A TALE OF '66.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 2

A TALE OF '66.

« WRECK OF THE GENERAL GRANT. BATTERED IN AN OCEAN CAVE. GIUM TRAGEDY AND A MAN, "Sacred to the memory of the <8 souls who perished in the wreck of the General Grant, Nay 14, I860." These lines, scratched with infinite pains on a piece of slate about 21 by 12 inches in size, is in the possession of a Wellington resilient. It, was found in a. rough hut on Disappointment Island (Auckland Group) many years ago, and, together with two oilier circumstances, makes tho revival of tho story of the wreck of the ship General Grant on the cruel, slormwraekod cliff-coast of ilhc Auckland Islands of particular interest at present. The first circumstance is that a ■ report was recently circulated lo the effect (hat an expedition was being fitted ; out lo search for the gold which was lost ■ in the General Grant, and tho second is that it was exactly forty-five years ago yesterday since the richly-freighted old "wind-jammer" crashed into Iho bate wall of snarling rock, and, with Ijor bow ' stuck inlo a natural cave, was battered to pieces. ! £50,000 in "Davy Jones's Locker." ■ Tho sum of 4150,00(1 in hard Victorian gold went down with tho ship, and, for all that is known, still lie's in the crannies aud pockeils of the ocean bottom ' near where Iho vessel was wrecked, A tempting bait, indeed. To salvo the gold '. adventurous spirits would need to prepare themselves for a bout with death , itself. Down there at the Bitter Isles, tho demons of sea and sky seldom sleep, and to attempt to do anything—save, perhaps, in a well-equipped submarinewould be playing with loaded dice. The Story of the Wreck. But to 'tho story. It is one of a gallant ship, which should never have been lost, and of a MAN. The General Grant, of Boston, U.S.A., stood out of llobson's Bay, bound for London, via New Zealand and the Horn, on May 4, IS-J6. She had S3 souls on boain, ana carried a valuable cargo of wool, skins, and gold. What tho precise quantity of gold was will never be known, but what is known is that there were at least four boxes, each containing 1000 ounces insured, and, among the passengers, were many who had made their fortunes, and wero conveying them to England. Bulking it together, it was estimated at the time that there was not less than .4:50,000 worth of the precious metal on the General Grant. It had been decided to call at a New Zealand port, but, in some inexplicablo way, the vessel wandered wide from lur course, and then black trouble hit her. At 10 o'clock at night the man on tho look-out signalled land ahead. It was three or four miles distant, and looked iiko a fog-bank. As thcro was only a light southerly blowing, it was decided to hold on for a while. This land was presently recognised as Disappointment Island (ominous name) and, before another hour had elapsed, tho Auckland Archipelago had opened out before them. The skipper determined to pass between Disappointment Island and the main ("- land, but, when fairly between those two drear outposts, the wind dropped altogether, and immediately it was recognised that the vessel was being driven on to tho rocks by tlio swell. In such a predicament the first thing to do would be to get out an anchor, but in those days, the anchor was not always kept ready for action,.' and one account says that the anchors and chains were stowed away in the hold, and to get. them .-upjwoujd have been the work of hours. Ahotlief account stated that the lead could net find bottom, but this is not credited. Anyhow no anchor was put out and, slowly through the night hours, the vessel drifted with deadly certainty nearer and nearer to tho great black barrier, until it seemed that the cliffs overhung the masts. Then suddenly, when everybody's nerves were strung to the tightest tension, the. jibboom struck the rock-face, and snapped. Tho rebuff sent her astern for a bit, but disaster was there too. It- appeared as if tho rocks had closed round her for tho next shock came from astern, and tho rudder and spanker-boom wero shattered. So sudden was this that tho man at the wheel had no time to escape. Ho was struck by tho falling boom and killed. Between the two projecting points of rock the helpless ship floundered and surged broadside. .The lights hung out on the leeward or land side showed a vast wall of smooth, black, rock rising sheer from the water to a height beyond the range of vision., Ahead was blackness and, behind tho great manes, lifted the vessel on and on until a cry of horror ■ arose—the cliffs were seen to bo on either side aud overhead—they were drifting' into a groat ocean cavern, there to bo shattered into splinters. Into tho Blackness, "Lower away the boats!" shouted the captain, but tho order iras never carried out. The ship drove inch by inch into tho cave until the mast-heads began to scrape the roof, aud great masses of earth and rock were soon descending upon tho deck and on those upon it. Could anything bo more awesome than that deadly shower from the blackness above, combined with the agony of uncertainty which possessed every soul on board. All hands huddled aft to avoid the falling stones. A lead was loivcrcd-fivo fathoms under tho stern. To launch the boats under that dread shower was not to be thought of—they must wait ami pray for dawn. As the night of terror wore on the wind increased, and (he waves grew bigger, and broke into