SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 835, 26 February 1877, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON.

Weather Report, February 27-Calm ; weather, clear. Barometer, 29.98 ; thermometer, 65, High Water. To-morrow —Morning, 4.14; night, 4.41. ARRIVED. Feb 26-Argus, ketch, 31 tons, Donovan, from KMapoi. Feb 26—Agues, ketch, 24 tons, Calvert, from Wellington. CLEARED. Feb 27—Hawea, s.s, 462 tons, Wheeler, for Dunedin. ?i*Feb 27 —Wellington, s.s, 279 tons, Lloyd, for Northern ports. Feb 27 —Elizabeth Conway, schooner, 45 tons, Ware, for Picfcon. SAILED, Feb 27 XXX, ketch, 21 tons, Clarke, for Akaroa. The steamers Hawea and Wellington cleared this morning, aud will sail for Dunedin and Northern ports respectively this evening. YESTEREA Y’S. 4BHIVED. Feb 25— Wellington, s.s, 279 tons, Lloyd, from Port Chalmers via Akaron. Miles, Hassal and Co, agents. Passengers—Misses Perrier. Peek, Bruce, Laurie, Mesdames Prattle. Mr and Mrs Lowe, Mr and Mrs Wykesmith, Mr and Mrs Donks, Messrs J. B. Steele, Cook, Fergusson, Scott, Webb, Tomney, Willis. Johnson, Coy, Pratt, Allport, Ollivier, Loughrey, seven in steerage, and nine for North. Feb 25— Hawea. s.s, 462 tons. AVheeler, from Northern Ports. Miles, Hassal and Co, agents. Passengers—Saloon : .Judge and Mrs Johnston, Mr and Mrs Winter, Misses Wylie (2), Master Wylie, Mis-es Speusley (2), Motion, Otway. Garvey, Cullen, Mr aud Mrs Saunders, Mesdames Cook and 4 children, Malyon. Sargeant, W. C. Hill, Lloyd and child, Hatfield, Messrs Sweeny, C. H. Low, Buncombe. Wylie, England, Brown, Saunders, Ponsonby, Rede. Judkins, G. and E. Dickson, Jackson. Ciapeott, Barber, Johnson, 13 in steerage and 21 lor South. , , , . . Feb 25— Courier, ketch, 31 tons, Sinclair, from Pigeon Bay. Master, agent. Feb 25— Clyde, schooner, 40 tons, Peterson, from Thames. Master, agent. bailed. Feb 24— Albion, s.s, 601 tons, Clarke, for Melbourne via South. Daigety, Nichols and Co, agents. Passengers —Slecrage: Messrs Mills, Sargeant, Henderson (2). Boulton, and 28 original. p P b 24 Tararua, s.s. 653 tons, Sinclair,for Sydney ria North. Dalgety, Nichols aud Vo, agents. Feb 24-E. and U. Cameron, schooner, 41 tous, Asebman. for Akaroa. Master, agent. Feb 24—Edward, schooner. 32 tons, Dalmer, for Le Eon’s Bay. Master, agent. Feb 25—Peri, schooner, 69 tons, SMazltclli, for Akaroa. Master, agents.

