FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE HYDRABAD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1364, 28 June 1878, Page 3

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE HYDRABAD.

[by telegbaph. peb pbess agency] Wellington, June 27. The gale which waa blowing yesterday morning continued all day with extreme violence, and it increased considerably during the night. This morning broke with a wild tempestuous sky, and the wind roaring as loud as ever. There was scarcely a house in Foxton that did not shake, and reel all night long. The Manawatu was swollen to double its ordinary width. It took half a dozen men quite half an hour to ferry the ooaoh over. Ou reaching the wreck the veßsel was found in the same position as yesterday. As she had not shifted a foot, it is pretty clear that she is not likely to move from her present position, unless under some unprecedented elemental force. Only one person appeared on deck, he hailed the coach that all was well aboard. Owing to the shallowness of the shore the force of the sea was broken before reaching the vessel, and consequently the breakers caused no injury whatever. The only members of the ship's company ashore, besides the captain and apprentices, are the boat's crew, who are in the meantime sheltered at Hast well and Macar's stables at Horowhenua, hut today they were without any food, as they could not get on board to got any. Even yesterday everytime they got alongside the ship, the boat filled, and only three trips between the ship and shore were made. Mixing amongst these sailors a few few additional facts were gleaned that could not be obtained yesterday. The more intelligent of the seamen, who realised the gravity of the position in which the ship had been placed, all spoke in the very highest terms of the quiet self-possession and seamanlike qualities of the oapfcain in the hour of danger. The answer of one sailor in particular may bo accepted as a good indication of what was meant—" Sir, the captain was just the same as if ho was a thousand miles at sea, and in no danger." It appears that the gale oame on without any warning. As the breeze freshened, sail was taken in, and by the time the gale reached about its height, the vessel was under storm canvas. A violent squall, or a " cloudy squall," as a seaman phrased it, struck the ship, and a brand new topsail split in two with a loud report. About a dozen hands rushed aloft, when another sail, an older one, blew into ribbons, and while the vessel was under bare poles several of the sails, which had been made snug in Beamanlike manner, were blown out of the gaskets. The captain had been endeavoring to gain shelter under Kapiti, but the force of the wind was so great that they could not carry sufficient sail to enable them to work the vessel, aud she was therefore allowed to drift. It was as a last resource that the captain dropped both anchors, when he reached proper soundings, in the hope that they would hold and bring the vessel's head to the wind until such time as the gale broke. The chain cables were remarkably strong, but snapped like pack threads. At that time the bulk of the crew were either engaged getting up mora cable, or making other pwpir&tioina, the only persons on the bridge being the captain and the maw at the wheel. Finding they must inevitably go ashore, the captain wisely directed that she should be headed square on, otherwise it is probable few would have been saved. Angus who, was atjfche wheel, said the vessel srst struck on a hard sandv bank, !■;>:». as sha answered her helm he held'oa. She-truck a second time further in share, hut a;v; *ored her helm. Still driving closer in shore, e-he struck a third time more violently than before. Apparently the rudder hit the ground this time, as MeLeod was tossed up in the air. striking violently against the boom on the rnizenmiisf. This was followed by a heavy sen breaking = ver the stern, which washed MvL od nearly overboard. lie was only sived by his leg catching between two stauiiohions. He is badly bruised all over and it is feared his leg is broken. He was brought to Hospital to-night. The same sea dashed the captain violently against the mainmast, and though he did not complain of any injury at the time he now experiences a good deal of pain. When tha vessel struck it was very dark and, nothing could be seen but the wild tumultuous eea, and a general rush wag made for the life belts, but the captain gave orders preventing it, and quieted the commotion amongst the men. There were two women on board, the captain's wife and the wife of the ship's thy latter acting as stewardess. Both women bore up bravely, Mrs Hoknwood merely remarking " pppv. old ship." It appears that uhe hail "been in it with her husband for seven years. The carpenter's wife behaved wry piuckily. Mrs Holmwood weiuld not leave the ship until the injured sailor was taken ashore. The unanimous opinion of the crew is that 110$ the slightest blame can be attached to anyone ; that under the circurastaucos ii was impossible to prevent the ship gokig ashore. Whatever ho pea icight haye been entertained _ of getting the vessel off, there seoins but slight ' chance of it now. Sho is firmly embedded in the sand, at least Bft. or 9ft. deep amidships, and tift. or 7ft. forward and aft. With proper appliances everything moveable but the hull itself might be got ashore, though some of the engines weigh from 10 to tons. It was erroneously stated in a teLegram that her w;,9 insured in the New Zealand office, j* should have been he? " freight,' 3 that io,' thei captain will not lose . his freight, although the cargo may not reach its destination. Jt is stated that the Adelaide Government have fully insured all the material bought from Canterbury, about twothirds of which is aboard the Hyderabad. Captains Scott and Bondall went up to-day to survey the vessel, which they will probably be able to do to-morrow, as this afternoon the wind, dropped and chopped round to 9.E.