WRECK OF THE S.S. OTAGO.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 769, 7 December 1876, Page 3

WRECK OF THE S.S. OTAGO.

[By Telegraph.] ( From, a correspondent of the Press.) Dunedin, December 6. That some accident had befallen this fine vessel was conjectured on Monday when her non-arrival at the Bluff was telegraphed. But no one supposed for a moment that what actually happened had taken place, that the steamer on a fine morning had either through some fault of the compasses, negligence, error of observations, thick weather,or some other cause become virtually a total wreck. All doubts, however, were soon removed by successive messages re ceived in town, the first of which a telegram from Edendale, Mataura, to the ResidentAgents. we published yesterday. They, as stated yesterday, at once telegraphed orders to the Bluff for the Express (Oaptain Christian) to proceed to the wreck, calling at Waikawa to pick up the boat’s crew that had conveyed the information to Edendale. Meantime the arrival of the ketch Palmerston (Oaptain Brebner), from Invercargill placed the public in possession of the simple story of the wreck, as related by Captain Haider, Captain Brebner, coasting along, had seen the smoke of the fires lighted by the shipwrecked people, and had gone in close enough to allow a boat to put off and communicate the bare facts. Captain Brebner expressed his willingness to render such assistance as he could, but his offer was declined, the ketch being unfitted, both by her small size and the fact that she was deeply loaded, to take on board more than a few of the steamer’s company. So far, by way, of recapitulation. The subjoined further particulars are furnished by a special correspondent, who left the Bluff yesterday per a s. Express The first intimation of the loss of the Otago reached Invercargill about ten o’clock, and caused considerable excitement, a number of townspeople leaving by the 10.45 train for the Bluff with the intention of going to the wreck by the s.s. Express, which it was at first understood was to bring on the Otago’s passengers to the Bluff. They were disappointed, however, for it turned out that the steamer’s orders were to call at Waikawa, go on to Chasland’s Bay, pick up the Otago’s passengers, and proceed to Dunedin. Consequently, only Oaptain Thomson, harbormaster at the Bluff, Mr Tucker (of Nichol and Tucker), and one or two other persons, including a constable, went with her. Leaving the Bluff about 1 p.m on Tuesday with the tide and a fair wind, the steamer made Waikawa about 4 o’clock, only to find from the local pilot (Campbell) that the boat’s crew had started some time previously. Outside again, overtaking, in about three-quarters of an hour, the “Toilers of theßea” just mentioned, they were evidently not sorry to accept the proffered tow and some slight refreshment. Another half-hour or so and the wreck is sighted in certainly one of the most apparently unlikely places in the world, the steamer’s bowsprit being hidden in the foliage of the trees on a steep hill—it can scarcely be called a cliff, —rising some 150 feet or so from the sea level. But the wonder ceases when the peculiar outline of the coast, which obtained for the place the name of Chasland’s Mistake is considered. It may be best described as forming a sort of corner around which coasting vessels turn when going to the westward, but instead of only one headland there are two, divided by a little bay, the entrance of a shallow river, with a rock rising some 30ft or 40ft about the centre, in a line between the two headlands, which are not more than a mile asunder. It follows of course that any ship mistaking the first promontory for the second, and attempting to “ turn the corner” would, at all events in thick weather, run into the second, not Ohasland’s Mistake, but —well, so far as we are aware, the headland is unnamed. We do not go near enough to see more just now, the first business being to take off the passengers, whose camp, on a sandy beach about a quarter of a mile from the wreck, is plainly visible. In fact we are shortly boarded by Capt Calder, Orders are given by Captain Christian to pass a tracking line ashore, and the work of embarcation goes on steadily and quietly, although a rather nasty surf renders it dangerous ; once in fact one of the Otago’s boats-—those of the Express are not required—is capsized returning to the shore, but her crew of three cleverly climb her sides and set astride the keel until rescued by another boat. The male passengers appear to have rather enjoyed their experience. Wet through, barefooted and hungry, they are still as “ jolly as sandboys.” The ladies seem Itus cheerful, some are thoroughly exhausted and faint. The worst off arc the little children. One tiny one —its father a widower —giving forth the most plaintive cries for impossible food, milk not being among the ship’s stores. All having been taken on board, Captain Christian, Captain Calder, Captain Thompson (Harbormaster of the Bluff), Mr Tucker, and “ ours” step into one of the boats and proceed to take it is getting dark — a farewell look at the wreck. We get alongside with no more difficulty than that occasioned by the ground swell, which comes in heavily at times, although the sea looks

