WRECK OF THE S.S. DANDENONG.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 708, 26 September 1876, Page 3

WRECK OF THE S.S. DANDENONG.

NAKRATIVB OF THE SUEVIVOBS. The following narratives are supplied by Mr Lawson, chief officer of the Dandenong, Mr Ash, and other passengers by the illfated steamer : Mr Lawson states :—" We experienced fair weather till Saturday afternoon. Then came on a dull drizzling rain, and at 6 p.m. the wind suddenly shifted to the east, and rapidly increased to a gale. At 2 a.m. on Sunday we sighted land, supposed to be Cape Edward. The gale at this time seemed to me increasing, and the ship labored heavily, taking in a great deal of water on deck. At 1 a.m. on Monday the engineer reported that t.he engines had broken down, and the captain immediately hauled up N. and by W, the wind shifting S. and E, and increasing in violence. The captain went below to ascertain the extent of the damage, and learned from the engineer that the screw shaft had broken in the stern pipe, and that the ship had commenced making water rapidly. Bedding, blankets, and everything else available were used to stop the leak, but to no purpose. The donkey engine was set to work at once, and the engineer, having partly stopped the leak, proceeded to disconnect the shaft, in order to get the main engines to work on the bilges, but owing to the water gaining so fast they were unable to succeed. By this time the water had gained so fast that the fires were extinguished." Mr F. Ash, one of the rescued saloon passengers, gives the following version of the disaster. He says :—" The first intimation we had of any immediate danger was at half-past 7 a.m on Monday, when the captain came forward and called on us to relieve the seamen in baling out the vessel. He said it was a matter of life or death, and almost the whole of the male passengers most readily responded to his call. We were very anxious for our own lives, and the anxious faces of the women gave ub additional nerve. We went into the engine room, and found there was a great quantity of water in it. The pumps could not be worked, for what reason we did not then know, but afterwards learned that it was on account of the screw shaft having broken. There not being sufficient hose to reach the donkey engine, we could not obtain any help from that quarter, and we depended altogether on our buckets. We all worked willingly, but were disheartened by the water gaining on us. Notwithstanding our unsuccessful exertions, the captain worked manfully, setting a noble example to his men. At 3 p.m. we knocked off baling, as our efforts were unavailing, and battened down the hatches and the coalhole at the rear of the engine house 'to keep the water from getting into the main hold. Shortly afterwards a Bail was observed, distant about three miles, and we, for the first time since seeing the water increase, felt a little hope of being saved. Signals of distress were hoisted, and to our great relief no sooner were they up than the barque changed her course and bore down to us, coming as close as was practicable. The whole of the boats belonging to the steamer had been got ready, and upon the barque heaving-to the lifeboat was lowered, in charge of the chief officer, Mr Lawson, and she was manned by three seamen and a volunteer named George Payne, a fine young fellow, aged twenty-five years, who was on his way to Newcastle to join a ship as first mate. The chief officer behaved with much coolness while some passengers were getting into the boat. When she started off there were fifteen persons in her alto> gether, the chief officer, three sailors, Mr Payne, Mr and Mrs Wakefield, and eight children. We very anxiously watched the boat's progress towards the barque. She was very strong, but she was tossed about like an eggshell by the tremendous seas running, the spray splashing into her and drenching her occupants. The next moment she was down in a trough of waves, and out of sight. At last we saw her go up alongside the barque, but the next minute she was dashed to pieces, and her fragments carried away, Mr Payne being seen on one piece of the wreck. The chief officer and two of the men managed to scramble into the barque, but the father, mother, and seven children found watery graves. We were still more anxious when the next boat, which Captain M'Dougall, a passenger, had volunteered to take charge of, prepared to put off. The boatswain and 'men were at the oars, and Captain M'Dougall at the helm, and the passengers were one man and a number of women and children. The whole were got on board safely and the boat put back for the steamer. Captain M'Dougall remained on board the barque, and the boatswain took the helm, two' men only being at the oars, the third being engaged in bailing the boat. A boat-load of women and children were taken from the steamer and