The brig Fawn, from Newcastle, Captain Brownell, arrived at. the Heads on Saturday, and was ordered on to Timaru. The brig Colibti wrs berthed at Peacock a whart on .Saturday to discharge her tea. The fore-and-att schooner Merlin left Plcton on Friday last at 4 a.ra, experiencing a light S IS wind till oil" the Kaikouras same evening, followed by light and variable winds till arrival at 5.30 p.m o.i Sa Thc d Schooner Kenilworth (says the Auckland « star” ot the 20th) has been chartered by Mr IC, G. Smith to load coke for Lyttelton The Tararua sailed lor Sydney via Isortii 3 p.Bi on Saturday. The following telegram was received by the Customs* authorities, Lyttelton, yesterday-" Warn masters of vessels sailing tor AVt-llington that the hulk Eli Whitney has sunk in the harbor. She is about a cable length E.N.E. from the red light on the wharf; the mainmast stands about 2aft out ox water, on which a white light will be hoisted.” The 8-s Wellington, Captain Lloyd, left Port Chalmers at 6 p.m on Saturday; arrived .at Akaroa at 10 a.m yesterday ; left again at 11.25, and arrived here at 4p m. She was moored at the screw pile ietty to discharge the 42 tons of cargo she brings tor this port, and sails North at 6 p.m to-day .We are obliged to Mr Grant, the purser, for flies and report. Mr McCormick, lately purser of this steamer, has .remained at Dunedin, having accepted a position in the oflice ot the company. Whilst regretting the absence of one I o whom we are Indebted for many kindnesses, we wish him all success in his new regular trader Queensland. Captain Greenwood, has made a splendid passage from Newcastle of only eight days. She left Newcastle on the 16th with a fresh northerly breeze, which lasted till Cape Farewell was made on Thursday last. It then fell calm for several hours, Out as evening approached a fresh northerly breeze sprang up, and carried her through the Straits. Cape Campbell was passed at 9 a.m on Friday, and the Kaikouras at nine the same night; light variable winds then set in, the Heads being sighted early on Saturday; at the Heads she was taken in tow by the p.s Titan, and reached anchorage at 2 p.m that day. The weather was specially line throughout, the topo-allantsails being never off the barque during the whole trip. The Queensland reports that the Star Queen had left on the 14th, and that the Adelphol and Nonpareil were to leave the day after she did (February 17th), all being bound for this B.s Albion, Captain J. W, Clark, left Sydney for Hokitika at 3 p.m February I4tii; arrived ofl Hokitika 6 a.m February 19th ; left for Greymouth same day. arrived at 1.50 p.m, and at 2,30 p.m left for Nelson, arriving there at noon on February voth • left for Wellington at noon on February 21st, and arrived at Wellington at 10 p m same day ; left Wellington at 12.40 p.m on February 23rd, and arrived at Lyttelton at S a.m on February 24th ; experienced light changeable ujrs and fine weather throughout. She was berthed at the Screwpile letty to discharge, and sailed for Melbourne and Hobart Town via South at 3.30 p.m. AVethapk Mr Doudney, the purser, for files and repori. '2*he schooner Clyde,. Gr.pt Petersen, left the Thames on the :6th inst at mid day, experiencing a fresh N,W wind till the evening, when the vessel was becalmed till the following morning. A N E breeze then held till the vessel was off Cgpe Campbell on the J9th, whore site lay becalmed for twentv-one hours, Anally getting under sail to a fresh N.VV breeze, with thick foggv weather, which lasted fill arrival in harbor at 0.30 p.m yesterday. The Star Queen, barque, Capt Skelton, ItffcNew-..a-tu- mi February .nth with a fresh EKE breeze. The wind changed to N.VV next mormng, and blew from that quarter autil February 22ud when it v ' ef . r r.d to the S.W, Cape Egmout being sighted ar. Kia-m that clar. A N.W breeze carried the barque through the Straits, and Cape Campbell was passed at 10 a.m on the 23rd. After passing the Cape the wind came from the northward, the Jyaikouraa being passed at two that afternoon Light and variable vinds prevailed thence to arrival at 6 p.m .on Saturday.

I'he brig Star of the Mersey, Captain Nicholson, arriye-i on Saturday and anchored off the Breakwater *6 2 p.m. having been towed in from the Heads by the s.s Akaroa. Eeports leaving Newcastle on February 9th with light easterly weather, which continued Jill the 12th when a succession of northerly and north-easterly weather set in. Cape Fnrpwet; bein" made .on February 21st. Ran through the Straits with d stron f N 'rT h^f9 e n z !’ r)aasin£r Cape Campbell on the of the-2nd, lnd thence P having light and variable winds to arrival as above.

