SHIPWRECK OF THE BARQUE TYNE.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 30, 12 July 1845, Page 2

SHIPWRECK OF THE BARQUE TYNE.

At tbe request of many of our subciibers, we re-publish tbe account of the loss of the barque Tyne, in to-day's paper, with some slight additions.

It is with deep regret that we announce the total loss of the barque Tyne, Capt. Robertson, who had previous] v made three successful voyages to New Zealand, and who had deservedly obtained the respect and esteem of the settlers in this colony. The Ti/ne\eft Gmvesend on the24th February last, and had a very favourable passage; the only misfnrtune that she encountered previously to her ar:ival in Cook's Straits being the loss of one of the apprentices, who fell overboard on the voyage, and was drowned. The first land in New Zealand made by Capt. Robertson was Stephens' Island, which was seen on Thursday morning, the 3rd instant at daybrenk. The wind being adverse to a vessel beating up to Ntlron, and Captain Robertson having only a small portion of cargo for that settlement, determined to proceed at once to Wellington, and after making Cape Terawitte at 6 p.m. the same day, he anticipated being off the entrance to Port Nicholson tbe next morning. Early in the morning it blew a gale, which increased during Friday, and what with the rain and fog, it was impossible to see more than a very limited distance round the vessel. Capt. Robertson being in the gut of tke Straits, was desirous of obtaining a sight of land before dusk : at 5 p.m., the gale not in the least having abated, land was seen on the weather bow, the vessel was immediately put about, when the rocks were discovered, and she almost immediately struck on the Rima Ripa rocks close to Sinclair Head, and about half way between the entrance to the Happy Valley and Captain Smith's cattle station at Terawitte. The main and mizen masts were cut away, and with the sails that were set on the fore-mast she was d ™ven further in shore. In a very short time the after cabins were under water, and the bulk heads were destroyed.

In this state they remained till morning, the sea breaking over tbe stern, and the vessel sinking upon the rocks. The gale continued raging with unabated fury. On Saturday morning, about 9 a.m , one of the seamen, who was an expert swimmer, offered to endeavour to get to the shore with a line to establish a communication between the shore and the vessel. Captain Robertson provided him with a life preserver, and though he reached the shore in safety, the line became entangled amongst the rocks, and he was obliged to leave it without effecting the good which he had intended, previously to leaving the ship, Capt. Robertson, thinking he was on shore at Baring Head, desired the seaman to take the road to Terawitte having mistaken Sinclair Head for Baring Head. ° Peter Tutchings, of the Happy Valley, Ohiro accompanied by his son, having observed the wreck, went to it; and about 11 o'clock the Ur i ma , te left the vesse1 ' and thought he reached the shore, was so exhausted that had it not been for Tut chin g, he must have perished. Ihe sailor who first landed betook himself to a flax bush where he secreted himself for fear of being demolished by the natives, and fell asleep, and was not discovered till Saturday night, when he was rejoiced to find amove hearty welcome from the settlers who" had arrived on the spot than he expected. Tutchings conveyed the third mate to his cottage in the Happy Valley, and then made the best of his way to W elhngton to announce the lamentable catastrophe m the town. He arrived at Wellington about half-past four o'clock. The consternation of the inhabitants at hearing of the misfortune which had befallen the Tyne was truly painiulto witness. No vessel had arrived in Port Nicholson direct from England since the Caledonia on the 11th of Januar? last, an d

and a night without provisions, and must have died of hunger, if not by the weapons of the savages, had not a friendly native in. formed Heki that the troops had slipped out during the night, and were theu at a certain place. On hearing this, Heki is reported to have departed for the spot mentioned, with all his followers, and thus allowed the soldiers to effect their escape.

A man of the name of Hunt, who arrived in Wellington on Saturday last, brought in. telligence of the wrecks in Pallisftr Bay Cook's Straits, of a whaling barque supposed to be the Caernarvon, and of the schooner Eliza, bound to the Chatham Islands. He reported that the vessels were wrecked during the gale on Friday, the 4th instant, and that the crews of both vessels were saved. Hum returned to the Wairarapa on Tuesday ] as t before we had an opportunity of seeing him' but we have the intelligence from a patty to whom it was mentioned by Hunt.

