WRECK of the BARQUE CORYPHEUS IN MARSHALL'S ARCHIPELAGO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3351, 21 November 1871, Page 2

WRECK of the BARQUE CORYPHEUS IN MARSHALL'S ARCHIPELAGO.

[From the Rockuampton Bulletin, Oct. 9.] Tlio barque Corypheus, of London, 296 tons register. Captain Rae, left Foo-chow (China) on the 14th July laat, bound for Melbourne. Her owners were Messrs Dalgety, Blackwood and Co, of Melbourne and London, who were also the owners of hor cargo, consisting of 400 tons of tea. Her officers and crew consisted of Mr Davoy, chief officer, Mr Thomson, second offioer, and 11 seamen, named Georgo Begg (carpenter), Richard Colo, Owen Hughes, Peter Lewis, David Bowden, Otto Eisnerfc, Thomas Dawson, Peter Lang, John Wiekeroi (an Austrian), and two Chinamen — 14 all. Captain Rao took his vessel on the Pacific route for Melbourne, and all weut well until the 23rd August, when, the vessel having been steered her course from noon of the provious day, the Beeond mate reported breakers on the leo bow, at half-past 4 a.m. Tho helm was immediately put down, in order to get the ship on the other tack, but, it having fallen calm in tho meantimo, she refused stays. A boat was launched, with a lino from forward, to try to bring tho ship round, but this proved of no avail. A second boat was then got oufc, but tho vessel drifted helplessly on to the reef which surrounds tho islaud of Ailu, in Marshall's Archipelago. Captain Rae states that although he had made duo allowance for the supposed current in that latitude, the ship had drifted thirty miles out of her course within tho space of sixteen hours. Sho got on tho reef on tho eastern side of the island, in latitude 10 deg 26 mm N., and long 170 deg 18 mm E. On testing his recent observations, Captain Rao fouud them strictly correct, and tho loss of his vessel is therefore due to the previously unknown force of tho current iv thafc part of the Pacific. After tho ship struck the reef, she rolled fearfully for a few minuteß, tho captain being afraid she would cant to the seaward ; but tho sail being set, and tho breeze freshening, she ultimately canted inshore. The mainmast was then cut away, and the captain and parfc of the crew got on to the reof, tlie first and second officers having previously started with the two boats to try and find a passage through the reef on the lee side of the island. The chief officer returned to the wreck with his boat, aftor an absence of 24 hours. The second mate was absent 36 hours. Both wero at length successful in finding an entrance into a lagoon which lies between the reef and fche shore. In tho meantime the vessol had becomo a total wreck, and it became impossible to savo even the stores, except such as sufficed to provision fcho two boats. When she firsfc went ashore ifc was calm, bufc ton minutes aftorwards it came away a strong N.E. trado wind, whicli continued to blow with forco for nine successive days, tho sea at length breaking clean over tho ship. The provisions were got oufc wifch much difficulty, the crew being ablo to work only about an hour on each day, at dead low water, on account of the heavy sea. On leaving the wreck, the captain and all hands went ashore on the island (Ailu). Here they were most hospitably received by the islanders, who at once brought them to a supply of cocoanuts, and fresh water. During the succeeding nino dnys the crew were employed in getting provisions from the ship, and in raising the boats a plank rouud, to fit them for sea. On the 3rd September, everything being ready for starting, five of the crew : — Lewis, Eishert, Wiekeroi, and the two Chinamen — elected to remain on the island rather^ than face the dangers of a long trip across the ocean. Of the remainder, the captain, second officer, and two seamen — Colo and Lang — took the ship's gig, the chief officer aud tho remaining four seamen taking the jolly boat. The captain gave the mote the besfc of his charts, and started himself with a compass, chart, chronometer, a small supply of biscuits, a small quantity of Australian tinned mutton, and two [kegs each containing 18 gallons of fresh wator. The mate's boat was similarly provisioned. They started in company, arranging tbat in the event of fcheir parting, each should endeavor to mako Pleaßant Island (lat 30 mm S.) and thero await the other's arrival ; failing to make the island, Rockhampton was to be tho destination of both, it being wholly impossible to make the New Hebrides, on account of tho S.E. trado winds, and tho Solomon Group to the westward being by reputo inhabited by cannibals. The boats kept in company four days, wheu they parted. On account of a gale of wind which lasted two days, when near Pleasant Island, tho captain's boat waa driven 80 miles fco leeward, and he determined to steor at once for Australia. For 45 long days the littlo boat pursued her way without seeing a singlo vessel or touching land. The only islands sighted were Stewart's and Sfc Christoval Islands — the latter one of the Solomon Group. Knowing tho lengthened voyage before them — 2,650 miles — the captain and crew eked out their water and provisions by subsisting on three small ship biscuits, aboufc half pound of Australian tinned mutton, and a bottlo of water each per man por diem. Their stock of water was several times replenished by rain, the sails being mado use of to catch a supply. The men suffered very much from exposure, alternately to tho soaking rain and the burning sun, and also from occasionally shipping saltwater, which not only made them uncomfortably wet, but also damaged thoir biscuits. The heafc was overpowering, and while for many weeks cooped up iv fcho littlo boat their sufferings aro described at timea as almost intolerable. However, they persevered and on the 41th day landed on one of tho islands near Keppel Bay. Having remained ashore a few hours, thoy again sot sail, and were so fortunate as to arrivo safely in the bay on Tuesday last, their provisions aud strength all but exhausted. They boarded tho Keppel Bay lightship the same morning, and there wero supplied with a good breakfast, and otherwise kindly treatod. As soon as the sea breeze sprang up thoy proceedod up tho Fitzroy, and reached the Upper Flats lightship afc 1 a.m. nexfc day. Hero they remained a short timo, and, having boen refreshed with food, started for Rockhampton, reaching the wharf at half-past 10 ou the morning of Wednesday, Octobor 18.