the cave savagely, as if to finish their fell work quickly. Die grinding against the roof of the cavern became* so great that at length the lore royal mast, the top mast, and lower mast smashed in succession, and a mass ot rigging, splintered spars, and great boulders thundered on to tho deck. Tho stones smashed in tho forecastle deck, and soon the starboard deckhouso was half buried beneath them. Then came daylight, and with it down thundered the miwen top mast. I hero was no time to falter any longer. the captain ordered out the boats, and hen order gave way to panic. Once a boat was lowered there was a rush. Somo Leapt Madly Overboard. Others crowded a'jd fought their • way into the boat?, ■ which threatened to swamp. A few disheartened ones refused to leave the ship at all. .Thcro was one, at least, who .'etained his iiead m. that, dreadful battle for life. This was James Teer, a native of a little village in County Down Ireland, who had made money on the diggings, and was returning in company with his friend Patrick Caughey Ho'rescued the stewardess, Mrs. lcwell (of Manchester), and saved the life of her husband, and also that of Caughey. The General Grant had three boats. The two quarter boats had been lowered, and were engaged in picking up those who had thrown themselves iti the water, but, as tho longlwat was about lo be lowered from tho'quarter-deck, a big wave lifted the slern of the vessel so high that the main mast, rammed against the roof, was driven clean through the hall. In n few minutes tho waves were breakiug over the deck, and (he last hope (hat the vessel wnuid hold together wa-, shstlcii-d. The captain (and a passenger who had entrusted his gold to him) climbed the rigging. The long-boat floated off, and made for the entrance of the cave to join the others, leaving two or three unfortunate ones behind. II had not. proceeded more than a hundred yards when a heavy sea dad a swift eddy caused it to founder, and all Iter occupants were left struggling in the icy waters. Two of the sailors and one passenger were picked \\[> by Tkt; the rest were drowned. As Tcor's boat returned from its work of rescue, he saw the desih \fhroes < Iho General Grant. The hull was submerged. Down she went before their eyes, and 'up the broken masts ci'awled the.-waters, picking up and silencing the few luckless beings who had stuck to the ship. Up, up, it went—the littlo man irilli the gold was drawn down to keep it company, aud, last of all, through the |

gloom could bo seen a figure waving a while handkerchief from (lie mlzzen crosstrees. ]t was the captain. Pull for the Shore! Tlio oilier two boats got clear of the-" cavern, and it was then ."•con how providential it was that the shin had boon hurled into the cavern instead of directly against the cliffs, which rose sheer to s height of 100 ft. They decided to make for Disappointment Island, and, after n .struggle against a head wind, and with, constant haling, reached lnnd at dusk. That was Terr's boat. The other beat had a particularly trying time. Its occupunts made one or two desperate attempts to land, with the intention of scaling the cliffs. One sailor made a fine attempt. Me went up and up until ho was out of sight, and then there was a cry, something hurtled through the air, and shot into the sea. They rowed to the spot, hut no sign was seen of the poor follow. Sadly they pulled out to sea again, when to their intense bewilderment they heard a succession of "Ahovs!" and, looking up, they saw the "dead" sailor very much alive scrambling down the cliff with the agility of a goat. It appears (hat ho had managed to capture an over-attentive albatross, and had killed it and thrown it down. On the Island. Then .commenced (heir long dreary residence on the island. The first wild inclination of some was to food full on the salt pork and lxniillon which they had brought ashore, but Teer put his foot down, and, being a man of strong mind and arm, ho had his way, and became the acknowledged leader of the castaways. Good order was maintained, and organised search parties wero detailed to look foi shell-fish or other edibles. But the, cold increased daily, and it was soon evident that, if they did not get a fire and keep one, they must perish. But whore wore they to get matches, flint and stee.l, 01 the wherewithal to create a flame? Everyone concluded that (hey had been so soaked on (he. night of the wreck and the struggle with the waves the next day that they could not possibly possess a strikcable match. Then Teer discovered, amongst his belongings, a small box of wax matches—worth to them more than the four clamped boxes of gold which, sank with the vessel. A quantity of dried bark was collected and carefully arranged, and 'Peer struck the first match on a dry stone. It rubbed softly, but gave no flame. It was damp! Oric after another was tried without success, until there were only two left. The Last Match. 