SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 227, 2 March 1875, Page 2

SHIPPING.

POET OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. March 2—Ladybird, s.s., 286 tons, Andrews, from Dunedin. March 2—Fiery Cross, schooner, 72 tons, Smith, from Auckland. March 2—Maiden City, schooner, 27 tons, Prescott, from Laverick's Bay. CLEARED. March 2—Eio Loge, brig, Anderson, for Auckland. March 2—Antelope, cutter, 17 tons, Malcolmson, for Akaroa. SAILED. March 2 Easby, s.s,, 969 tons, A. Kennedy, for Newcastle, via Napier and Wellington. Passengers—Steerage : Messrs Lock and Peschegud. ALARMING ACCIDENT ON BOARD H.M.S. NEWCASTLE. The correspondent of the "Western Morning News " writing from St Vincent, Cape de \ erde, under date 3rd December, describes an alarming accident which has occurred on board H.M.S. Newcastle. A signal to set Bail and try the rate of sailing was made. Just as the order had been obeyed, the Newcastle's foretopgallantmast broke off and seven men, who were on the royal yard at the time, were precipitated headlong a distance of 170 feet. Wonderful to say, they all escaped death. Two of them in their descent seized and held fast to the bow, while another was entaugled in the ■wreck of a sail and had his fall broken. The others ■were plunged into the sea, but with marvellous celerity the boats were lowered, and after a long pull all the men were picked up alive, and also another brave fellow named Brown, who had gallantly jumped overboard out of the main chains and assisted one of the men who had been injured in his terrible fall. The ship was going nine miles an hour at the time, and there was a heavy sea. When the safety of the crew was assured the admiral signalled, "Well done, Newcastle." An hour afterwards a man fell overboard from the mizen-top of the Raleigh, and, striking against the ship in his descent, was killed. Sub-Lieutenant Roger immediately dived overboard after him, but his courage did not meet with the success it deserved. A ROUGH PASSAGE. The report of the barque Comet unfolds a tissue of ill-fortune: for when a vessel of her weatherly qualities is unable to weather the Snares, wind and ■weather must be indeed against her. The Comet is a craft that we [should imagine could eat her way into the wind under almost any circumstances, but it would appear that in the present instance she was overmatched and had to cry peccavi. She was bound from Oamaru to Hobart Town, and left the former place on the 2nd instant. Experienced strong southerly winds at the outset, then light ■winds and foggy weather and variables to the 12th, she then being about sixty miles east of the Snares. Twonotatle incidents were recorded that night: firstly, the Aurora Australia (the Southern lights) were exhibited with great brilliancy, and were regarded by Captain Cooper as the precursors of bad weather : and secondly, a derelict vessel was passed, or rather a part of one. At 10 p.m., the bows of apparently a large vessel were sighted, and what appeared to be a topgallant forecastle was about half out of water, the knight-heads and stump of bowsprit and cutwater being distinctly visible. The Comet passed close to the wreck, but as the weather was unsettled and threatening, no attempt was made to lower a boat for closer i u vestigation. The premonitory symptoms of bad weather mentioned above were fully verified next day, when it came on to blow from W.N.W.,and from that date, the 13th, to the 20th, the barque encountered a succession of gales from W.N.W., hauling to W.S.W., tapering off at the latter point and then backing to the former quarter and freshening up again. Hence the wind was a complete muzzier, and the barque could not ■weather the Snares on either taok. She would have succeeded in so doing if the wind had favored her a couple of points on either tack, but it did uot; and so after thrashing at it for seven days, a great part of the time hove-to, she had to bear up for this port to replenish provisions. She bore up on Saturday last, having only one week's provisions on board, and, being humbugged by light variable weather «*' , V , t 1 * ** toh iut ° the heads.u"* 11 , *«"--» a »jr TOoraTOg, and, the wiua then failing her, had to tow inside. The lowest reading of the barometer during thegale south was 29.00. On Wednesday night, when off Cape Saunders, the barque spoke the barque Springbok, from Hobart Town, bound to Lyttelton. —" Otago Daily Times," February 26th.