WRECKS OF BRIG FAIRY QUEEN, SCHOONER DUKE OF EDINBURGH, AND KETCH WANDERER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1719, 30 August 1873, Page 3

WRECKS OF BRIG FAIRY QUEEN, SCHOONER DUKE OF EDINBURGH, AND KETCH WANDERER.

-♦ (From the Timaru Herald, Aug. 29.) Ifc is with deep regret we have to record a series of shipping disasters which happened at Timaru on Wednesday last ; three vessels having been driven ashore during a strong south-easterly gale, and one of the number totally wrecked. Luckily no lives were lost, the seamen — eighteen in all — being safely rescued, some being saved by the rocket apparatus, others by the assistance of a number of willing hands on shore. The vessels in the roadstead at the time of the catastrophe wero four in number — tho brigs Silver Lining and Fairy Queen, the three-masted schooner Duke of Edinburgh, aud the ketch "Wanderer. The Silver Lining, brig, owned by Mr Murnin of Sydney, 228 tons, Leisher, master, arrived at Timaru on Aug. 14 from Newcastle, having on board a cargo of|piles, maize, coals, Sec., about a third portion of which had been unloaded by Tuesday last. This was the only vessel which escaped out of the four. The Fairy Queen, brig, 214 tons, Spence, master, was owned by Messrs Nipper and See, commission agents, Melbourne and Sydney, and was one of the finest vessels of the kind with fche exception perhaps of the Prospero, that has ever -visited this port. She was an Aberdeen clipper, nearly new, and was well found in every respect. She arrived in fche roadstead on Aug. 12 from Newcastle, with a cargo of 345 tons of coal, consigned fco Mr Henry Green, fche whole of which with the exception of twenty tonß had been discharged before Saturday last, and these remaining tons would have been out and the vessel away, we are informed, by Sunday. or Monday at fche latest had coal bags been procurable. The Duke of Edinburgh, three-masted schooner, 77 tons, Dunn, master, is owned by Messrs Combs and Daldy, of Auckland. The Teasel was

built in 1868, for a steamer, and used as such in the Auckland trade till recently, when she was converted into a sailing vessel, making a smart, tidy-looking craft. She arrived here on Tuesday last from Auckland, with a cargo of 39,956 feet of timber for use in the Temuka bridge. Unluckily, just before anchoring she collided with the brig Silver Lining, and carried away her jibboom, and thia accident, ifc is said, was one of the reasons among others thafc are assigned for her nofc attempting to stand out to sea when she seemed to have such a good chance immediately after parting her cable. On Wednesday, the Wanderer, ketch, 29 tons, M'Lean, master, and owned by the "mate Ned Bradley, arrived here on August 21, with a cargo of fortynine tons of coal. She finished unloading on Monday last, and took in on the same day 203 bags of wheat belonging to Mr H. Green, that being her complement of cargo on board at the time she was wrecked. The gale commenced during Tuesday night, and blew steadily till Wednesday morning without having any great effect upon the sea. Towards noon, however, the wind and rain increased, and such heavy breakers rolled in shorewards that fears were entertained for the safety of the vessels riding afc anchor. All j four were pitching heavily, and the two smaller vessels were shipping seas occasionally, I but ifc was apparent that if their cables were in good order there was no likelihood of their coming ashore, as the anchors were holding securely. The sea continued to increase in fury till about; twenty minutes after one, when the gun at the flagstaff, where Capt. MHls, the harbour master, was keeping a sharp look-out, announced that something was wrong. Ifc was then seen that the brig Fairy Queen had parted her cable, aud was drifting in towards the reefs off Sea View Villa. The signal had the effect of attracting a large number.of persons to the beach. In addition to the rocket-apparatus being placed in readiness fco be conveyed to any place it might be needed, the lifeboat crew were ordered to be ready for action, though it was pretty plain thafc their services would not be required. After the parting of the Fairy Queen's cable another anchor was dropped from the brig, which fortunately held hor fast, bufc nofc before she had drifted a good cable's length towards fche shore, leaving only about a length or bo between her and the reef. Apprehensions were still felt for the safety of the vessel, not only by those on shore but also by those on the vessel, for soon after 2 p.m. signals wero hoisted stating- thafc fche one cable had parted, and the second would in all probability do likewise. The brig however, continued to hold firmly, and attention was directed to her till 3.15 p.m., when suddenly, to the surprise of all, it was seen fchafc fche three-masted schooner, Duke of Edinburgh, which had hitherto been behaving admirably, parted, and drifted towards the shore, passing dangerously close to the ketch Wanderer. When about a chain from the shore, afc fche point where tho romains of the old breakwater lay, and where a rocky reet juts out, the schooner's jibs were hauled up, and the vessel steered in a southerly direction, with the idea, everybody hoped and believed, of endeavouring to lay up to fche wind and stand to sea. Nofc so, however, for the rest of the sails were seen fco be clewed up, and tho vessel steered towards fche shore, and beached immediately in front of the Government Landing Service shed, where she swung round, her stem pointing towards the south. The rocket apparatus was afc once placed in position but not used, as the vessel was so close in that a rope was thrown on board from the shore. The cradle was then set to work, and five of the seamen were taken off in a very short time, — only twenty minutes having elapsed from the time of the vessel breaking loose, to her virtual abandonment. The scene on the beach when the Duke was coming ashore was somewhat animated, a large number of the male inhabitants of the town having turned out as well as a few of the opposite sex, although it was raining in torrents the whole time. The vessel kept forging further up the beach, till at last two or three boatmen were enabled by means of a rope hanging over the side to clamber on to the deck, although considerable difficulty was experienced in doing so, as the sea was occasionally making a clean breach over her. A hawser was then got on board the vessel, fastened securely to some piles on shore. Ropes were now attached to fche masts, and attempts made to cant fche vessel towards the shore in order that the breakers might nofc have such an injurious effect upon her. The attempt, however, was fruitlejs, as was also fche endeavour to haul by means of fche Landing Service engine, fcho stern of the vessel up the beach, and so put her nose seaward, a heavy Bea breaking at the time causing the chain to snap asunder. Several articles including the chronometer were then taken ashore, and the vessel temporarily abandoned. An anchor being seen on deck it waa a subject of astonishment among many thafc an attempt was not made to hring the vessel up, but we gathered that owing to something like 95 fathoms of chain having been paid out the first, only 15 fathoms were left for the second anchor — not nearly sufficient. According to one authority to have attempted to get the vessel to sea would have been useless, as the wind was nothing like strong enough for the vessel to carry canvas against the sea that was running; but opinions differ on that point. The injury done to the schooner is nofc apparently great, the rudder having carried away, and the copper stripped partially off her port; side. She continued to roll heavily till evening, when the tide left her high and dry. The schooner is probably greatly strained, and ifc is questionable whether she will be got off. During the latter port of the afternoon the rain fell heavier, while the wind considerably diminished, the consequence being thafc the sea smoothened to such a degree thafc strong hopes were indulged in thafc fche other three vessels would safely hold to their anchors. These hopes, however, were of very short duration, tor no sooner did fche darkness set; in than both wind aud sea sprung up sUonger

