THE WRECK OF THE CLYDE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1374, 7 November 1884, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE CLYDE.

THE SURVIVOR’S NARRATIVE-

I The boy George Gibson states that the | barque Oyde, 662 tons register, Captain ‘ Calmer, owned by J. C. Ellis, of Newcastle, sugar laden, from Mauritius to Dunedin, had on board the captain, captain’s wife, son five years, and two daughters —one nine and the other eighteen months. Also, Wm Carrie (mate), se- ■ cond mate, cook and steward, names on- ‘ known ; also Smith, Christopheraon, D. Murray, H. Sampson, 0. Brown; Wm ' McLean, able seaman; D. Bohle, aged fourteen, apprentice, this being his first voyage. He says We left Dunedin on Wednesday, and had fine weather till midnight, when it came on to blow hard 1 from the south-west. Took the wheel at midnight; had instructions to steer N.E. by E. and a half N. Went below at four o’clock, and . were told to hold ourselves In ' readiness in case we were wanted. Soon after theman on the look-oiitcried, “Land on lee bow.” All hands were called; tried to bring the Ship about, bat /missed stays ; tried to wear the ship, whenshe struck amidships. The captain .ordered the boat to be lowered. We managed to lower the boat that was on deck oyer, the lee side. I got in, then the three children, ond was in the apt of helping the captain’s wife in when the boat got under the lee rail and went down. We then saw the mast was falling. swam to the rocks, but was washed off again. I then swain to the.spanker.boom and crawled aboard again. The sea was now breaking over her. The lee rail was underwater. I saw the. captain floating about amongst the wreckage, and covered with blood, havin? evidently been struck . Jbjuthe falling mast I saw the two girla noatmg-Sfodut', And dn'ss’d.diw —»«»*• The rest of the crew ~were now on the weather rail I did not see the captain’s wife again. We got another boat into the water, and the mates, two able seamen - and myself were no sooner in than she capsized. The seamen had a life buoy between them, bat the whole of the water on the lee side by this time was covered with wreckage, and it was difficult to keep from being struck by it. I managed get to the spanker boom again. Saw the eldest daugnter floating past still alive. I caught hold of her dress, but a sea came and I lost my holi. I then dropped on to -a plank, and then clirabed on to the deck house, which bad been washed away. I was no sooner bn than £ was washed off again. 1 got on to a spar and again to the deck house, and waa able to hold on till it went ashore in a small bight; being numbed I lay down for about half an hour. Got up, but saw nothing but wreckage and bags of. Sugar floating about. I saw no ~ Bodies, alfte or dead. 1 then went up to a house and asked the owner, Mr McPhail, to wire foe assistance. We went to the beach again, , but saw no signs of life. During the day the body of D. Bohle came ashore.