A SECOND SURAT CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 3448, 11 March 1874, Page 3

A SECOND SURAT CASE.

{Niw Zealand Herald ) The Anazi was a composite built barque of 468 tons register, and was built at Portsmouth in 1865, and is owned by Mr J.FJeming, of London. She has since that time traded to Irdia, and was rce l a 3 sed A 1 at Lloyd a for 16 years from < ctober, 1871. She was commanded by Captain J. Holman, who has visited this Colony on previous occasions in the Sandfly, gunboat, a?d the ship Ida Zeigler. >he was loaded by Messrs. Shaw, > s aville, and Co , and left London on the Ist of November last. On the 14th November the store-room was found to be on fire, and as there were four tons of gunpowder in the magazine, considerable excitement was manifested on hoard. Only four buckets were found available, and the vessel was unprovided with a moveable force-pump, which in emergencies is useful as a fire-engine. After a hard struggle on the part of the passengers and crew, the fire was fortunately extinguished without any very serious results. Nothing farther of importance transpired until the 21st February, when the vessel was near the const of New Zealand. The steward, named Thos. Smith, was missed from on board shortly before dinner time. Every search was made for him without avail, and from what had previously transpired it is feared that he committed suicide. It is reported that he had been ill. treated on board, and the ill-usage is believed to have entirely broken his spirits, and led him to the rash act. One of the crew informed our reporter yesterday that shortly before the steward was missed he was known to have handed Captain Holman two letters, one addressed to his wife, and the other to the captain. The latter is stated to have thrown both letters overboard without examining the contents of either. The steward was afterwards missed. No one saw him jump Overboard, but no other conclusion can be arrived His sad end cast a gloom over all on board. Since the vessel sighted the North Cape, she had considerable beating about, or, to use the language of one of the hands, “we have been here, there, and everywhere. ” In order to be concise in the narrative of the mishap that has befallen this barque, we give the account of Mr Peter Purlcy, an old resident in Auckland, who was a passenger by her:—“We passed Tiritiri about seven p.m. on Saturday night, and instead of making for Eangiloto Reef, the captain made for the Lake shore. Instead of anchoring under the Reef, he said that he intended working the ship about all night. The captain was on the forecastle, and be reckoned to know all

about the harbor. I told him that when vessels could not get a pilot whilst coming in at night, they usually anchored inside the reef. He would not follow this example, but hove the ship to and kept drifting about, remarking that he did rot intend to anchor until the morning. I turned in about ten o’clock, and at about a quarter-past twelve a fellow-passenger named Brooks remarked that ho believed the pilot was on board, as he heard a strange voice pinjriqg out'the Bollnd jngs This turned PVftrto belncorrect, as it was ope o£ the sailors that was taking soundings. I heard him call out, “Seven fathoms,” and immediately after sang out “[Four fathoms.” We at once jumped out of our bunks and went on deck, as we were afraid the vessel would go ashore The enptain was standing at the wheel giving orders. No anchor was let go. The crew were trying to keep her off, but the wind was dead on shore. About half-past twelve as near as I can guess, tbs ship gave three humps. S|ie was a|jout 80 yards from the shore. At ten o’clock on Sunday morning myself and another passenger named Wood lowered ourselves over the side of the vessel into the sea and swam ashore. We had difficulty in doing this, as the captain rnfused to allow any of us to make for the land. We. however, watched our ’ opportunity and swung ourselves over at a favorable opportunity. Previous to this the captain refused to hoist any signal of distress, or to consent fa any ef 'us going ashore, although the passengers went aft in a body and requested him to do so. After the two of us had landed, we walked to the North Shore and camo over to town in the ferry steamer, when we proceed to Mr A. Heather’s residence at Mount Eden, and reported the matter to him.

Another passenger reports that he left the ship shortly after one o’clock yesterday afternoon. To effect this two of the sailors swam ashore with a line, which they made fast to the shore’ and were so enabled to haul the boat which they had launched to the shore. The passengers to«*k this opportunity of leaving the vessel, but the captain is stated, without appannt reason, to have ordered them not to leave the ship. A scene appears to have occurred at this juncture, and one of the crow threatened to lash tfte captain to a pjng-bglt if hp persisted 1? I 1 e^U8 * n S to a low them fa leave the ship. The chief ‘officer, Mr Wise, interfered, and persuaded the captain to allow the passen • gers and crew to depart, and he consented. f J he captain and all then came ashore. In conversation he appeared unable to account for the vessel going ashore, but stated that the second officer, in whose wateh the occurrence happened, was the worse for liquor, Ths seaman who wqs $ the at the time boldly st»te4 & our reporter that there were those in charge incapable of performing their duty, _ There is no doubt that a strict inquiry will he necessary into the circumstances attending the grounding of the vessel.

The most strange part of the affair is that at the time of the vessel making the entrance to the harbor the wind was E.N.E., by which the vessel could have lead right up the channel. The night was a bright moonlight one, and the beacon on Hangitoto could he plainly seen at a great distance. Tiritiri light and Bean Rock'light were also discernible, all of which were sufficient marks to steer by. The ypssal bad no - business near the Wade'with the prevailing wind. After she fetruck' no effort appears to' have been made to run a kedge or anchor out in order to haul her off, and after taking the beach she dragged about fifty yards along, and turned broadside on.