Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 3116, 13 February 1873, Page 2

Shipping.

HIGH WATER. To-morrow, •JRADS J Poor dOALMKRH 1 DUNWDIP. 4.12 p.m. I 4.42 p.m I 5.27 p.m. PORT CHALMERS. ARRIVED. Feb. 13.—Maori, 118 tons, Sinclair, from Lyttelton and intermediate ports. Passengers : Mrs Cookcroft and three children, Miss Gardiner, Messrs Sinclair, Roberts, Neilson, Dodds, Frazer, and five in the steerage. SAILED. Feb. 12. - Nebraska, 2143 tons, Harding, for San Francisco, via Northern Ports. Passengers —For San Francisco: Mesdames Dowling and Oox, Messrs Williams, Dowling, Burrowes, Booking, Millar. For the North Miss Colville, Mrs Douglas, Hon. Mr Bathgate, Messrs Fisher, Hepburn, Duncan, Sinclair, Lumsden, Ringwood, Graham, Reid, Hoskins, Lamb, Booth, Campbell, Morrison, and Fisher. CUSTOM HOUSE. DUNEDIN. This Day. INWARDS. Maori, 118 tons, Sinclair, from Timaru. Pioneer, 23 tons, Matheson, from Kakanui. Wallabi, 101 tons, Leys, from Bluff. Samson, 124 tons, Edie, from Oarnaru. outwards. Result, 14 tons, Kelly, for Waikonaiti. Defiance, 22 tons, Burke, for Moeraki and Kakanui. Samson, 124 tons, Edie, for Oarnaru. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Albion, for Northern Ports, Feb. 20 Harriot Anuitage, for Hong Kong, March 14 May Queen, for Loudon, Feb. lY Rangitoto, for Bluff, Feb. 20 • Warrior Queen, for London, March 1 Maori, for Lyttelton, Feb. 14 Samson, for Oarnaru, Feb, 14 Wallabi, for Bluff, Feb. 14 Taranaki, for Northern Ports, Fob. 22 Pioneer, for Tois Tois, Feb, 15

Vessels in Port Chalmers yesterday ! Ships -. Agnes Muir, City of Dunedin, Christian M Ausland, Margaret Galbraith, May Queen, Barque: Helena. At the Railway Pier Ships : Beautiful Star, Warrior Queen, Zealandia; barques, Iris, Waratah; mail steamer, Nebraska.

