RESCUE OF CASTAWAYS.

Western Star, Issue 1577, 8 July 1891, Page 3

RESCUE OF CASTAWAYS.

V * . , , The schooner Janet Ramsay reached the Bluff on Monday last having on board the crew of the barque Compadre, who had been found on the Auckland Islands. From the statement made by the mate of the lost veasel we learn that the Compadre, an iron barque of 800 tons register, was bound from Calcutta to Talohuano, Chili, with a cargo of bags, sailing from Calcutta ou 22nd January. On the 16th March the after hold was discovered to be on fire. It was found impossible to extinguish the fire. The hatches were battened down and a course shaped for the nearest port—the Bluff. On the night of the 18th March it blew a heavy westerly gale with very heavy squalls. At 7 a.m. on March 19th land was discovered on the starboard bow about 12 miles distant. The vessel was labouring heavily, and oue tremendous sea swept the foresail aud foretopmast staysail out of the boltropes, smashing “the forehatebes, sweeping the decks of everything moveable and bursting the cabin, tbns giving air to tbe fire which could not be suppressed although immense quantities of water were flooded in. There wns now eight feet of water in the hold. Bv this time the ship was to windward of the North Cape of the Auckland Islands. All hope of saving the veasel was given up, and she was steered for the rocks. Previous to her sinking, oil was poured over the stern which greately reduced the violence of the sea. The vessel struck heavily, and all hands jumped -for the rocks on which all landed in safe>y. The vessel at once broke up and in 10 minutes nothing hut loose wreckage was to be seen. The whole party then climod (ho cliffs which were some hundreds of feet high, and then made for the top of a hill to obtained a better view of the island. A flagstaff was # sum close to the beach and men thejagain descended, on reaching the beach it was discovered that one of the hands was missing, he was never found having probablv lost his way iu the hush and died. The depot was at length found, and after a time the second depot was occupied by part of the crew, and at those depots the unfortunate men remained for no loss thau 103 davs when the Janet Ramsey arrived at the islands on a sealing expedition and discovered the castaways. After pick mg up both parties the Janet Ramsay sailed at once for the Bluff, arriving as stated on Monday last, having left the Auclclands on the 29th June. All the shipwrecked crew are loud in their praises of the rescuing parly who gave item hoots, provisions and everything they stood in need of. The Campadre was commanded by Capt. D. Jones, the chief officer being F. Bates. She had crew of 16 all told.