WERCK OF THE BARQUE B.L.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1688, 18 July 1879, Page 4

WERCK OF THE BARQUE B.L.

At ar>. enquiry held on “Wednesday by the Collector ol Customs, -with Captain Crocker as nautical assessor, into the wreck of tho barque 8.L., the following evidence was taken Francois Bavary, being duly sworn, stated—l am master of the French barque B.L , official No. 1370 French Eegistry, 16th September, 1809, ot bt. Malo. X left tho port of Auckland, N./., for Port lyttolton at noon on the 1-th June, 1879. On tb" morning of the 17th Juno, tho weather hod been previously fair aud moderate. When off Capo Palliser, which was visible, the weather was still fine, but the wind changeable, with a heavy sea from S.S.W., when a succession of heavy gales came on, and continued until the 38fch Jiine, the wind prevailing from and state of.weather always very foggy. On this day, -Bth June, at 4 a.m., tho weather very foggy, so observation possible, I sounded and, found twenty-two fathoms of water, steered my vessel, in my imagination, for Lyttelton Heads. At 6 a.m. the vessel was runmng to N.E. by compass. Keeping out again, at 8 a.m. steered again for the Lyttelton Heads, and sighted land above the tog, but quite unable to distinguish any land mark. Sounded again, and found between twelve and fifteen fathoms of water. Thinking X was only four miles from the land. I stood out to sei again, and continued looking off and on, hoping tho weather would clear, hot the gale increased, and the weather got worse and worse. I made as much sail as possible to keep off land, having double-reefed topsails, foresail, jib, foretopmast staysail, maintopmast staysail. At 10 p.m. the fore tack carried away. I replaced it immediately. I continued to carry all sail 1 could to keep off the land, but the fog becoming more dense, and at every tack I Bounded, finding about eighteen to twenty fathoms. At about 11.45 p.m., believing that I was fifteen miles from land N.E. to Lyttelton, when the ship struck very heavily, and tho rudder was unshipped, being broken. Two men were at the wheel at the time: the vessel then swung round, and was earned up far on the beach by successive waves, the s» washing right over the vessel, which necessitated my cutting away the mizenmnst, and then let go the starboard anchor. By the laboring of the vessel on the beach tho foremast fell overboard. I Bounded from tho quarter on the starboard side, found about 7ft. ot water and a sandy bottom. This was just after tho high water. The sea was so rough and heavy that it was impossible for mo to launch a boat, the vessel humping heavily. I sounded the pumps to see what water the ship was making’, and found it was impossible to keep her free. Previous to the wreck the vessel had been ■mn.trlng no water, and was quite tight at 3 a.m. a Jen June. I found that the vessel was nearly high and dry, the tide having ebbed. I commenced to furl maintopsails at 5.30 a.m., after pumping uselessly to free the ship, sounded the pumps and found 2ft. of water. At 6 a.m. the crew was lauded, and was followed by me with the ship’s papers and. my chronometer. At 6.30 met a man onithe beach, who proposed to take me to the town of Christchurch. some thirteen or fourteen miles distance, so os to find tho consignee of tho cargo. I fontffi a countryman, M. Boargeois, hat, being Sununabl * to fln d the consignee I then returned to tho ship, and f jundS.t. of water In tho hold. Captain Hansford surveyor for the local underwriters, accompanied me to tho wreck, staying about one hour, and then returned to Christchurch, I remaining near the wreck at the New Brighton Hotel. On 30th June I reported myself to tho CoUector of Customs, finding there was no French consular agent, who recommended find approved of mv referring all matters to Mr Macphersou. the British Lloyd’s agent. Tho vessel lias now become a total wreck. I hand in a copy or tho surveyor’s report. I have been m communication with the French vice-consul of Dunedin, Mr P C Neill, who sent his secretary to me to advise and assist me. The Yice-Cousul has approved of all my action taken thus far. The cargo of the ship consisted of 10,383 sacks barley was lost with tho exception of about 1000 sacks; 13 casks of wine; 12 cases vermouth, 7 cases brandy, 1 case of olive oil, being my private property, were saved; also 5 casks of win® being ship’s stores. All farther matters connected with my shipwreck wnl he attended to by Lloyd’s agent, who will forward all my papers to the French Vice-Consul at Dunedin, New Zealand, and finally complete all matters of business for me. _, , , , . By tho Nautical Assessor—l had a general chart of New Zealand, which I purchased in San Francisco. It is not a British Admiralty chart; hut it is a British chart, published in Loudon by James Imray and Sons, dated 18GS—Western Pacific, Australia to China, Chart No. 1. Ido not attribute the loss of the ship to any error in the chart. I had no New Zealand sailing directions, and knew nothing of the current setting to the north, which