WRECK OF THE S.S. OTAGO.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 768, 6 December 1876, Page 3

WRECK OF THE S.S. OTAGO.

FULLER PARTICULARS. Intelligence was received in town yesterday morning, from Dunedin, that Messrs McMeckan, Blackwood and Go’s s.s. Otago had been wrecked at Ohasland’s Mistake, a headland situated not far from the mouth of the Waikawa river, and about thirty miles south-west of Nugget Point, on the coast of Otago. Information of the wreck was con veyed to Waikawa by a boat’s crew under the chief officer’s charge. Thence the news was brought to Bdendale, whence it was telegraphed to the ship’s agents at the Bluff They at once arranged for the steamer Express, lying at the Bluff, to proceed to the scene of the wreck, and bring the passengers, &c, to Dunedin. Some further particulars were brought to Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon by the ketch Palmerston. The captain reports sighting a vessel ashore at Ohasland’s Mistake on Monday forenoon, and on bearing down found the steamer Otago on the rocks. He was boarded by Captain Calder, who informed him that the passengers, crew, mails, and baggage, were all safely landed. The Otago ran on the rocks at 2 o’clock on Monday morning, in a dense fog. The subjoined telegrams contain all the information yet to hand : (From a corresvondent of the Press.) Invbbcabgill, December 5. The Southland News of this evening gives all that is known of the Otago disaster, as follows :—“ This morning the town was rather startled out of its usual serenity by the intelligence that the fine screw steamer Otago had been wrecked off the coast. As yet the particulars to hand are very meagre, and throughout the day it was impossible for those interested in the vessel to answer the numerous enquiries that were made. The first intelligence of the disaster was in the form of a telegram to the following effect, which was received by Messrs Nichol and Tucker, the ship’s agents at the Bluff : “ Bdendale. —The Otago is ashore at Ohasland’s Mistake. The crew and passengers are all saved. Send immediate assistance. Total wreck. Let the first passer-by call at Waikawa for the first officer, and boat’s crew.” Subsequently it transpired that Captain Calder had sent a man overland, who reached Bdendale this morning, and from thence the news was sent to Messrs Hichol and Tucker. They placed themselves at once in communication with Messrs Cargills, Gibbs and Co, of this town, and by the first train a representative of that firm proceeded to Campbelltown. From thence the Express had been engaged to steam to the scene of the wreck. There can be nothing but conjecture as to how the vessel got ashore. Captain Calder is well known to be one of the most careful officers trading on this coast In this quarter a dense fog prevailed on Sunday night, and as it naturally would be much worse off the coast, to this the accident, in all likelihood, may be attributed As stated, the Otago was on her way to the Bluff, which she was advertised to leave on or about to day. The telegram put in at Bdendale, from Captain Calder. was brought across by a digger from a point fourteen miles distant, and he could give no infoxma tion regarding the accident. The Express, after visiting the wreck, goes right on to Dunedin.” Dunedin, Decembers. Captain Calder said at one time he feared the steamer would founder. There was a smooth sea when she struck. She is lodged between two rocks. The Express, with passengers and mails, is duo at Port Chain jib to-morrow forenoon,

(IVom our own correspondent .) Dunedin, December 6, The saloon passengers by the Otago present Captain Calder with a testimonial, ex pressing sympathy for the unfortunate mishap, and sincere gratitude for the promptness, decision, and firmness shown by him in a critical position. (Per Press Agency .) Post Chalmers, December 5. The ketch Palmerston has just arrived Captain Brebner reports sighting a vessel ashore off Chasland’s Mistake at 10 a.m. yesterday. She bore down and found it was the steamer Otago on the rocks, heading about W.S.W. He was boarded by Captain Calder, who informed him that the passengers and crew, numbering 100 persons, were all safely landed, together with the luggage and mails. Captain Brebner offered assistance, and was requested to communicate with the first steamer he met, and send her to the Otago’s assistance. The Otago ran on the rocks at 2 a,m. yesterday in a dense fog. She has lost her fore foot, and at low water the sea was abreast of the taffrail. LATEST PARTICULARS. Port Chalmers, December 6. Arrived—Steamer Express, with passengers, engineers, firemen, and stewards of the ill-fated Otago, She struck on the rocks off Chasland’s Mistake at 2.30 a.m. on the 4th inst, and remained about an hour, during which time full steam was kept up in the endeavor to get her off, but failed, and she rapidly filled. A man was (despatched from Albert’s Beach at 6.30 a.m. for Edendale, distance sixty miles, crossing three rivers ; thence he telegraphed to Dunedin. Tents were formed on the shore, und ample provisions and bedding were landed. Captain Calder displayed great coolness under trying circumstances, and the whole of the passengers and crew were safely landed. The Express reached'Chasland’s at 5.30 p.m. yesterday, and instantly commenced taking passengers and luggage on board, and left at 9 p.m. with 150 people. Many of the poorer passengers are in a pitiable state, partly clad, and they lost much of their goods. Captain Calder remains behind, with the officers and seamen, to save the property. It is said that there are 3000 ounces of gold on board. The passengers are highly pleased with Captain Calder and his officers. The sailors are said to have behaved very badly, forcing themselves into the ladies’ tent, and had to be ejected by the captain. A meeting of passengers was held this afternoon at Dunedin to frame a testimonial to the captain. Several gentlemen passengers behaved nobly, rendering all the assistance in their power. Mr Holder, traveller for Messrs Harris and Co, boot importers, Melbourne, worked manfully, Some doubts exist as to the safety of one of the steerage passengers from Lyttelton to the Bluff. The mate states he has not seen him since the vessel struck.