THE MISSING SHIP KNOWSLEY HALL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1865, 14 February 1880, Page 3

THE MISSING SHIP KNOWSLEY HALL.

It is publicly announced that in compliance with the prayer of an influential re quisition, the Lords of the Admiralty have intimated their decision to send out a vessel immediately to Kerguelen to endeavor to discover traces of the ship Knowsley Hall, which left the Thames some months ago and has not since been heard of. This step has been taken mainly in consequence of the following correspondence which has taken place between Sir Julius Vogel and the Admiralty : “ November 281 h, 1879.

“ Sir, —I have the honor to avail myself of the permission you gave me at the interview I had with you yesterday to re-open the question of sending one of her Majesty’s ships to the Orozet Islands to search for supposed survivors of the Knowsley Hall.

“It is, of course, impossible to express a positive opinion that the Knowsley Hall was wrecked off the Orozet group ; but, looking at the various causes which may have contributed to her loss, I am fortified by good authority in saying that wreck off the Crozets is the most probable. Such also is the opinion in New Zealand, as the telegram of the Premier of the colony which I submitted to you yesterday attested. The question then is should the doubt be set at rest by succour being sent in case of its being needed. Actual experience has shown, in the case of the wreck of the Strathmore, that _ life may be supported for a considerable time on these desolate islands ; but, even were it otherwise, and no survivors remain to tell tho tale, it would, at least, be satisfactory that the dead should be buried and some precaution taken for the future. For it is much to be regretted that no stores were deposited on the islands when her Majesty’s ship Wolverene called there.

“ I would, indeed, submit that in the interests of humanity, if there were no reason to suppose that survivors of the Knowsley Hall were on the islands, stores should be deposited there. I would further submit that the nearly three years which have elapsed since the last visit was paid to these islands is a long interval to leave without inspection a dangerous group of islands in the immediate vicinity of tho commonly-used track to Australia and New Zealand. It is true that the adoption of a high-latitude route which brings vessels near to the Crozets, is in opposition to the express recommendation of tho Admiralty. “This is, indeed, one of the arguments which I understood Admiral Hall to lay stress upon as a reason for not sending one of Her Majesty’s vessels to the spot.

“ I must respectfully submit that the merchant marine of Great Britain has grown up by the exercise of a fearless enterprise which relied on itself rather than on Government aid. Notwithstanding the opinion of the Admiralty. merchant ships continue to pass close to the Orozet group. I have myself passed close to it, and probably at least a ship a week passes within 300 miles of it. When property only is at stake, the mercantile marine usually takes care of itself ; but when life or death is the question at issue, it has been usual to look to her Majesty’s ships to spare no pains and to be deterred by no fear from tendering the promptest aid. A nation which, again and again, and yet again, sent out costly expeditions to search for the remains of Sir John Franklin and his party cannot rest contented under the possibility, not to say probability, that some seventy human creatures may be wearing away their lives upon forlorn islands close to a much frequented track without seeking to solve the question. “ Fortunately the solution is at once easy and comparatively, cheap. One of her Majesty’s vessels, with little risk or expenditure, can call off tho group, and, as I have said, even if tho Knowsley Hall survivors are not there, the cause of humanity will be served by a visit after an interval of three years and by establishment of a depot containing stores for the use of shipwrecked persons. “ I am aware that on a previous occasion my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty expressed an unfavorable opinion concerning the establishment of a depot at the Crozets for various reasons given. Some of these reasons are partially met by Captain Brine’s experience on his visit to the group in the Wolverine, and for the rest I respectfully urge that those reasons are not sufficiently a justification for leaving witheut succour a group of dangerous islands in the near neighborhood of which ships, whether prudently or not, are in the habit of resorting. However, I am more concerned in asking for a search after the Knowsley Hall thar for the establishment of a depot. _ “ I may point out that, while I am moved in this matter by the Government of New Zealand, the question is not one of a colonial character. The vessel, it is true, was proceeding to New Zealand, but she sailed from England, and the relations and friends, of the unhappy seventy people on board reside in this country. I feel sure that lam uttering an opinion that would be echoed by hundreds of thousands of persons, if the facts were known, when I add that the people of this country cannot rest contented with the possibility, not to say probability, of seventy human beings being allowed to perish for want of aid on a group of islands situated about 1000 miles from her Majesty’fi possessions in South Africa and within 200 miles of a much-frequented seaway. “ I have the honor to be, sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “Julius Voobl, “Agent-General for New Zealand.” “ Admiralty, Deo. 2nd, 1879. “ Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 28th ult., representing the necessity of sending one of her Majesty’s ships to the Orozet Islands to search for the supposed survivors of the ship Knowsley Hall, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that her Majesty’s ship Oomus will shortly proceed to China, and will be ordered to examine the Orozet Islands and ascertain if any shipwrecked people are among them.