than ever. The whereabouts of the vessels, could only be ascertained by their lights, which could be seen at intervals as the vessels rose out of the trough of the sea. Very few believed that fche craf ts could long stand such weather, and in this they were right, for at about 7 o'clock the cry was raised thafc fche Fairy Queen had broken loose. She was then seen to be drifting towards the beach in a northerly direction, and a blue light was burned on shore indicating a good position to strike the beach. Unfortunately she wenfc too far to the northward, and struck on a rocky reef, about four chains above where the Duke of Edinburgh was lying, tho sea rushing clean over her. A small fire was immediately lighted, and the apparatus fixed, by which a rope was dropped fairly between the vessel'a masts. Just; after fchis a barrel of pitch was procured, and lighted on the rocks a little way up the cliffs. By this time a large number of persons assembled. The excitement now was at its highest. Whafc with fche fury of the wind and the blinding rain, the fierce hoarse moan of the breakers ashore, and the thought that possibly life might be sacrificed within a stone's throw of safety were sufficient elements to move the surging crowd collected on the sea beach ; the light from the tar barrels bringing oufc in strong relief to the pitchy darkness of the night every stick and rope of the doomed vessel, and lighting up the faces of the anxious sailors collected on fche forecastle, was another element fanning the excitement, showing both fche danger and the means of help. No time was losfc in getting the cradle again to work, and one by one the seamen (nine in all) were conveyed to shore amid the cheers of the crowd, the mate and captain coming last. The journey to the shore must have been anything bufc a pleasant trip, for now and then a heavy sea would roll in momentarily hiding both man and basket. From the time the vessel broke away tui the men were rescued very little over half an hour had elapsed. The crew were only jußt got off in time, for a few moments after the last had been pulled ashore an enormous roller struck fche vessel and caused fche mainmast to go by the board, afc fcho same timo forging the vessel (which had hitherto been lying head on) broadside on fco the rocks, fche deck canting towards the shore. Tho sea continued to drive her in, till, by means of the broken mast, which was attached to the vessel by the rigging, a person could, by watching bis opportunity, get on board. At about ten minutes fco eight o'clock ifc was observed that the after part; of the vessel's bottom had been stove in, and her speedy breaking up Beemed certain. Shortly after this the galley was observed to be on fire, and while everybody was conjecturing as to whether the remainder of the wreck was going tp be burned, or whether the water constantly breaking over would extinguish the flames, a cry was raised thafc there was another vessel ashore. To rush away from fche burning vessel and peer into fche darkness, rendered all fche more difficult; to see through by the drenching rain falling, was the work of a moment. Through fcho pitchy night could be seen a dark object close in shore, which Bhorfcly afterwards proved to be tho ketch Wanderer. The rocket apparatus was again got ready, and shouts were raised for those on board to steer the vessel to a shingly portion of the beach. The vessel then struck about mid way between the Duke of Edinburgh and fche Fairy Queen, but was immediately carried off again and driven heavily against the brig, hor mainmast at the same time going by the board. The moment was one of great excitement;, as ifc was feared that the ketch would not clear, and the men would be washed overboard. Suddenly, however, a heavy breaker tumbled in, and the vessel was carried to the stem of the brig, her bow running on to the beach with the stern fco seaward. The Beamen, three in number — master, mate, and another — were then observed clinging to the bowsprit ; a line of men on shore now joined hands, and as each man jumped off he was conveyed ashore, all being very much exhausted. The vessel shortly after this was again carried away northward by a heavy roller, and deposited finally on the beach about a chain and a half from fche Fairy Queen. Whea the tide had left the shore sufficiently to gefc on board fche ketch's dingy and the clothes of fche sailors were fetched ashore. The ketch rode oufc fche gale well during the day, bufc soon after dark the sea rose so high thafc the waves now and again swept clean over her decks. A little after seven p.m., as a man was lighting the lamp which had been put out, the master saw a very heavy wave approaching and took to the rigging. The wave swept the deck fore and aft, washing fche poor fellow overboard. Luckily the man was a good swimmer and managed to get near enough to the vessel to catch a rope thrown to him by the captain, by whom he was hauled aboard. By fche time fche man — who was very much exhausted — had changed his clothes, the cable and hawser by which fche ketch had been holding the whole time, snapped simultaneously and fche vessel's head was then kept in as straight; a line as possible for fche light on shore caused by fche fire on the brig. Several bluelights had been observed from the beach before the ketch had been driven ashore, but as fche master of fche Wanderer said none had been burned on his vessel, ifc was conoluded that such lights must have been shown from the brig Silver Lining, and fears were therefore felt for her safety, more especially as ifc was known that the captain's wife and two children were on board. At about eleven o'clock the wind and rain suddenly ceased, and the sea, if anything, got more boisterous. Another bluelighfc was exhibited from the vessel, and this was answered by a gun from the lighthouse. A sharp look-out was . kept on shore, and the rocket apparatus placed in readiness. At about half-past eleven ifc was reported thafc the Silver Lining was coming on Bhore, the form of the vessel, with all canvas spread, being just visible. Gradually the vessel became more distinot, and grave feara were entertained that she would be.