calm, and climb on board. There is everything standing, the vessel lying over on her port side, just so much as to render walking a matter of difficulty. Forward, she is high and dry ; amidships, resting on a bed of ugly rocks ; while aft there is something over four fathoms water. As we stand on the quarter deck a tremulous motion tells us that the two ends of the ship may part company at any moment, although the water is not yet up to the ceiling of the after saloon. It is nearly low tide now, however, but what it will look like next flood is quite another matter. Looking down the hatchway forward and into the engine room, we see daylight peeping up from below, and realise that before the Otago reached her last resting place she passed over jagged rocks that tore off the stout iron plates as if they had been cardboards. Nothing more can be done in the meantime, and so we return to the steamer, whence Captain Galdor, mindful of the interests of “ all concerned,” and the fact some SOOOoz of gold are somewhere below, proceeds in one of his own boats to the shore, cheer upon cheer following him from the passengers, who have nothing but good to say of him, and cannot sufficiently express their sense of the calm courage displayed by him in the trying time they have gone through. The cause of the wreck has been already suggested, and but little can be said on the subject. Towards daylight a heavy fog drifted down along the coast. The office- in charge at the time—the second mate—presumably supposed the ship was clear of both headlands, or—and this is an important factor—the compasses were at fault, and the land was run into. Five hundred yards more to the southward and all would have been well. §The first intimation the passengers received was when, about 2 30 a,m, the ship struck heavily, and went grating over the rocks until brought up by the cliff, Then there was a rush on deck, in varied costume, but only a momentary panic, for Captain Oalder ably seconded by Mr Donaldson, chief officer, maintained discipline, and saw to the launching of the boats—an operation rendered difficult by the fact that the cliff' on one side was so close as to render it necessary to carry the; boats ncrons. As a matter of fact all hands could have landed safely from the bows of the steamer, but the steepness of the cliff and consequent difficulty of moving about would have rendered their stay even for a few hours almost unendurable, It was thought best to cross the little bay and land them _on the sandy beach at the other side. This done, provisions, and a f. w spare sails for shelter, were obtained from the wreck, and the passengers made as comfortable as possible. Meantime a party, consisting of the chief mate (Donaldson), Messrs Saunders and Melross, the latter of whom fortunately possessed some knowledge of the coast, started with a crew of six for Waikawa. There they met with Mr Campbell, the pilot, under whose kindly guidance they made their way to Haldane’s beach, a distance of some ten miles, to a gold-miner’s camp, where a man was found willing (having two fresh horses) to undertake the journey to Edendale (fifty-three miles), with the brief telegram referred to above. The party, on their return, spoke in the warmest terms of the kindly service rendered by Messrs Campbell and Haldane, who, to use their own words, !< could not do enough for them.” The first thing done by one of the Otago’s passengers (a Canterbury M.H.R.) when he found himself safely on board the ss. Express, and outside a “ slight sensation,” was to make an attempt at a joke. Apostrophising himself, he exclaimed, “I ought to have known better. What business had Ito take passage by the Otago. The province abolished, how could the namesake steamer be expected to survive,” Before closing this necessarily imperfect account of the wreck it may be as well to describe more minutely the position in which the Otago now lies. Those who have read the account of the wreck of the General Grant—and who has not I— will remember that the ship drifted into a cave or recess on the bleak and inhospitable shores of the Auckland Islands. Saving that the coasting line is less elevated and rugged, the hills rising only 30D or -100 feet as compared with the 1500 or 2000 at the Auckland’s, the Otago actually ran into |jusfc such an indentation, A small creek running between steep banks debouches just on her starboard bow. If she had run in two more points to the northward she would have been fixed in a natural dock, beyond the reach of the grinding swell that is now slowly but surely rending her iron frame. It may be added that if due expedition be used, and weather permitting, there is no reason why everything valuable either in ship or cargo ceuld not be saved, PRESENTATION TO THE CAPTAIN, The cabin passengers met at the Douglas Hotel this afternoon and drew up a testimonial as follows for presentation to Captain Oalder:—“ Dunedin, Dec 6th. ToCaptG B. Calder. Sir,—We the undersigned passengers by the steamship Otago, desire hereby to assure you that you have our profound sympathy in the unfortunate mishap which so deeply affects you. We beg to express our sincere gratitude for the promptness with which you realised the critical nature of our situation, and for the decision and firmness with which you pursued the only course that could lead to our safety. We desire to thank you for the frankness, cheerfulness, and courtesy with which you answered all inquiries—conduct which begat in all concerned a composure and quiet confidence rare on such occasions, To the labor and danger encountered in the taking off passengers' luggage, and for your anxious efforts to make our temporary residence on the barren and bleak shore as endurable and comfortable as possible, we lie under a very heavy obligation to you. In conclusion, we cannot refrain from expressing our feeling that the way in which your arrangements were made and carried out adds to the reputation for care and skill you so long enjoyed ; and we trust that in future whatever may betide you, success, prosperity, and good fortune proportionate to your high deserts will ever attend you, Wc desire further to make a hearty acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered by the chief officer and all the members of the crew —Mrs O. Patten, Mrs E. P McMahon, Mrs H. Salier, ! Mrsß. McCormick, Mrs S.Cleg;, Mrs M Brooke, Mrs A. Martin, Miss K, Coxhead, Miss B.Coxhead,MrM. Sommer, Mr A. T. Anderson, Mr C. T. McMahon, Mr G, H. Arthur, Mr T. Hurt, Mr W. Melross. Mr W. H. Joyce, Mr P. Brooke, Mr D. Petrie, Bit W. F. Sarglson, Mr J, A. Sargison, Mr Wm Taylor, Mr H. H' leer, Mr J. T. Fisher, M.H.8,, Mr J. S, Adamson, Mr T, Block, Mr J. Preston,