“ My Lords, however, observe that your letter contains no reason whatever for sup* posing that the Knoweley Hall his been wrecked on those islands or has foundered near them. “ I am further to remark that their Lordships are unable to undertake to provide a depot of provisions and other stores at the Orozets, and they cannot too earnestly urge on all who have any interest in the mercantile marine of Great Britain that ships should not be encouraged to run so far south as these islands, for by so doing the masters not only endanger the lives and property in their charge, but most prebably lengthen the voyage to a considerable extent. “ I am, sir, your obedient servant, “ Eobbbt Haxb.

“ Sir Julius Vogel, “ Agent-General for New Zealand,

“ 7, Westminster-Ohambers, S.W.” The publication of the above gave rise to some correspondence in the London papers. Amongst the letters are the following : “ Sir, —With reference to your article in today’s issue, advocating the establishment of a depot of provisions and clothing on one of the Crozet Islands, for the relief of any mariners or passengers who may have the misfortune to become shipwrecked in the future or may be forced to seek refuge on those islands, it may be satisfactory to intending voyagers to know that (subject to the consent of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to whom application has been made) by H.M.B, Oomus, instructed to search the Orozets on her passage to Australia with the object of ascertaining if the missing ship Knowsley Hall has been wrecked on any of the a supply of provisions and clothing, provided at the cost of the firms immediately associated in the despatch of passenger ships to the Australian and New Zealand colonies, will be sent. It is hoped the weather may be sufficiently favorable to enable the commander of her Majesty’s ship Oomus to effect a landing on the Orozets and to place the

supplies in some protected position. As the charterers of the ship Knowsley Hall, it may be some source of consolation to those whoso friends embarked on that ship, to learn that not any portion of her cargo consisted of gunpowder, explosives or anything known to be of a dangerous or combustible nature, that the master was a skilled and careful navigator, and that this Company’s written instructions to him were to avoid going into a higher southern latitude than 43 deg. to 44 deg., the higher parallel being, in the opinion of Capt. jUindesay Brine, of her Majesty’s ship Wolverine, which vessel last sighted the Crozets, the extreme degree to which merchant ships would venture. Assuming these instructions to have been observed, it is hoped the fate of the people on board the Knowsley Hall has not been such as that suggested in your article.

I am, sir, your obedient servant, O. R. Steickland, Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited). 84, Bisbopsgate street, E 0., London, Dec. 10 h.

The Agent General for New Zealand subsequently wrote the following letter :

Sir, —Will you allow me to further trespass on your columns in reply to letters which appear to-day about the Crozets, as well as to numerous private letters which I have received ?

The Admiralty consider it a matter of principle not to encourage high-latitude sailirg by establishing a depot at the Crozets. But they have agreed to allow the Comus to carry out stores. Mr Strickland, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, has arranged with the various shipping companies trading to New Zealand and Australia to supply the cost of these. A list was prepared by my despatching officer, Mr Smith, and he, in conjunction with Mr Strickland, is seeing to their being properly selected and packed in small packages. The stores comprise provisions, clothing, utensils, and tools, but no wines or spirits. The L-mdon, Chatham, and Dover Railway will not only carry the stores free to Sheerness, but agree to supply, if necessary, special vans attached to passenger trains. The Oomus is expected to sail next week. I am asked in many directions what are the chances of the ship having been wrecked on the Crozets. In my opinion the chance is a remote one, but still sufficiently encouraging to make it unwarrantable to delay the search. Of the four causes which may have led to the loss of the vessel—viz , foundering, fire, iceberg, or wreck off the Crozets —I think the last the most probable. A singular circumstance is that one of the officers in the Knowsley Hall was one of the officers in the Strathmore who in 1875 were rescued from the Crozets. I should also say that merchant captains do not agree with the Admiralty as to the danger of high latitudes. I have a letter before me from an experienced captain, in which he contends that a passage even south of the Crozets is smoother, safer, and healthier than one to the north of 45 degrees. I am far from being of the same opinion, but when it is considered that many captains hold this view, and that many vessels are involuntarily driven south, it cannot, I think, be denied that a depot at the Crozets is necessary, besides periodical inspections. Because the shipping companies have so liberally and promptly subscribed for the stares it must not be considered that they favor high latitude passages. I understand that they are guided solely by the consideration that no one can safely say such stores may not be needed, and in case they are needed they may make all the difference between life and death. I have the honor to be, sir. Your obedient servant, Julius Vogel, Westminster Chambers, 8.W., December 12th.