shortly aground. Fortunately, just as she reached the outer breakers a land breeze vsprang up and carried her away. When clear Oi the land she signalled with a bluelight her safety. 3.he brig Fairy Queen continued on fire throughout the night, burning a hole in the deck, 1 a quantity of coal, and a portion of the rigging. The fire was partly extinguished early yesterday morning, and shortly afterwards fche vessel, as she laid, was put up to auction fey Mr R. Turnbull, and knocked down to Messrs Bradden cne. Shier/.for £135. A 15 cwfc anchor and -6(7fathom cable, a2jd a 10 cwfc anchor\aad 50 fathom cable, as they 'TajTN buoyed in t.jy> harbour, fetched £9, the purchasers being Messrs Hill, Simpson, and Graham. The captain lost private effects to the value of £40. Most of the cargo of fche Duke of Edinburgh was landed yesterday. The Wanderer shifted four chains further northward with yesterday morning's tide, and although she is injured slightly in her afterpart only about twenty bags of the wheat on her was injured. Later in the day 200 bags of wheat were got oufc, and sold by auction for 7s 9d per bag, Mr Cliff being the purchaser. The vessel will be sold to-day by auction. The Silver Lining was seen beating about some miles off shore all day yesterday. The rocket apparatus was under the superintendence of Mr Mills, the harbour master, and was rendy for use on every occasion when there was the slightest danger to be apprehended. The Duke of Edinburgh was valued afc £1300, and is insured in the South British Insurance Company for £650. The Silver Lining is insured in the same office for £1000. The Fairy Queen is covered by a heavy insurance policy, bufc neither the amount nor the name of the office is known. The Wanderer is fche property of the mate, and is nofc insured. ■ i i ■ __—_____________