The Harbor Company’s steamer Maori returned from her northern trip this morning at 7 30. She reports leaving Lyttelton .at 3.30 p.m. on the 10th, arrived at Akaroaat 7.30 the same day; arrived at Timavu at 10 a.m., on the 11th ; sailed again on the 12th at 8 30 p in., having been detained there a day by a heavy breeze of wind from the N.E , which prevented communication with the shore. On arrival in Port Chalmers she steamed alongside the Christian M'Ausland, and discharged 60 bales of wool, 20 bales of flax, and 200 cases of preserved meat. TOTAL LOSS OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP. The Royal Adelaide, Captain Hunter, from London to Sydney, ran ashore on November 20, near the Passage Bridge, about one mile from Portland. The wind was blowing a fierce gale from the S.W., and the breakers and surf on the heich were appalling. A correspondent, writing from Portland, says:—“ The gale which has swept along our coastfor the last few days somewhat abated on November 25, but the wind still blew very strong, though the sea was not so rough as it was on November 24. There were frequent almost blinding showers, and at sea there was a mist which prevented any vessels from being seen till they were close to the land. In the afternoon the mist somewhat cleared away, and then the coastguard on the look-out <m Chesil Beach saw a very fine ship evidently ip, distress. She was in what is known as the West Bay, and was endeavouring to bear up for the Bill of Portland, and thence to the shelter of the Breakwater. The wind, however, was blowing too hard in shore to enable her to get up so far. At one time she was within 1,000 yards of Chesil Beach, and her st>eedy wreck seemed imminent. She was, however, put about, and then took a westerly course. Not long afterwards she got out of sight, and it was hoped that she had succeeded in getting well out to sea, though it was the opinion of very many that her condition was almost hopeless. In less than a couple of horn s she was again this time taking an easterly course, with the evident, intention of making another attempt to bear up for the protection of the Breakwaker. Bravely Aid she battle with the adverse winds, and skilfully was she handled, but all to no avail. It was no .v getting almost dark, and the scene on shore became most exciting. The vessel still took an easterly course, but it became abundantly evident that she was nearing the land, and that it wasimpos able for her to reach Portland Bill. Just as her hull was disappearing in tne darkness she ithrew up a blue light to show that she was in ttturtress and wanted assistance. It was tpo trough, however, for any boats to venture oqt to flier, and, besides, it was too clear that the illfated vessel must come to shore. Her signal was answered by the coastguard at Portland, who threw up rockets and burnt blue lights, with the object of showing the captain the most suitable spot to run his vessel ashore. It now became so dark that the vessel could not be ssen, but every now and then she showed blue lights, and each one told plainly enough tpat aUe was getting nearer and nearer the shore. At last she came so near that her masts and sails could be seen standing from the gloom. About this time the captain must have given up all hone of saving his vessel, or of even reaching tlie spot from which the rockets had been thrown, for he put her head to the shore and ran direct for the beach. In a few minutes aihe grounded, and then swung broadside towards the beach. She did not seem to bo more than 20 or 30 yards f i om the laud ; indeed, SO close did she appear that it almost seemed as if those on board could jump to shore. But the «ea was running so high that any such idea or getting from the vessel had to be abandoned. The ooastguardsmen in charge of the rocket apparatus were on the spot, but before;the rocket could be fired some brave Portland fiehirmen rushed into the boiling surf, and ultimately succeeded in throwing a line to the vessel. This they did at the very great danger of losing their own lives. Their line was fastened to the stem of the ship, and while an impromptu cradjp was being got in readiness to run along it, the coast guardsmen fired their rocket, which carried a rope right across the centre of the ship. What the crew should then have done was to have drawn in the line till they reached the rope upon which the cradle would work ; but in fcheir excitement they paid no attention to the iecond line, and risked everything upon the rope which had first been sent to them. The scene was now most exciting. The ship was rolling very heavily, and every now and then a wave would strike her broadside and completely cover ber in foam and spray. Before the fishermen could send a cradle along their line two men were seen clinging from the side of the vessel by means of a rope. Their intention was to wait a favorable opportunity, and then to drop and make for the shore. But, poor fellows the attempt cost them tfiejr fives. They had been clinging for two or three minutes, when the vessel made a tremendous roll the sea. Not being able to bear the strain upon thenhands which this caused, they dropped into the water, and before they could make for the shore -the vessel lurched over, as it seemed, upon them' £nd they were seen np more. By this time the dradle was readiness, and then a men, next a woman, and then the captain, were brought to land. It was -then ascertained that the vessel, a barque, was the Royal Adelaide, of Liverpool, Captain Hunter, master; that she sailed from Loudon on November lb, and was bound for Sydney. To make matters worse, it wm ascertained that, in addition to her crew she had between thirty and forty passengers, many of whom were women and children. The cradle was again set to work, and .one after another of the crew ,or passengers were landed an safety. In one case a man who had got mtp it with a little boy reached land all right, but the child was drowned. A female, too, was also carried away by the violence of the surf before she could be rescued- Se Y e^} 1 I ttl , e children, one after the other, were safely landed. During the whole of this time the sea was dashing with the wildest fury against the vessel, threatening to sweep off the remainder of t ip people, who were seeh anxiously awajtmg tbeu turn to come in the cradle, but afraid MJJJ.ture. One by one the masts fell with a temflo crash, while the sea began to pour-through t e sides of the ship, and it was evident that she was breaking up. All seemed te have been got on shore with the exception bf fom oi five, and these would not leave the ship. Shortly after the masts had gone by the board, the vessel’s back was rent in twain with a.anise resembling the report of a volley of rqustatry, and tneoeaMi whs strewn with bales and bow* of all descriptions, StilJ thf ft«#

firm, and two or three people were saved, one brave fellow coining in the cradle with a little boy, who was almost frightened to death. The man wanted to return to the ship to render aid, but the coastguard would not allow him. The last to leave were two men and a little child, who all got into the cradle together, when unfortunately they were caught by an immense wave, which snapped the rope asunder, and all three were drowned. There was still one human being left on board, an aged female, who had refused to trust her life in the cradle. As the rope had broken, and there was now nothing to fasten another line to, she had to bo left to her fate. The scene on Chesil Beach, on November 2G, baffled all description. For miles the coast is strewed with broken boxes, tin cases, and articles of clothing. The ship has entirely gone to pieces, with the exception of a portion of ironwork which lies embedded in the pebbles. Immense quantities of spirits were washed ashore, and as the barrels floated in they were broached by the crowd assembled on the beach, and in a short time scores of people were lying about dead drunk in all directions. Indeed, they had drunk so much that medical assistance had to be obtaiue hj ami two men actually drank themselves to death. The captain of the ship made his deposition at the Custom-house. He says he mistook his course, thinking he was off Lulworth, instead of in the West Bay, as the weather was so thick. He could not wear the ship, and finding she must go on shove, anchored about half a mile off in 10 fathoms of water, but the ship would not ride, and drifted on shore. He estimates the loss on the vessel to amount to L 20,000, and the cargo to LSO,OOO He believes that about 02 persons were saved in all. He attributes tire loss of the ship bo the hazy weather and the violence of the gale. At the inquest held on the bodies of three of the passengers, evidence was given that Captain Marten had no knowledge of the coast at all. When the ship was in peril was of Portland, he believed himself to be east of the island, and off St. Albans Head. The father of the little girl Bunyan and other witnesses proved that the captain called for a “passage for the woman” to get ashore, and then, when a passage was cleared, effected his own escape; Mr Bunyan catching hold of him when in the cradle and saying, may go, but you are no man if you do. Marten was the fourth or fifth to leave the ship. Woolley, the mate, however, said that at that time 30 persons had got ashore. The jury wished to return a verdict ot manslaughter against Marten; but on advice of the coroner, delivered an open verdict, recommending an inquiry by the Board of Trade into the steering of the vessel after sighting Portland Lights, and into the conduct of the captain after the vessel stranded. The coroner told the mate that his evidence had been proved false in every particular.