WRECK OF THE WELL-KNOWN BARQUE P.C.E.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1666, 21 June 1875, Page 3

WRECK OF THE WELL-KNOWN BARQUE P.C.E.

PERILOUS POSITION,

The well-known barque P.C.E., (the vessel • w hich Roehefort escaped from New Caledonia) was wrecked on the sth inst. At five o'clock that day it was blowing a stiff gde. Captain Brown had sail shortLed and hauled the barque by the wind to w JJ.', and then by reckoning, the vessel was snDPOsed to be forty miles from land, with Nobby's bearing N.W. \W. The weather W as then dreadfully rough, with a high sea running. Nothing noteworthy occurred from this time until midnight, when the first mate having just gone below, the second mate came on deck, and called otit, "breakers on the lee beam and weather bow." Capt. Brown at once saw that his ship was so close to shore, that there was no possibility of keeping her clear, and he accordingly determined to beach her, hoping by this means to save life. Immediately the vessel was got before the wind, she struck heavily in the breakers, bumped ashore, about two hundred yards, then went broadside on, and fell over with her deck towards the sea. The breakers were terrific, and the barque had hardly heeled over before SHE BROKE Iff TWO the main and mizen masts going through her bottom. By direction of the captain, the crew all managed to reach the port side, facing the land, where they hung on for some time by aid of the ropes, with a heavy surf repeatedly breaking over them. Believing the ship would go to pieces in a few minutes, the mate (Mr Aitchesson) directed those who conld swim to strike out for the land, but first every man divested himself of all clothing except lannel and drawers. Two of the crew, named John Boadere and Samuel Bodgers, said they were good swimmers, and volunteered to make the first attempt to land, and a moment afterwards they left the wreck and were lost to sight. About a quarter of an hour elapsed, when both men were heard cooeying and shouting "AH Eight!"

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE MATE.

Another seaman named Joseph Campbell next essayed to land, and was followed by the second mate and the mate ; the two former swam ashore in safety, but the mate was very nearly lost through being dashed heavily on a rock and badly bruised on his Bide, Another roller, however, carried him clear of the rock and further in shore, but when nearing the beach he found the drawback so heavy and himself so exhausted by the buffeting he had received that he had almost given up hope, when one of the men who had landed, observing his officer close in, and seeing his state, ran into the surf and pulled him ashore. There were now on the wreck only the captain and the three men who could not swim, the captain having stated his intention of not leaving until all the others had left. We may here mention that a Chinese cook, who was on board when the vessel broke up, was not seen, and in fact not missed at the time. The captain directed the men who could not swim, to watch for pieces of floating wreck, on which they might drift ashore, where they would receive assistance. The foremast was then through the bottom of the ship, and the captain was holding on to the heel of the mast, when a heavy sea struck him off, and he swam for the shore. He landed first on a rock halfway between the wreck and the beach ; but was almost immediately swept off, and the same sea also tore off his drawers. He again struck out for the beach, and after swimming a short time, heard some one shouting, "Swim in here," and he was uext seized by the second mate, and dragged on a rock where the mate was standing. All were now wfely ashore except the

THREE MEN WHO WERE UNABLE TO SWIM, and the Chinaman; and the remainder of the crew remained on a rock, half perished with cold, and continually shouting in the hope that their fellow seamen might have been able to obtain pieces of wreck, on Which they could support themselves until sufficiently close in for assistance. to be tendered. The men had remained on the fore part of the ship, which continued to gradually drift ashore, but they had great difficulty in retaining their hold, by reason of the sea frequently beating over them. The stern had become jammed between two rocks close in to the beach, and the three men were thus afforded a most unexpected Means of saving themselves. It seems that when the vessel broke in two a stout hawser connected the fore and after parts, and, as the two drifted ashore, this had not parted. After the stern became jammed, the bow still drifted inland, and the men thus discovered the hawser, and by this means reached the stern, whence others of the crew assisted them in shore with a great deal of difficulty. The whole of the crew Waited for some time

IN A STATE OF NUDITY ON THE BEACH

in the hope that the Chinaman would make his appearance, but finding he did not do so they sought shelter in the bush, close to the beach, and huddled together for warmth until daylight, in order that they might ascertain what part of the coast they had gone whore on. At daybreak portions of the vegßela were found on the -beacon, but nothing was Been of the Chinaman, and notwithstanding that they searched for two Wrs, in parties, for a distance of four miles, they were unable to find aDy traces of him. The men were almost perishing with cold and fatigue, when one of their number found • bag of the mate's clothing, which was shared among them, and thus partially covered. About half-past eight a.m. on Sunday, they ascended a hill, and Captain Brown for the first time saw that his vessel had been cast aawy south'of Lake Macquane. The men walked some distance* until observing a house, they sought shelter, which was fre«ly given them. The house belongs to Mr Forbes, by whom the unfortunate cast : »wayg were most hospitably treated, being liberally supplied with food and warm drink, »nd after they were somewhat refreshed, Mr Forbes ferried them across the Lake, and ftey started along Nine-Mile Beach, in the direction of Newcastle. The mate had found his gold watch in his bag, and '« ieourity he placed it in a souweater, which he was wearing, and some of his olothea were strapped in a bundle, and carried on his head.

ANOTHER NABKOW ESCAPE,

Nothing new transpired until the party jwfred at Salt Water Creek, which they had J*en told might bo safely forded. The creek, *Wever, was so much swollen that it was • ,«"UMI necessary to swim it; and this could ■■:Ni.-be done by some of the party. There . *»S a seven knot current, about one hundred y'fda wide, running, and thus the work of , Wting across was one of much difficulty and oanger.. For the non-swimmers a raft was • 2»»ttteted, but it was found unable tojbear jj» weight, and so they decided not to ' J?* laptHo;crosß y the creek, but to wait until '• ' *>! Water "ibeided. The others all swam I »worn ia ga f ety> batfnot before the mate was i 1 "-V '-IM' nf*rly drowned. The bundle secured tim UQd.er, and in pulling it B^§L!!^ c .he lo»t [hia [gold watch. answer, freed rfrom the weight on>his ;: i^ 0 Cro"w* »afoly. and the advance party

meantime camped during the nigh? south of the creek, which, on Monday morning they crossed easily and walked without any"! rther stoppage to Newcastle, which they reached SSlr^ ■?""»■ *"«> as the* more fortunate comrades having been thirty hours without X; w"? L Ti, Wero §reatly exhausted, their ieet being badly cut in consequence of then-having had to walk so many miles without boots. During yesterday afternoon the shipping master (Mr. C. H. Hannell) caused subscription lists in aid of the shipwrecked crew to be circulated. '

-oka S, aR tam>s loss exceeds £70, the mate's £50 and the^crew have not saved anything. M tX' ir " 7 aS an °ld Newcastle trade?. Mr. John Henderson, of Scott-street, was the owner, and the vessel was partiallyin-