The s.B Hawea, Cap.t Wheeler, arrived yesterday at 11.45 a.m, an! was moored at the Screw Pile Jetty. Mr Dougherty, the purser, to whom we arcindebted for tiles, reports leaving the Manakau at 3 p.m on the 21et. and arriving off Taranaki at 0 a.m next day. She left again at 5.15 a.m, reached Kelson at 1 a.m, 23rd, left again at 2.45 p.m, made Picton at 8 a.m, February 24th, sailed lor Wellington at 9.15 a.m. reached that port at 1.40 p.m, and started again for this port at .e. 15 p.m. arriving as above. Had strong S. IV winds from Manakau to Nelson, thence to Wellington fresh N.W gale and thick weather, the vessel having to anchor in Guard’s Bay nine hours for shelter. Had line weather from Wellington here. The Hay/ea will sail for Port Chalmers at 1 to-day. THE ELI WHITNEY SANK IN WELLINGTON HAKBOUE. A. telegram from Neison published elsewhere -give* Captain Cary’s account of the colluion between the Taupo and the Hulk Eli Whitney.- Tim Wellington “ Evening Post’' of Saturday publishes the following particulars A most painful sensation was excited in town Shis morning by the news that the h»lk Eli Whitney

had sunk in the harbor during the night, and that two lives had been sacrificed. It appears that the hulk was lying at the buoy about a quarter of a mile east from the Queen’s Wharf, with about 800 tons of coal on board, the property of Captain Williams, who also was the owner of the hulk. She was under the charge of Mr Edwin Davey, who, with his wife Amy anl his infant son Alfred Ernest (live months old), lived on board, and slept last night in the cabin. A very severe gale was blowing from the N.W, with furious squalls, and the night was very dark. The hulk was straining heavily at her moorings. Shortly after midnight Davey suddenly was awakened, and heard water rushing into the vessel, lie jumped up and found the cabin full of water. Housing tils wife and child, he hurried them on deck, there being no time to put on any clothing, for when they reached the deck the water already was nearly on a line with it. He rushed to tile boat, and had hold of the painter, when the hulk, boat, and all suddenly sank right under his feet. He had only time to seize one of the planks lying about the deck and to get ou it with his wife and child, when the hulk disappeared, and the fury of the gale drove them rapidly to leeward. About ten minutes afterwards the child was washed oif, and it was impossible even to attempt to save it. The husband and wife continued drifting iug in tho direction of Meech’s baths, but before reaching the shore the wife also was washed off, and lastly Davey himself lost his hold, but was driven ashore, and although greatly exhausted, managed to crawl as far as a house occupied by Mrs Davies, who, on being aroused, at once rendered him ail the assistance in herpower, while the alarm being given to Mr and Mrs Meech, they also promptly came to help. An immediate searcii was made for the wife, who was thought to stand some chance of being driven ashore alive. The extreme darkness made all their efforts for a long time futile, but at length the unfortunate woman was discovered, after nearly two hours’ search, holding on to the wooden stage lying on the beach near Meech’s baths. When found, she was quits warm, and her heart was beating, but although all possible moans were used to restore animation, they utterly failed, and it soon became evident that she had passed away. About 130 this morning, the body of the. child was found on tho Te Aro beaefi, near the Gasworks, by a man named Thomas Minty, of course quite dead. Tho remains of the mother and child were conveyed to the Morgue, where an inquest will be held on Monday. The cause of this deplorable catastrophe at first appeared involved in mystery. Although an old vessel, the Eli Whitney was thoroughly sound, aud had ridden out many gales as severe an that of last night. She was scarcely two-thirds full of coal, her carrying capacity being 1200 tons, while she had barely SOO tons on board. Tho theory that she had simply part d and sunk at her anchor was proved untenable, and the most feasible conjecture appeared to be that the severe jerks on her chain caused by the gale either had carried away one of her bow ports, or had caused a plank to start, on which, of course, she would till aud sink instantly. The real facts of tho case were not known until 10 a m, when Captain Alexander Chambers, master of the schooner Olio, came ashore and made the following statement The Clio was lying at anchor about midway between the wharf and the hulk, but somewhat to windward of a direct line from one to the other. Wjnd N.W., hard gale, with violent squalls, and night dark, but not so dark but that the hulk and her mast were visible from the schooner. Shortly after midnight the steamship Tsupo left tlie wharf bound to Pictou and Northern Forts. In going out. the steamer passed very close to tlie schooner. Suddenly he (Captain Chambers) beard some one on board the steamer shout out that the bulk was right ahead, and the telegraph bell was sounded to stop the engines, but two seconds afterwards tlie Taupo ran into tho hulk, striking her a little shaft amidships with a crash that was In ardmost distinctly ou tlie Clio,which was lying to windward at a distance of fully 200 yards. The Taupo then dropped astern and lay for about ten minutes, apparently ascertaining whether she herself h«d sustained any serious damage in tlie collision, she then steamed away. Captain Chambers, on seeing the accident, went below for a glass, and, on returning ou deck, after an absence of less than two minutes, found that tlie hulk had sunk, and only top ot her mast was visible above water. Tlie