THE LOCH ARD DISASTER.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1354, 17 June 1878, Page 3

THE LOCH ARD DISASTER.

[From the special reporter of the Melbourne “ Argus.”] Since the wreck of the ship British Admiral on King’s Island, some years since, there has not been a more disastrous occurrence than the total loss of the fine ship Loch Ard on the morning of Saturday last. That the ship became a total wreck is not to bo wondered at when the locality has been once visited. The only matter of surprise is that even two lives should have been saved to tell the tale. The coast for miles to the eastward and westward shows nothing but precipitous rocks rising perpendicularly from the water to heights varying from 120 ft. to 300 ft., and it is only at intervals of many miles that there is an inlet or gorge through the rocks where there is a small beach on which a landing may be effected. This is the case at the spot where the wreck took place, for at that particular locality there is a small inlet about a quarter of a mile deep and about fifty yards wide at the entrance, opening out at the upper end to a large semicircular bay with a line sandy beach. This is known as the Caves, and is about one mile east of Sherbrooke Creek, and about six miles west of Gellibrand River, or fourteen miles from Moonlight Head. The spot where the ill-fated ship is lost is one that would please an artist. The cliff rises straight out of the sea to a height of about 150 ft., without a single ledge on which a bird could rest, while at the top, and for perhaps sft. or 6ft. downwards, the rocks are clothed thickly with ferns and heath. At the end of this gorge there are two caves, which gives the place the name by which it is known. Coming in from the entrance, the principal cave is on the left, quite sheltered from the weather, and is perfectly dry and warm, with a soft sandy floor. It is about seventy-five yards long, ten yards wide, and fully ten feet high. At the upper end of the gorge is another smaller and more irregular cave. It is only in one particular spot that it is possible for human beings to descend to the caves, and then it has to be done at the risk of your neck, and holding on by your hands and feet and praying to Providence you may safely reach the bottom. How the young lady who was saved was got up the face of the cliff in the condition she w r as in is a matter for won do.-, In the reports that have been pubßnked, an error has been made in giving the name of the only male survivor as Thomas Pearson j it shoidd be Thomas Richard Pearce. He is a son of Captain Pearce, who lost his life when the steamer Gothenburg was wrecked some years ago on her voyage from the Northern Territory. His age is nineteen, and although comparatively young, he has before this had some experience at a wreck, as he was one of the crew of the barque Eliza Rainsden when she was lost at the Heads. Since then he has been Levying his apprenticeship in the unlucky ship Loch Ard, which lias now come to an untimely end. It may, however, be mentioned incidentally, as a curious fact showing the misfortune that has attended this ship since her launch, that in addition to having been twice dismasted, nearly lost in the Calcutta River, and now finally wrecked, during the very few years she has been in existence shy has had five captains, four of whom are dc.ad.

Pearce tells me that the ship had fine weather and fresh breezes from-the Cape of Good Hope, and the easting was run clown with the full anticipation of making a tolerably goad- passage. Everything went well until the reckoning was worked up on Friday last, after the meridian signs had been taken, and the ship was then made to he 150 miles south-west of Gape Otway. The wind at the time was to the southward to SE , and the course was altered to E.N.E. by compass, which it was expected, with the wind then blowing, would carry her clear of Capo Otway, and perhaps give thorn a sight of the light. Captain Gibbs was apparently, however, in some doubt as to the correctness of his compasses, as in the first dog watch (from 4 to 6 p.ra.) he shortened sail until the ship was only left with her three lower topsails and fore topmast staysail, to make snug |or th? night. The captain remained off deck all night, Mr ICAar, the second officer, leaving the middle watch from midnight until 4 a.m. The night had been very dark and hazy, and there was a heavy swell on, but the wind was not blowing very hard. Just as the watch was being relieved at 4 a.m., and before the men had left the deck, the haze suddenly lifted, and the captain saw land right ahead, and at no great diqtance, and, almost at ' lie oarne nium’ont someone on deck beard the breakers, so that it was estimated that the distance was not more than u mile from shore. Captain Gibbs at once gave orders to set tbo spanker, mizon, and umintopmast staysail, and the helm was at onoe put down, with a view of bringing lice ship round on the other tack and standing off the land. In order to give bur Gill further way, and uks to bring her to her round quicker, t.uc order was given to hoist the upper mizon topsail, but as she would not come to ffia wind the order was given to lot go both anchors. The port one was let go first, with fifty fathoms of cabje, and was quickly followed by tbo starboard anchor with about &igiy fathoms of chain, (n unUoipaiion that the anchors would hold, the sails wore clewed up, and a man was sent into the chains with the lead to see if she were holding, but it was at once seen that the anchors were not holding, as she was getting close in to the cliffs. Captain Gibbs’s next order was

to slip both anchors, and get sail on the ship, which was now head to wind, with a view of standing on the port tack. At attempt was made to sheet home the topsails, but this appears to have always been a difficult thing to do on the Loch Arcl, and after some time had been wasted in an endeavor to do so, the buntlines of the mainsail were let go, and the port main tack got on board and the sheet hauled aft. Just as this had been done the ship struck on a rock, which appeared to catch her just under the starboard mizen chains. As the morning had now cleared somewhat, the cliffs were scon close to the ship, and the captain gave orders to have the boats cleared away and the passengers placed in them. By this time the seas were breaking clean over the ship, and she was bumping very heavily, so much so that the top hamper was falling about the deck. As is usual in such cases the boats were not in the davits but were on the skids, and of course some time would elapse before they could be launched. Pearce, with five others, including the engineer, were clearing away the port lifeboat, and the gripes having been cut and the chocks knocked out, they were just about hooking the tackle on, when a heavy sea struck her, and knocked the boat over the side, and all with her. In doing so the boat capsized, and Pearce states that when ho again came to the surface ho found himself under the boat. Here, he says, he remained for some time, as there was plenty of air, but this is a matter of doubt. At last he dived down and came outside the boat, holding on to the life-lines. Ho saw nothing about him but wreckage, hut ho also noticed that he had drifted into a gorge, and at the same moment the boat struck against the rocks at the side, and ho then left her and struck out for the beach, where he arrived safely. Ho was then very much exhausted, and finding plenty of spirits on the beach, ho helped himself to them, and also got something to eat. After being about an hour on the beach ho heard somebody screaming out, and looking seawards he saw a young lady holding on to some wreckage and drifting through the gorge. He at once swam out to her, and getting hold of some of her clothing in his teeth, ho brought her safely to land, and managed to drag her into the cave, where he cut some grass for a bed. She was then in an insensible state, and ho tried to restore animation by pouring a quantity of brandy down her throat, and also by rubbing her body with the same spirit. She recovered somewhat, but appeared to have lost her senses, and was raving. Being exhausted, he lay down, and when he awakened he found her asleep, and left her to try and get assistance. Ho maneg d to clamber the side of the gorge, and at once coming upon horsetracks, he followed them, and at last came upon George Ford, an employe of Mr Gibson, ai d having informed him of the occurrence, assistance was promptly rendered. The mizen topgallant masthead of the ship can be just seen outside the gorge, and the wreckage is washing ashore in great quantities. Four bodies have been recovered. These are Mrs Carmichael, Miss Raby Carmichael, Mr Reginald Jones (saloon passenger), and Mr A. Mitchell (second class passenger).