JOURNAL OF THE VOYAGE AND WRECK OF THE "BRITON," TRANSPORT.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 37, 6 August 1845, Page 4

JOURNAL OF THE VOYAGE AND WRECK OF THE "BRITON," TRANSPORT.

On the morning of the 12th August, 1844, her Majesty's 80th Regt., about 1000 strong, marched out of Sydney Barracks to embark for Calcutta, in the following order:—Head Quarters and Flank Companies, Lieut. Col. Baker, Royal Saxon, Nos. 1 and 4 companies Major Naith, Lloyds. Nos. 2, 3, and 6 companies, Major Bunbury, Briton. Nos. 7 and 8 companies, Major Nunn, Enmore. His Excellency Sir. M. O'Connell, X.C.8., the Commander of the Forces and respected Colonel of the Regt., attended by his Staff, rode at the head of the corps and accompanied it to the place of embarkation, which being completed, the several ships hauled out into the stream, and on the morning of the 15th, they got under weigh together, and the Regiment bade adieu to the colony where they had been stationed for seven years. After leaving the Heads, we had scant winds and dirty weather, and did not make the Straits until the 25th, the four ships rounding the Breaksea Spit within an hour of each other The passage through Torres Straits, at all times tedious, occupied 18 days. The 11th September, lay too off Booby Island, each ship sending a boat on shore to communicate with the Post Office. From the 13th we had light and scant winds until the 28th, when we anchored in Copang Roads where we found the Royal Saxon and Lloyds, which had arrived a few hours before us also H.M. Sloop of War Royalist. Having filled up our water, and taken in fresh provisions, fruits, &c, we again stood to sea on the afternoon of the 2nd of October, in company with the Royalist and Lloyds, the Royal Saxon having taken her departure the evening As the occurences now about to be related refer alone to the Briton, I may here give some short account of that ship, and the detail of the troops on board. The Briton, a North American built barque, 776 tons, A. 1, on her second voyage, commanded by Captain Bell, with a crew of 34 men and boys. The troops, consisting of three companies of the 80th Regt under the command of Major Bunbury Captains Best, Sayers, Montgomery; Lieutenants Leslie and Freeman; Ensigns Hunter and Coleman; Assistant Surgeon Gammie; nine officers, 12 sergeants, 4 drummers, 293 rank and file, 35 women, and 43 children. Total troops, 396 ; crew 35: total souls on board, 431 The day after leaving Copang we lost sight of the Lloyds, the Royalists still in company On the sth, the season being so far advanced, the master decided on taking the inner passage, and bore up for the straits of Lombock, the Royalist which was proceeding to Singapore, agreeing to keep with us. After passing Singapore, we were wind bound for several days before we cot into the Straits of Malacca. Here we had variable winds with occasional heavy squalls, one of which sprung our main yard. The following day it was securely fished; several vessels of different sizes in company; and as we drew to the northward, and got clear of the straits, we naturally expected to fall in with the N E monsoon ; the wind still kept variable. Friday! the Bth November, the wind, which had been from the N. E., backed round to the W.S.W lat

