SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 656, 27 July 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

. PORT OP LYTTELTON. Weather Report : July 27—8 a.m. : wind, westerly, light; weather, overcast and gloomy. Barometer — 30.25; thermometer, 41. arrived, July 27—XXX, ketch, 21 tons, Clark, from Akaroa, CLEARED, July 27—Alma, three-masted schooner, 163 tons, Walters, for Melbourne. SAILED. July 27—Moa, s.s, tons, McConville, for Wellington. July 27—Prince Alfred, barque, 258 tons, Dormant, for Adelaide. STRANDING OF THE LIGHTNING, [Abridged from the “ South Australian Advertiser,” July Bth.] ■While the news of the wreck of the Gettwood on the eastern coast and its disastrous consequences were fresh in the minds of the public, information reached Adelaide on Friday morning that the immigrant ship Lightning, from Plymouth, with 400 souls on board, was stranded ;ou the Troubridge shoals. As this was the place at which the Iron King became a total wreck about two years ago, great anxiety was felt for the safety of the immigrants. The news came from Mr Walters, the customs officer at Edithhurgh, who sent a telegram containing the information by the cutter Colleen Lawn, which reached Glenelg at an early hour on Friday morning. Although the first intimation of the wreck was only received by Mr Wright, the secretary of the Marine Board, at twenty minutes past 8 a.m, his arrangements were such that the steamtug Eleanor was able to make a start from Port Adelaide about 11. The steamer had on board a large quantity of beef and potatoes for the vessel. On steaming down the Gulf of St Vincent, and when about twenty-five miles from the stations, a ketch was seen away on the starboard beam, and on passing her it was evident, from the crowded state of her decks, that she had a load of people from the Lightning; but as the wind was very light it was thought better to push on to the vessel, lying right ahead. At once it was seen that she was a considerable distance from where the Iron King stranded: but, whenever she was, there was very small prospect of her floating off without immediate measures being taken. Where the Lightning lay the water was comparatively smooth, but it was believed that with a wind from the south-west and a corresponding sea she would inevitably suffer. On approaching nearer, it was perceived that there were people on board, and boats alongside, but only the royal yards were down. The whole of her gear was aloft, sails furled, and an anchor let go, and but for her proximity to the only “ shiptrap ” in the Gulf, it might have been thought that she was at anchor in In the roads. It appeared that on the previous day the vessel was seen from the lighthouse to be shaping a very erratic course, and borrowing so much of the Yorke’s Peninsula land that the keepers at the light signalled to her to keep off the shoal. Finding the Hags were of no avail, the danger gun was fired, but to no purpose, and at midday the vessel was up on the shoal. The Eleanor steamed up to the port side of the Lightning. There were a number of single men left on board, many of whom were in a state of excitement which showed that something stronger than tea had been procurable. The second mate and the surgeon-superintendent, Dr Morrell, were away on board the ketch Edith Alice, which had been engaged to convey to Port Adelaide from 250 to 300 of the married people. The master was on board, but very little information could be procured from him, although he seemed thoroughly to realise the critical position of the ship. From the first officer it was ascertained that on Thursday last the wind was south-west, and Cape Borda was made in due course, a fair wind permitting a straight run up the gulf. Instead ot this the vessel was first steered one way by order of the captain and another by order of the mate, so at length, while the mate was said to he below, she was brought up by the Troubridge Shoal abont twenty minutes past one o’clock, or shortly after midday. The lighthouse bore north-east half east, and it was stated by some of the people on hoard that the master’s intention was to steer between the lighthouse and the main land. Having stranded at midday the people on shore were early on board, and without delay the harbourmaster despatched a boat to Glenelg with the news. The scene on board the vessel when she struck is said to have been indescribable. Men, women, and children rushed hither and thither panic-stricken, and it was with great difficulty that the officers prevented the men from taking the boats by main force. The boats were subsequently lowered, and the work of landing commenced, the women and children being taken away to the Edith Alice. About fifty persons were landed at the lighthouse, and arrangements made to supply the lighthouse-keeper with provisions from Edithhurgh. ;lt was providential that the sea remained perfectly calm during these proceedings, for had a breeze arisen the loss of life must have been fearful. The sails of the Lightning were furled and an anchor let go, hut up to the lime of the arrival of the Eleanor no effort had been made to get up gear for the discharge of the ship's cargo, nor anything done to lay out a stern-fast. Some of the young men remaining on board broke into the hold cn Thursday night and took a quantity of liquor, with which they tried to drown their cares. One or two were suffering in a marked manner from the effects of a “bout” when the Eleanor went alongside. On being ordered to pack up and go on board the steamer they yelled and cheered lustily, and on leaving gave cheers “ad libitum” for the chief officer, Mr Hines, but groaned fearfully for the captain. There was very little to be gleaned relative to the ship beyond that what has been stated. She looked a fine vessel of about 1200 or 1300 tons, but how she got into such an unfortunate position, with the officers all doing their duty, is inexplicable. The chief officer asserted site went on in an east by north course, and afterwards canted; but whatever excuse may be made for a ship at night or in thick weather fails entirely in the case of the Lightning, which went ashore about midday, with a fine fair wind. Some of the replies to enquiries could scarcely be printed without risking an action for libel, but it.is asserted that continual recourse to “ calamity water ” is the explanation of what would appear to be most grossly careless navigation. It is to be regretted that through the new Marine Board measure not having yet passed through Parliament a proper investigation cannot be made into the stranding of the Lightning, but some steps should be taken to signify the disgust felt at the carelessness which has thus risked a valuable ship and cargo. As soon as the young men embarked on the Eleanor she shaped a course for the lighthouse, distant some four miles, for the purpose of picking up the women and children sent there, so that all could be landed at Port Adelaide about the same time. Tills was considered very desirable, because, in the hurry and confusion on leaving the ship, some families had unfortunately been broken up, the children in some instances being sent to the lighthouse, while their parents went on to the port by the ketch. The Edith Alice arrived at the Semaphore about 11 o’clock on Friday night, and the women and children were forwarded to Adelaide by a special train. The men were accommodated at the port for the night. They were put on board the ketch at 9 o’clock, and Irotn that time until they arrived at the Semaphore they had nothing to eat. They were however then amply provided with food. The Eleanor brought off the other passengers. The Lightning is not a new ship. She was built by Messrs Martin Samuelson and Co, at Hull, in 1864, and is composed of iron. This was her first voyage to South Australia. As she is carrying immigrants her cargo is nob a large one. Its value is under £IO,OOO. Captain Cameron, who has charge of the Lightning, visited this colony some years ago in a vessel called the Cambool.