THE ACCIDENT TO THE LADY BIRD.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3301, 23 September 1871, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT TO THE LADY BIRD.

OEBIOIAL ENQUIEY. An inquiry into the circumstances of the accident to tie schooner Lady Bird was commenoed yesterday by Mr Hackworth, Collector of Cußtoms, with Captain Johnston as Nautical Assessor. There were only two witnesses examined yesterday— Captain Holm, master of the Lady Bird, and Mr Holmes, pilot at Wellington Headß Ferdinand Holm : I am master of the Lady Bird. I Bailed at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20 ; wind south, fine weather. Beat out; the main channel with a fresh breeze from southward, smooth, ali plain sail set with the exception of foretopgallant soil, main gaff topsail, mizen gaff-topeail. The jib was hauled down, but ready for use at any moment. Beating past the Pinnacle and Barrott's reef I went by the leading light on Soames Island. After beating down as far as the south end of Barrett's reef the wind hauled from S. to E. I give orders to bout ship. We wero then on the port tack. I could see Soatneß Island quite bright. The Teasel had good steerage way on her. I was at the helm myself, and put it hard down, and sung out, " Helm hard a-lee." Bbe came tip to the wind. The wind then teered round to S.E., and she " filled" again. She was then falling off, and I backed the foreyard in order to make a stern board. She vent astern a little, but a puff of wind camo from due east, filled the sails, and set her in towardß the reef. I ordered the foresail to bo hauled up, and the foretop9ail to be lowered, and let go tho anchor. We paid out about thirty fathoms of chain. She dragged, and it was afterwßrdß found that the anchor-stock had been carried away. She swung her stern to the southward. I hoisted the jib, hauled the foresail down, set the topsail, and commenced to heave on the anchor. She went ahead a little. The tide ebbing was the cause of the vessel heading to tho north. The anchor came home, and the vessel drifted on to the reef. I then took in all sail, and gave orders for the boats to be launched. One boat was already alongside. It had not been hauled in from the time we left. The vessel was then striking heavily on the rock, on the port side, and, when the hatches wero lifted, I could tee the water in her hold. I saw I could do nothing to save her, with the wind blowing ao it was at the time, from tho eastward. Ab soon as the boats wero ready, I ordered the men to get what belonged to them, and gave the mate orders to land the passengers and crew on the rocks. I took the dingy, with one man and a boy, and pulled to the Pinnacle rock. I ran from there to the pilot-station. The reason I went was that I was better acquainted with tho Tray, better than any one else on board, having been coxswain in the boat there. My object was to get assistance to Bave life and property. I reached the pilot station a&out 2 a.m. In about three minutes Mr Holmes and his crew started for the wreck, and reached it in about twenty minutes. On the way back, vre met the ship's boat earning Oflhore with the passengers, in chargd of the second mate. Mr Holmes instructed them to •teer dead for the light at the pilot station. We took the chronometer and all the valuables we could get into the boat, and I reaolved to «tay on board, but Mr Holmes and his crew told me I was foolish to throw awny my life for no purpose. I could havo done no good by stopping; there would be no boat left, after the pilot- boat went away ; and the vessel Was striking heavily on the rocks. There was s heavy sea on, and to discharge tho two tons of stuff in the boat we proceeded to the pilot station. Both the ship's boat and tho pilot boat returned to the vessel. I went in the ship's boat, with four of the crew and the flteward. The pilot boat reached the vessol flttt, and Mr Holmes hoisted the topsail and aet the foresail. There was then a fresh breeze ifom the couth. I found that she moved ahead a little, and I gave orders to loose the forc'top-gallant sail. Mr Holmes had hove ap the anchor, and run a line from the star ioard bow to a rook. I then got a rope from the starboard quarter, and made it fast to a wok amidships. We also, got a rope out from tibe port quarter/ Wo heaved on the ropes, a»d she moved a little, but stopped ngain, and tumped fearfully. I called out to Mr Holmes &nt the ranste would go, and Mr Holmes gave

orders to let go tho topsail and top- gallant sail halyards. After that we proceeded to take some more of tho passengers luggnso out of tho hold, and landed it on the rocks. Wo were not quite done when she started ahead, and went off the rocks. Directly she was off, all necessary sail was eefc, and she was brought into harbor. She had four or four and a half feet of water in her hold. By Capt. Johnston : Whon I put tho helm down to tack, the reef was plainly visible. Tho vessel has three bower anchors, and no other. I do not know the weight of them. There is about 120 fathoms of starboard cable, and I had no fathoms of the other on deck. I had both cables ranged, and the anchors ready to let go off the rails. I have only known her miss stays once before, under similar weather. I did not let go the second anchor, or veer more cable on the first, as the ship was too near tho rocks. I have not known tho wind to change so suddenly and so often from S. to E., whon in tho pilot-boat. Tho crew consisted of ton altogether, including myself. It has always been my practice to bo at the helm myself, in working in or out of harbor. I had charge of the ship myself, as I hold an exemption certificate. I have not noticed any peculiarity in her working. She worked as easily as any ordinary ship. Mr Holmes, pilot, gave evidence as to the circumstances from the time he visited the vessel. In describing tho efforts made to save property, and to get the vessel off, said one of the crew went up the rigging to unraef one of the sails, but he returned considering himself in danger through the bumping and rolling of the vessel. Another was called upon to volunteer for the same duty, but he also gave up the attempt. A third attempt was made by the coxwain ; he succeeded, and wbb promised £2 by Mr Holmes. Tho same man went below to plug tho leaks in tho vessel. It was at great risk also that Captain Holm landed on one of the rocks with a line from the vessel. Ultimately no boat could approach tho vessel, and tho luggage was thrown on to tho rocks. Tho coxwain reported that ho had stopped two or three leaks, but that she was making water all over. Ho (Mr Holmes) himself saw a largo leak, which was stopped •with a board and some canvas. As tho tide flowed, the vessel began to move a-head. On seeing this it was arranged that, if she would not float, she Bhould be beached under Beacon Hill. She immediately came off leavingon the rocks two of tho ship's company, who were told to proceed in their boat to tho pilot station. She did not make 6o much water as was expected, and by keeping the pumps going, was brought on to Wellington. All n?y crow, (four men) and myself, came up with tho vessel, six of the ship's orcw and the passengers being left at the Heads. By Captain Johnson : I have had charge of tho Lady Bird, and have worked her up the harbor against a fresh breeze. She never misaed stays, or baulked. She is safe to stay, but makes great stern way. In tacking I generally sailed her round. I did not put the helm hard down. On such a night as the 20th T would have undertaken to beat her out. I havo been about eight years at the Heads. I have frequently found, when beating out, that tho wind has been baffling under the Lighthouse, and it is a common occurrence for a vessel working out to miss stays where the Lady Bird did, on account of tho ebb-tide setting through the reef. In working out have been in tho habit of standing over the east side entrance to nearly over the edge of the bright light ; but in standing over to the west side, abreast of Barrett's reef, I put the ship about when two-thirds across. I do so on account of the tide. The inquiry was adjourned uutil half-past ten o'clock this morning.