placed on the barque, when the boat went adrift and no more trips could be made. The second officer, Mr M'Ewen, was placed in command of another boat, in which a number of men got. Passengers could have got in, but preferred to wait for the captain's boat, which was considered to be the most safe. The boat was badly manned. One of the oars was broken, another could not be well worked, as the rowlock was broken, the third was pulled by an invalid passenger, but at the fourth was a sturdy tar. I was in this boat, and can vouch for the determination and pluck displayed by the second officer, Mr M'Ewan, who, though a young man, was the means of preventing the boat from being swamped and capsized. He was very cool, and handled the helm splendidly. When we got alongside the barque our stem struck her heavily three times, but we could not ward her off. One of the men was washed out of the boat and landed upon the barque, and others laid hold of the ropes which were thrown down to us. We all, with the exception of a man named Fergusson, managed to scramble on board, but he, poor fellow, went to the bottom. Then were now only two boats left, and those on board the steamer, so we could not put back to render further assistance. The barque kept close to the steamer until her lights disappeared, then we stood away for Newcastle. " I have been in many terrific storms on the coast, but never saw a gale to equal that of Monday. The sea was very confused, and the spray flew with such violence that it was painful to get struck with it. We were all treated with the greatest kindness and con* sideration on board the Albert William, from the captain to the smallest boy on board. All were most attentive and generous, the captain and officers vacated their cabins for the benefit of the females, and put up with great inconvenience. When the barque reached Newcastle we were treated well as could

be desired. We were located in one of the best hotels, where the greatest convenience was afforded, and the kindest treatment given. Those of our number who had lost their clothing were supplied with new, and altogether no greater consideration could have been afforded us. There were two boats left on board the steamer, the captain's and a small dingy, but whether they could be launched was a matter of doubt, unless they were thrown over the side. There was only one female left on board the steamer, as far an I am aware, and she, poor woman, was with an invalid husband and child. Notwithstanding her husband's entreaties to save herself and child, she would not leave him. The scene on board the steamer quite astonished me. The female passengers were wonderfully calm. No screams were heard, nor were there any demonstrations of grief, except when the barque appeared to be passing away without sighting the steamer. When in the boats the men and women crouched down and did not move. This added much to the success attending the trips made. There was a number of valuable sheep on the steamer, the lot being valued at from £3OOO to £4OOO, and some at 600 guineas each." Mr Hartley, a cabin passenger, says that there were thred boats attached to the Dandenong, but that a considerable time elapsed before the first boat could be lowered—half an hour he thinks, but the time very likely appeared to him longer than it really was. He also thinks that the ship was not properly supplied with pumping apparatus, which was fitted to be worked by steam. Mr Hartley is of opinion that Captain Irwin considered their only hope of safety lay in transhipping the passengers from the steamer to the barque, but nearly the whole of the passengers were afraid to trust themselves in the open boats. Mr Whinship, of Newcastle, was among those who refused to get into the boat. This reluctance is to be accounted for partly by the imminent danger of death in the boats, and partly from the hope that they could be saved in the captain's boat. When the first boat was smashed to pieces near the vessel, three or four managed to climb up the side by the aid of ropes. Mr Hartley, like all the others, had a very narrow escape. He was almost unconscious in the water, but held on to a rope that was thrown him with that tenacity that can only spring from desperation. Somehow, he managed to get the rope looped around his arm, and this enabled him to hold on a little longer. The last thing he remembers is being caught by the hair of the head and by the heels, and dragged on to the deck of the barque. He speaks very highly of Captain Walker and the officers and crew of the barque Albert William, who showed the rescued passengers every possible kindness, gave up all their bunks, and remained without themselves. Mr Hartley has lost all he possessed. He was coming over to Sydney to start in the ironmongery trade. He was in business in the boot and shoe trade opposite the Post office in