I see by the British Admiralty chart plainly laid down in sheet 8, now produced to me, [Copy.] «« The barque 8.L., 364 tons. ,f As requested, I proceeded to tho wreck of this vessel yesterday afternoon, the 29th. Found sho laid end-on to tho beach, head to the westward, say, five miles north of the Brighton Hotel. « The foremast and mizenmast are cat away, and the captain states that he let go an anchor about the same time as she struck, , _ , *• At dead low water you can wade on board, and when I left, about 5 p.m., there was five feet of water in her. This was ascertained by the captain, at my request. • , . ... , , _ “ The salving of cargo (barley) will bo slow. Horses and drays will be required, and four hours each tide the probable length of time /°r work. “ The vessel was built of French oak at St. Malo, August, 1869, is spike fastened, copper to tho load line, and iron above. _ 44 (Signed) Hbkey Dunspord. « T. E. Fisher, Esq., Chairman Underwriters* Association, Christ church.” [Copy.] •• Survey Eeport of tho Barque 8,L., of St, Malo. 44 JNew Brighton beach, Canterbury, N.Z. 44 July 9th, 1879. “ We, the undersigned, hereby certify that, at the request of J. D. Macphersou, Esq., Lloyds agent, to survey the barque 8.L., of St. Malo, 36-4 tons register, Savary commander, from. San Francisco, via Auckland, with a cargo of grain, and now stranded five miles north of New Brighton, Canterbury, N.Z., wo found as follows . —Tho ship lying with her head on the beach, with a heavy list to starboard, and tho sea flowing in and out of her, port of the cargo under water, and she is considerably hogged about the middle; the front of the poop washed away, also great part of the bulwarks ; waterways strained and the seams open, also the top side seams started; main mast, topmast, and topgallant mast standing, with tho rigging and yards and part of the running gear, main galf and boom attached to tho mast; mizzon mast broken off about two feet from the deck, and now lying with part of the rigging across the the starboard main rigging; bowsprit and jibboom standing, with gear, rudder, and steering gear washed away; also, the rudder-trunk, the stern frame, wood ends frame started; and the sea flows in and out of her. "Windlass standing, one winch, also one capstan, two iron davits, one water tank, one bolt of canvas, two sails, two bowers, one stream, one kedge, one house ou deck. 44 We, tho undersigned, recommend that the yards, square mainsail, mizenmast, jibboom, main galf, main boom, cables, anchors, and all other stores he landed and sorted in allotments. After carefully inspecting tho damage the ship has sustained, she is not worth repairing, and doubtful if she can bo got off from her present position. Therefore wo now recommend the captain to abandon the ship and cargo, to bo sold by public auction as she now lays stranded on New Brighton beach, on account of whom it may concern, “Given under our hands this 10th day of July, 1879. (Signed) “ Alex. Sproul, 44 C. J. Macet, 11 Marine Surveyors.** Charles Lamande, chief officer of the French barque 8.L., states—That I have heard the captain’s statement read to mo, and that it is correct. I attribute tho loss of the vessel to the heavy sea, current, dense fog, and wind. We had not been able to take the sun, to the best of my belief, for four days. From the morning of the 28th June, 1879, we were sounding every two or three hours at the least. We wore the ship round six times during that the last time that we wore the ship round was at 8 p.m. Jean Marie Mahe, second mate and boatswain of the French barque 8.L., states —That I have heard tho captain's evidence read to me, and I state that it is correct. My watch commenced at 8 p.m. onlthe night of the wreck of the B.L. I attribute the loss of tho vessel to tho continuous had weather, dense fog, and being unable to take observations. The ship’s compasses were correct. The dead reckoning was oat owing to the lee way caused by the heavy sea and current sotting in to northward. 1 knew nothing about a northerly current. No current is laid down on the chart used by ns. Alfred Choupeaux, seaman 2nd class of the French barque 8.L., states—That I have heard the captain’s -evidence read to mo, and I say it Is correct. I was the look out man on watch before and at the time of the wreck of the 8.L., it was impossible to see anything owing to the dense fog, not even the light from Qodloy Hoad Lighthouso. I could neither see nor hoar anything of tho breakers ahead of the vessel when she struck, the storm was raging so fiercely, we were all on the look out all through the storm. Julien Carnpel, seaman 3rd class of tho French barque 8.L., states —That I heard the caxitaiu's evidence read to mo, and I say that it is correct. I was helmsman at 11 p.m. on the night of the wreck. I was steering by the wind E.S.E. Tho gulo was not so bad, bat the sea was heavy aud a thick fog. We were continually sounding with the lead. “ I certify that the foregoing statements are all correctly translated into English. Edward Bourgeois.**