obs. 9 11. Saturday, 9th, weather cloudy «,-7i a threatening appearance; wind W.S.W ■ i ! afternoon, the weather still threatening-'tnY-royals, flying jib, and gaff topsail at 5 v J sympisometer commenced falling, S m" a li *> with heavy gusts of wind, handed the ton L]\ m sails and spanker. Double reefed the fore f sail, single reefed the main, and set the «i? p i" mainsail. The gale increasing, handed i courses ana close reefed the topsails 4 Heavy squalls, spanker and gaff topsail bleu?' 11, of their gaskets, could not secure them ti? Ut were cut away to save the masts. Davlin-lA c y day morning, 10th, the squalls were 2,5?" The foresail blew out of its gaskets, and wi?* 0, away. The parrel of the main top gallant *2 went and left the yard swinging by the SS yards, lhe ship was bronght to the wind «, J!" her head to the S.W At 10, a.m.,* ftg heavily, .endeavoured to wear ship to cph s on tho opposite tack, the helm was put harH and all hands sent forward into the weathe f P ' rigging with a tarpaulin: at the same tim* attempt was made to hoist the jib and for* f mast staysail, both of which were blown t pieces, the vessel refusing to pay offevpn Jl • 11, 30: the gale had now inLased toa llT ' hurricane. The fore topmast was blown ovm A side, and was shortly followed by the main » j mizen topmasts close by the cap the f taking with it the main lyard, broke in hSX the slings; m less than ten minutes We 2„ perfect wreck fore and aft, the fore toomLt striking heavily against the top sides abreast fore rigging. Sl lfl e Shortly after twelve at noon, the squalls Iu11»„ almost to a calm, congratulated ourselves W the gale was broke; all hands went to wort? clear away the wreck, bent a new spanker and got up another foresail ready to bend, the 00s J spats &c. lashed to the ring bolts and Te Major s horse box secured with extra lashi The weather still cloudy, thermometer 81 syS" 28 10, close and sultry with an occasffij gleam of sunshine. An immense number 5 birds came on board complety spent by thi gale, caught several, consisting of rails &c It being found impossible to light a fi™ : either of the galleys, the men were now servd with some biscuits and a glass of rum each ' which they stood much in need of, every article of their clothing being thoroughly wet m 3 p.m. The weather again lowered, 'the svm pisometer, which had stood at 28" 10' fell t0270 10', the squalls recommenced with'great viol ence accompanied as before with small rain" thunder and lightning. 4 p.m. The gale had increased to a hurricane, both the quarter boats the cuddy sky-light, meat-safe, and hen-coon? were blown away. The sea boiling as high a. the poop, lhe appearance was truly awfulgot a tarpaulin battened over the cuddy hatch to keep the wet out. 5 p.m. The ship rolling heavily, the Major's horse box gave way, an | he horse fal ing on the deck, was thrown by the next lurch down the hatchway, amongst the soldiers. The poor animal's fore legs were broken, and finding it impossible to rig a mirchase to hoist him upon deck, his throat was cut, and the carcase lashed to leeward as securely as possible. Night came on, and though the sympisometer was still falling, and the squalls ten-trie beyond description, yet we kept up our spirits, with the hope that the gale would have blown itself out by the morning, when, with the whole day before us, we might get sail on the slnp to keep her under command Day broke, Monday 11, and brought disappointment to our hopes; the gale which had b own violently during the night had nohow abated lhe ship continued to labour much and roiled heavily. The tarpaulin was blown oil the cuddy hatch. The spars broke adrift and carried with them the cooking coppers, which were broken to pieces, the galleys long boats and the other horse box, and as the ship rolled they were sent from side to side with considerable violence, together with some thirty fathoms of chain cable, which was on deck, belonging to the working anchor. To move along the deck was impossible: however, fortunately about 11 a.m., the gale partially lulled, and fearing that the long boat (which was stove) would carry away the bulwarks, it was hoisted over the side and cut adrift; next got over the other horse (which had been crushed in its box by the ong boat), all the loose spars, and as much lumber as possible from about the decks. lhe soldiers assisting the crew, and working the pumps; here many of them got severely hurt, jammed by the spars, &_., and one poor lellow had his leg broke. At twelve the sun came out for a few minutes, the master endeavoured to get an observation, but the horizon was not visible. About half a mile to the eastward we saw a barque, with only her bowsprit, lower, main, and mizen masts standing, and sho ™3 t, r a br 'S was descried totally dismasted, both vessels appeared to be labourite severely, and the sea breaking over them" XTt 0 £ t l ar P ausin was battened over the cuddy natch, and a door with some strong staves nailed over it, to keep it from being blown away again.. lwo p.M.—The gale had now continued with but short lulls for thirty-eight hours. The sympisometer 27"30 still falling; with the horrors of the preceding night before us, we hoped for the oest, yet feared a repetition. Some biscuit and a glass of rum was again issued to the men, raw pork was offered but declined, as they thought Mjey could manage- without it. Three p.m.xtie ram recommenced falling, with thunder and lightning, and heavy squalls; by four p.m. it had again increased to a hurricane, the ship rolling heavily. At night the squalls were truly tearful, Wlt h muc h thunder and lightning. At 10 p.m. it lulled for a few minutes; the wind then veered round to the E.N.E., and blew with greater violence than ever; sym. 275, ther. 84. (To be continued in our next.)