NARROW ESCAPE OF THE BARQUE, NIGHTINGALE.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 296, 13 July 1868, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE BARQUE, NIGHTINGALE.

CHIEF OFFICER KILLED. We have been favored by a passenger by the above vessel with the following account of the vessel's late dangers : —" The barque Nightingale left Melbourne for Westport on the 18th ult., with a full cargo of merchandise, five passengers, and an efficient crew, under command of her old master, Captain M'Phaiden. During the early part of the voyage she experienced strong contrary winds and during the latter part light winds and calms alternately. She arrived in the roadstead on Friday the 2nd inst., and the weather being fine, it was hoped that she would have been towed into the river on the following morning's tide. Four days however passed over, during which Captain M'Phaiden communicated with the shore, but no satisfactory reason was given for not sending out a tug-boat to his assistance. He therefore resolved to go on shore, and the weather being fine on Tuesday, he went on board the s.s. Kennedy and crossed the bar with the idea of returning: to the ship by the evening tide. Man however proposes, but he who rules the storms disposes. During the afternoon a breeze sprung up from the N.W. which, as the evening advanced, strengthened to a stiff gale, and lashed the sea to fury, thus placing the vessel somewhat in danger. About midnight a steamer's light was seen crossing the bar, and the chief officer thinking that the captain was on board, he ordered the second mate and three men to shove off in the ship's gig and meet him. They left, but were not heard of or seen again until eight o'clock the following morning, when they returned, and reported that they had drifted during the night about ten miles south of the Steeples, and had suffered much. The steamer returned to port soon after the boat left the ship's side. The wind abated on Wednesday morning, but as the day advanced the glass fell rapidly, and there was every indication of a boisterous night. About 6. 30 p.m. the ship rolled very heavily, and the cry was heard throughout the ship, that she had parted from her anchor,

The.mate (Mr Moore) immediately rushed on deck, and'discovered that the anchor chain tackle only, had given way. The lead was then heaved*and fifteen fathoms of water reported'. The ship, however, was'drifting towards the Steeples, and thereforo to ease her forty-five fathoms of chain were paid out, and the lead heaved at regular intervals until about 7.15., when a heavy sea broke over her starboard bow, sweeping her decks from stem to stern. The first and second officers'- were in the cabin at the time, but at once rushed on deck. As they moved' forward a second struck her, breaking the lashings of a'[number? of beef casks, water casks, and spare spars, which were on deck. Mr Moore was thrown with great violence against the chain of one of the casks and had his scull fractured, the second officer was pitched into the fore rigging and a moment after was again 'earned to the deck with great violence, whilst one of the seamen's right'arm and face was broken, and another's ribs were fractured. The! sea continued to break over her with such violence that | the remainder of the men were forced to take shelter in the cabin, taking the wounded with them. It was supposedat this time that Mr Moore had been washed overboard. About nine o'clock the sea abated a little, and two of the men went on deck to cast the lead, whilst the passengers and the remainder of the crew continued to bail the water out of the cabiu. During the succeeding hours the ship drifted lo the S. W. whilst the water showed from fifteen fathoms, to nine, five, and four and a half. Soon after 10 o'clock a man went foreward to examine the anchor chain, and in a moment the cry of breakers was through the ship, and so sudden was the danger of destruction that hope of safety there was none. The ship was rapidly passing through the water, the breakers not more than two cables lengths off not only a-head but several points on each bow. The black tops of the Steeples were seen occasionally, bound by the reflex of the surf. The ship was in the midst of breakers, surges frequently swept over her decks and carried loose articles into the sea. At eleven oclock the wind hauled round to the S.W., and soon after the barque commenced to drift northwards, but still keeping in broken water. The weather then cleared a little, aud by the aid of moonlight, a passenger espied the beech close under our starboard quarter. At midnight we had drifted about five miles north of the Boiler and as we were still Hearing the shore it was proposed that we should slip anchor and make an effort to get to sea. The chain was then slipped, jib set, and by excellent seamanship, her head went round, and when the square sails were set she bounded buoyantly on the white heads of the breakers which grew less and less apparent, and were seen only at intervals, whilst the sound of the thundering rush was lost in the hollow murmuring of the wind. We were fairly at sea, but far from being out of danger, for with only two seamen fit for duty, the steward, and four passengers, we were scarcely prepared to encounter the contingencies of another storm. The glass continued to rise during the night, and by the morning we were hopeful of being able to save our lives, and also the ship. No man thought of taking rest, indeed there was no chance of their doing so, for the duties of the hour kept all in motion. On that day we sighted several vessels, and signalled them, but beyond one of them dipping her ensign, they passed us unnoticed. On. Friday evening, however, we were hopeful of safety, a little before dark we sighted a steamer steering south, and signalled her as she neared us. About seven o'clock she passed so near that we could distinctly see her hull, and notwithstanding the fact that we adopted every available means to attract her attention, but without avail, for she passed on towards Westport without answering our signals. The weather luckly continued fine, wind favorable, and therefore we were enabled to beat up towards the anchorage, but the men meanwhile showed signs of fatigue and sufferings, and it was apparent that if relief did not come soon, the number of them would be materially diminished. There were no medicines or comforts on board for the use of the sick, and little could be done to relieve the sufferers. All hands therefore, were disheartened at witnessing the discomfort and pain of the wounded. On Saturday afternoon, however, we were cheered by the sight of a steamer steering apparently from Westport, which proved to be the Challenge. Soon after she put Captain M'Phaiden on board and towed us to the anchorage. Yesterday the remains of Mr Moore, and the passengers were

conveyed into port, the latter rejoicing at their safe delivery from the perils of deep, and thankful that the accident did not prove more fatal. In conclusion, permit me to say that throughout the whole affair not the slightest blame was attributed to Cap. tain M'Phaiden for having left us on Tuesday. If his signals • had been answered he would have remained with ns, but that having been neglected, and the weather beiug fine, all thought him justified in going on shore to ascertain why a tug boat had not been sent out to bring us in. If the reason for not sending a boat out, is, as alleged, the owners of the barque cannot but learn an important lesson from the old proverb of beiug " penny wise and pound foolish." A Passenger.