'Peer had not Iho courage—brave man as Uo was—to strike these, '.taking ouo of the matches, he placed it in his hair to dry, and gave the other to the male to no likewise, 'iho next day 'iter went on a trump through the scrub lorest to sco it he tonal hud any game or edible plants, but returned in the evening tired and liisnearteiied to fiud the party ia a btate ol great agitation. The "mate's match had been struck! "And where's the lirer" said Teer, sick at heart. It appears that the mate, in his excitement, hud either lit the match at some distance irom he material, or had dropped it, whilst burning, irom his lingers, for the first time 'iec-r showed fierce anger, and struck the mate a violent blow in the (ace. One match between them and possible death!. Teer took it from his hair, and examined it carotulty. It seemed periectly dry. The wicks of the other matches which had failed to light wero torn into shreds and placed beneath the dry bark. Then camo a dramatic scene. The fifleea : survivors all knelt on the sand and prayed. It was a very direct and simp'le 'prnycr-they prayed that that match would light. Then Teer took it in his hand. What tho agony of that moment must have been cannot he imagined. 'Peer could scarcely suppress tho painful trembling of his fingers. But the crisis was soon over. There was a steady rub on a dry stone, a splutter of flame, aud soon a stream of blue smoko was arising from tho heaped-up fuel. The firo thus lit was watched and tended carefully dav and night, each member of the party keeping guard over it in turn until the subsequent discovery of a flint relieved tho castaways .• for ever of the haunting fear of being deft tireless. Hopes and Fears. ' • Slowly, tho winter passed . away . and, brighter weather came, but, before U..V the presenco of goats on the island' I X. been discovered, and made good use u.V Their llesh.'was sweet and, with .theii skins, clothes were made for every member of tho party, cither by or under the eyo of Teer, the capable. Then Teer remembered tho wreck of the Musgrave at the Aucklands, and thought that it would be a good idea to find the survivors' camp, and otherwise explore the group. By inciting their weather they were able to do this and, what was better, they did discover the old hut, and found some tools, nails, and sail-cloth which they badly needed. Then- 'Peer set about devising messages (o tho outer world. At.first bo tied pieces of wood with tho call for help burnt in, And attached them to tho bladders of seals, and set them afloat to leeward, but the seagulls look (hem for a new food and punctured tho bladders with great enthusiasm. Then he made a number of small model boats, and burnt tho appeal on their decks. On October 6—five months after the wreck—a pail was sighted far out at sea, but though signal fires were lighted, and a boat was launched it was all to no purpose. She sailed away into tho distance. Then in the summer it was thought that on attempt should bo made to reach New Zealand. Brown, the mate, insisted on being sent in charge, and throo others wero selected by lot—marked shells. One of the boats was decked with skins, and well provisioned, and stood nway from the Bluff, '' f lO miles away, on January 22, 1867. They wero never seen by mortal eyes again. Brown's companion's were: William Scott, Andrew Morrison, and Peter M'Nivcn. Rescue at Last! The summer passed slowly, aud ugly winter snowed its malignant lace once more. With it cauic sickness and death. In August, David M'Cleliaiul, aged u2, lcll ill ami died. Then camo the scurvy, with its dread listlessncss, and desiro to do nothing but sleep, 'leer saw tho danger, and took strong measures to keep his people moving. Ho made a sort of springboard in the sand, aud, from tho llax-grass, evolved a whip, and those who would not take exercise had lo soldo with him. So tho sight of a lot of skinclad men running along the easid and jumping off the springboard under (ho stem eyo of Teer was not the least romarkoble of these eventful experiences. On .November 10 another sail was sighted, but, though signahi wero frantically made, it faded away in the Hying scud of tho south. Two days later another sail bore down from the north. This was the brig Amherst, whaler, which had picked up one of 'Peer's miniature ships at sea, and her captain had determined to search the Auckland Islands for tho survivors. Teer and three others put oIF to tho vessel, but, so strange a sight did they present in (heir shaggy goat-skin dresses and shaggier beards, that Captain Gilroy conceived (he idea that they were escapees from Tasmania, or somo other convict settlement. 'Peer was so incoherent with joy, that ho could not tell his story, and was being ordered into his boat again, when a negro member of the crew of the Amherst suddenly recognised that ho was 'Peer, whom ho had met at the diggings in Victoria. Explanation followed, Iho full story was soon told, and, in the fullness of time, (he Amherst glided inlo Melbourne* with one of the strangest tales of shipwreck ever told. Teer Honoured. James Teer had developed into a groat man with Hie chance. On arrival in Melbourne, (he survivors presented hint with a gold ring and an address. The New Zealand Government was- so impressed with Iho value of his services that they wished (n compensate him for all he had lost. This he rehired to accept, staling that he had only done his duly. But he did accept the gift of a valuable gold watch and chain from tho Government of this coinilry. It was sent home to him in tho earo of a young sailor who knew him troll. Hut the vessel was'wrecked oft Iho China c-ast, and that was tho end of the Government's tribute. As late as 18S0, Teer organised an expedition in Melbourne and, when if scorned that he could not fail—such were the precautions made for an cxhanstivo submarine hunt—ho was found dead in a hotel in Melbourne—a dramatic end to a dramatic life*.