Melbourne. William Blair, a steerage passenger, says : —The first intimation I got that there was anything wrong was at 6 o'clock on Monday morning, but the passengers were not fully aware of the extent of the damage done, but they knew there waß great danger of some sort imminent. There was during the many hours no land in sight, and the distance from shore was stated to be twenty miles at least, though those on board the barque calculated that they were no more than seven miles from Jervis Bay. The weather was thick and hazy, and it waß impossible to see more than a few miles. The engineer was up to his neck in water for a considerable time. After the barque wms signalled the captain had no hope, and was very anxious that all the passengers would go on board the barque, and precautions were strictly taken. When the first boat which left the steamer struck, all the passengera with the exception of a child were drowned. The first mate and the two sailors seized ropes hanging over the side of the barque, ;and the little girl, whose mother, father, three brothers and two sisters were drowned, had a rope thrown round her, and she was saved. The second boat returned to the steamer, and took on board myself, wife, and child, two Sisters of Mercy, a few other women and children —ten altogether. We soon found that the main pin of the boat was gone, and the hole (through which the water was coming fast) was aa inch and a quarter in size. I kept my finger in this all the time to stop the water. When we got to the barque all the men remained in the boat until the women and children were safely landed. The fourth passage from steamer to barque was made by the third boat that left the ship. It was in charge of the third mate. It got to the barque safely, and just as the passengers were getting out it was swamped. All that could clung on to the ropes, but two were drowned. A young fellow named Golding was saved, after being in the water half an hour, by having an air life-preserving coat on; Several small pieces of wreckage were seen by the steamer Illalong N.N-E, thirty-two miles from Jervis Bay lighthouse. The largest piece was picked up, and has been identified as being one of the panels of the chief officer's cabin of the Dandenong. No other traces have been discovered. All the search steamers have returned except the Thetis, which is still out. A careful search has been made ; they stood out to the north and east, burning lights at night and keeping a close look-out in the day. Agnes Wakefield, Miss Smythe, Master Whitworth, and several other survivors, including the stewardess and some of the crew, sailed in the Cheviot to-day for Melbourne. The Argus publishes the following complete list of the passengers and crew ; also a list of those who are known to be saved : The following were passengers by the vessel: —Saloon: Mrs H. B. Whitworth, Mrs Brodie, Mrs M'Connachy, Mrs Wakefield, Miss E. Smith, Miss Hilliard, Miss E. Murray, Miss M, Murray, Miss Agnes Wakefield, Miss Annie Wakefield, Miss Fitzsimmons, Miss Green, Sister St. Joseph, Messrs Winship, Ash, G. Chambers, M'Dougall, Wakefield, T. J. Malley, H. H. Steele, Wright, W. Murray, Hartley, Master J. Whitworth, and Masters J. Wakefield, T. Wakefield, and F. Wakefield. Steerage—Mrs Blair, Mrs Grey, Mrs Ward, Mrs M. Brown, and Mrs Edmonds and two children, Messrs Dare, Ferguson, Davis, Blair, J. M'Ghee, Payne, M'Grath, Golden, W. Barter, M'Dougall, J. Osborn, Honey, E. Walter, B. Walter, Mathews, J. Murray, M. Brown, and W. Langßton. Those saved are—Saloon : Miss Fitzeimmsns, Miss Green, Miss E, Smith, Miss E. Murray, Misß M. Murray, Sister St Joseph, Miss A. Wakefield, Messrs Ash, G. Chambers, Hartley, and Master Joseph Whitworth.

Steerage: Mrs Blah*, Mra Ward, Mrs M. Brown, Mrs Edmonds and two children, Messrs Blair, McGrath, Golden, M'Dougall, J. Osborn, Honey, E. Walter, B. Walter, J. Murray, and M. Brown. The following is a list of the crew on board:—J. Irwin, captain; Lawson, chief officer; C. M'Ewan, Becond mate; James Forger, chief engineer; John Dykee, Becond engineer; Bobert Hooks, chief steward ; Fred. Jewell, second steward; John Wilson, officers' boy; Thomas Hollson, fore cabin steward; Anna Saul, stewardess; John Wilson, cook ; Wm. Young, lamp trimmer ; David Mord, James Anderson, John Bruhn, Jose de Franze, John Ekland, Charles Christie, Lawrence, Williams, Charles Lingoist, Alfred, and Humphreys, able seamen; Jeremiah Bunting, John Johnson, Wm. Lloyd, and Martin Dyer, firemen; George Habbinder, Wm. Edbrooke, and Francis Hay, trimmers. The following are the members of the crew saved :—Mr Lawson, chief officer ; Mr C. M'Ewan, second officer ; Mr John Dykes, second engineer ; Anna Saul, stewardess ; James Anderson, John Bruhn, John Ekland, Charles Christie, Charles Lingoist, Alfred, Humphreys, able seamen; and George Habbinder, trimmer.