Ely Whitney was showing no light at tlie time tlie steamer ran into her. There were lights on board earlier in the evening, but as the night wore ou they were extinguished, and Captain Chambers supposed that if any persons had been on board they must have gone on shore. He hoard no cry for help or anything which could lead him to suppose that anybody was on board the hulk when she was struck. This statement is corroborated by tlie night watchman on board tlie Avalanche, and by other eye-witnesses of the disaster. As tlie Taupo arrived at Fictou tills morning at 6.20, it is plain that she lias not suffered materially by the collision, and probably some further particulars will be received by telegram during the afternoon. The three unfortunate castaways, however, were not allowed to drift to .destruction without some efforts being made to pick them up as they were driven across the harbor. About half-past twelve, the night watchman ou boai’d the barque Adamant heard cries of distress, apparently from a female voice in the water. Captain Dowling, on tiie aiarm being given, at once manned and lowered a boat, of which he himself took command, aud pulled in the direction fro.ua which the cries were heard, but before the boat could be got into the water, those erics had died away altogether, and, although Captain Howling and his brave seamen pulled about for a long time, they could neither see or hear anything ot the castaways. Tlie fierce storm and rough sea rendered their own situation one of great difficulty and danger. They found it impossible to prill back to the ship, and at length were compelled to beach the boat at Clyde Quay, where they landed thoroughly drenched to the skin. Another and even more daring attempt at a rescue was made by Mr Peter Fergensen, who is in charge of Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co’s hulk India, who heard the cries while he was below in bis cabin, and at once rushed up without waiting to dress, and pulled off alone in his boat. He says that had the cries only been once repeated after he had launched his boat, he could have saved the castaways, but unfortunately not a sound was to be heard, and at length his boat being lull of water, and finding himself just under the stern of tlie s.s. Agnes, he shouted tor help, and those on board lowered him a lifebuoy and roue, by which he pulled himself ou board.

The Eli Whitney was pn American-built barque of 540 tons s built at Boston in 1840 of pitch-pine. She was purchased by Captain Williams about six years ago from Messrs I'lckeffc, Brothers, of Melbourne, and was brought down by him to this port, where she has been used ns a coal-hulk ever sined. She had two powerful steam winches on board, one forward and the other aft, the two being valued at several hundred pounds. The coals on board were worth upwards ol £I2OO, and the hulk herself about a like sum; thus, as there was not a penny of insurance on either the hulk or her contents, Captain Williams is. we regret to say, a loser to tire amount of fully £3OOO. He informs us that the hulk was thoroughly overhauled only three days ago by severaj shipwrights, who pronounced her sound in every parf. The unfortunate man, Edwin Payey, was sufliciently recovered this afternoon to be removed to lire house of his father-in-law, Mr Price, Tory street, where he gave to the representatives of this paper a very clear account of what took place, so tar as his owp personal knowledge went, but throwing no light whatever on toe origin of the disaster. He says that, having been kept awake by the gale during most of the previous night, he and his wife retired to rest early last evening, and. after a time, dent well, although at first disturbed by the violent creakipg and jerking of the vessel as she strained at her warps in the furious squalls. Suddenly his Wife aroused him, asking him to listen to the strange poise the water was making in the closet, whicu opened oil' the cabin. He sprang up and at once found the water already in the cabin. Pushing on deck he endeavored to haul the boat, which was fastened by a painter to'the stern—round to the side ladder, in order that his wile and child might be able to got down to it, but by the time lie had accomplished this the water was coming over the vessel’s bows, and ha exclaimed to his wife that “ there was nothing for it but to strike out.” He succeeded in securing a plank and hauling his wife on .to it, but lu a very few minutes it capsized, throwing them into the water. He recovered the plank at last, £E<J then managed to seize his wiie oy the hair and drag her on to it again, but in the shock of the immersion she had dropped the child, and they never saw It again. He and his wife sue • cecded in reaching the southern shore of the bay safely, although much exhausted—the plank several times capsizing by the way. With great difficulty he scrambled ashore, leaving wife ln safety at Meeeh’s floating stage—aground at the time—and went Ito the nearest house as above stated, to get help, fciib overcome by exhaustion, he fainted, and for nearly an hour was unable to explain what he wanted. The rest of the circumstances are detailed above. Mr Davey asserts positively that the Hli Whitney's light was burning when he went to bed. Me plsc states that he felt no particular shock, the acuteness of his perception probably having been deadened by the tnotfo'n and noise of the vessel in the violent' storm raging. He had been married only about eighteen .months. Jijs wife, whose maiden name was Amy Prfcc, was a young girl only twenty years of age, formerly at service in the family of the Eight Rev Bishop Had* geld, apd always was a general favorite.