the Slams Castle on the 16th of February, and many an anxious heart had been looking forward to the Tyne as being the first vessel which would bring them intelligence, consignments and packages from those they had left behind.' Meetings of the merchants and principal inhabitants were immediately held at the stores of Messrs. Hethune and Hunter and Mr. R. Waitt, and a number of gentleman resolved to start'at once to the wreck. At half-past five the bugles of the Militia and 9Gth Regt. sounded, and the three companies of the former and the whole of the company of the latter (excepting those on duty) were shortly after on the road towards Terawitte. Most of those who started at firstjjwent on horseback, but were obliged to leave their horses at Ohiro, as the stream was swollen and the current strong. They arrived at the wreck about 8 o'clock, and the appearance of the fires cheered the hearts of those on the wreck; The 96th, under of Capt. Eyton, arrived there about 11 o'clock. The Militia and 96th lost their way. which caused detention, and some stopped f>r the night at Tutchings', whilst others crossed the Ohiro valley and halted amongst the rocks. These resumed their march in the morning, and joined those who had preceded them before 8 o'clock. To return to the wreck. Capt. Robertson had cut down the fore-mast on Saturday with the hope of forming a communication with the shore, but this experiment proved ineffectual. He then tried by means of floats at the end of a line to float theline ashore, but with no better success. All the boxes containing the mails which could be found were thrown overboard, and many of them were washed ashore, and conveyed on Sunday in safety to Wellington. The crew passed the night of Saturday tn the forecastle, as the vessel appeared to be loosening. On Sunday morning there were not less than 400 people assembled opposite the wreck, and attempts were again made to pass a line to the shore, but with no better success than on the previous day.

About 10 a.m. the chief mate, with a crew of four men, left the wreck in the cutter, and made another attempt to bring a line, but hardly had the cutter left the vessel before she was capsized upon the rocks and dashed to pieces, and the crew with great difficulty were rescued by those on shore. Other attempts were resumed to float a line, which at length succeeded, and eventually to a stout rope projecting from tbe end of the- bowsprit a cradle was suspended, which played upon the rope by means of a ring through which the rope passed, and one line communicating from the cradle to the vessel, and another line communicating from the cradle to the people on shore. The crew one by one were drawn along seated on the cradle and safely landed,.until il came to the last man, who was accompanied in the descent by Captain Robertson. It is almosl needless to add the settlers received with heart) cheers each poor fellow as he landed, but th( cheers which greeted Captain Robertson wher he reached the shore were positively deafening Immediately on his setting foot on the ground he returned thanks to the Almighty for*the mi raculous preservation of his crew and himself and then received the congratulations of all hi old friends, who felt proud at having renderei assistance to one who really and truly enjoy the respect, esteem, and good wishes of ever, settler here. Captain Robertson seemed deep! affected by his reception; and after a moulhui of food and a warm by a fire, Mr. Robert Rich mond gave up his horse to Captain Robertsor and he made his way towards Wellington. The exertions of the settlers on the occasio are deserving of the greatest praise. It woul almost appear invidious mentioning the name of those who made themselves conspicuous b there exertions, but the efforts of Captan Eytoi Messrs. M'Donogh, Park, C. Mills, Hawkin Fitzherbert, Loxley, Bethune, Hunter, Sam Guthrie, Masters, and Captains Salmon Rhodes, and Unthank, were entitled to grei credit. Neither must we omit mentioning tl: offer of Mr. J. B. Williams, the American Coi

sul. This gentleman very kindly and promptly tendered all or any of the boats belonging to the Jako, as well as the schooner Uncle Sam, which he had just chartered, and the brig Falco if if could be of the least service. It maybe remarked here, that It was not until Captain Robertson landed that he learned precisely where he was, believing up to the time of his leaving the vessel that he was on shore at Baring Head. The crew consisted of nineteen hands and one passenger, a gentleman of the name of Selby. Fortunately every life was saved. The cargo of the Tyne was of a miscellaneous character, consisting principally of salt, coals, shooks, brandy, wine, beer, porter, bales of blankets, &c, &c. Captain Robertson, had brought with him some specie, for the purpose of purchasing New Zealand produce, the loss of which is a colonial calamity. Since the wreck, a number of the settlers have remained on the spot assisting in saving any articles that might be washed on shore. Besides these parties, Messrs. Houghton, Hawkins, and Young's boats have been round to the wreck since Monday, and have saved a portion of the cargo which was brought round in the Uncle Sam. During Thursday night, the unfortunate Tyne went to pieces, one portion of the wreck floating towards Terawitte, and the other towards Ohiro. The cargo has since been washing amongst the rocks, all more or less injured, but a portion of it has been hauled up on the beach by the parties on the ground. The wreck and that portion of the car«-o which has been saved, will be sold on Monday, by-Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, on the spot.