philip Bradley put out to the rescue. He was not needed. Soon after the wind dropped, but the sea remained high. Three boats, one commanded by Captain Mills and one by Captain McDonald, of the Benvenue, made the perilous passage, but no sooner had they reached her side than the City of Perth’s hawser parted, and she drove stern-first on to the beach. Captain Mills's boat regained sheltered water, but, on seeing the Benvenue’s gig capsize, it went out again. The other boat also put back, and In a twinkling both were overturned, leaving nearly forty men struggling in the surf. After two attempts, the lifeboat was got away, but she met the same fate. A large surf-boat managed to clear the shore, but, proving almost unmanageable in the heavy seas had to drop anchor. As dusk fell, the life-boat was again righted by her crew’, and picked up a full load of men before returning to the shelter of the breakwater. The gallant Captain Mills died on the beach after being landed. Fearlessly, a fresh crew manned the life-boat. After removing some men from the surf-boat, she again went over, but was righted, and carried on. A last trip resulted in all those remaining above water being picked up. The total cost of the disaster was nine lives. Five Timaru boatmen perished, together with two of the City of Perth’s crew.

After an attempt at salvage had been made six days after the wreck, the undamaged cargo was removed and the hull sold for £9OO. A second attempt resulted in her being towed off and taken to Port Chalmers, where an inspection showed that the rudder and twenty feet of keel were missing, and five bottom plates were damaged. She was sold again for £SOO.