STORMY VOYAGING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2410, 26 December 1881, Page 3

STORMY VOYAGING.

[“ Argus,” December 10th.] The barques Jerusalem, from Foochow, with tea, and the Orange Grove, from Mauritius, with sugar, have contrived to crowd a good deal of incident into their respective passages, and both vessels have been in imminent peril. The Jerusalem, after loading up with some 800 tons of tea, left for this port on October 12th, and on the evening of the 13th, in the Formosa Channel, heavy weather set in. At 9 p.m. the wind came away from N.E , and was accompanied with heavy lightning from the S.E. The vessel was kept running for a time with the expectation of sailing out of the threatened typhoon, but as the storm continued to increase, the canvas was taken off until she was under the two lower topsails only. At 6 p.m, a fearful sea struck her, and as she was fairly overborne by stress of wind as well, she was thrown on her beam ends for eleven hours. The starboard boat was washed clean away, as well as spare spars and everything moveable on deck, and the bulwarks were smashed in by the seas which broke over her. After the weather moderated the barque was left with a list of about three streaks, and some difficulty was experienced in trimming her and getting her upright again. On examination it was found that the topsides had sustained some damage, and that the vessel was strained about the stanchions. This was remedied to a certain extent by a liberal application of oakum and the caulking iron, and although the water from the pumps was at first tinged by tea, the discoloration soon ceased. This outburst of weather was followed by light winds and variables to Gaspar Straits, where the vessel, at 2 p.m. on November 4th, was carried by a strong current on to a coral reef in Middle Channel, off Barren Island, her speed at the time being about six knots. As soon as she grated on the reef in shoal water the sails were thrown aback, and although the situation was critical, Captain Breach proved equal to the occasion. Finding the tide falling, a heavy kedge with a coir hawser was run out and hove well tight. Soundings were taken, and it was found that the barque was hanging by the nose on a coral patch not laid down on the chart. The soundings gave ten fathoms aft, and five fathoms at the main rigging, while at the forefoot there were only two and a half fathoms. With a view to lighten her forward some 200 tons of cargo were taken aft, and stowed in the cabin and on the poop. Chain cables, stream chains, and everything heavy and portable were carried aft, and the starboard anchor W’B carried out ever the quarter with a beat tow-line, and laid to the body of the wrindlass. The hawsers wore hove tight on the Sth instant at low water, and on the following day, after being stuck on the reef for forty-one honrs, the barque was got off again into deep water. The snoceas attendant on the strenuous efforts of Captain Breach and his crew was undoubted, and throughout the whole of the time the men worked cheerily, and did their utmost to second the exertions of the master and officers. The pnmpa were carefully sonnded after the barque got clear of the reef, but very little water was made. A run was then made through Clements’ Channel, and the anchor was let go, in order that the crew might have a much needed rest, and that the cargo might he re stowed, and the vessel placed in proper trim. Captain Breach was told by the Natives that the Jernealem was the fifth vessel which had struck on the same reef, and that the other four had their bottoms stove in. The escape of the Jerusalem was to them little short of miraculous. The voyage was resumed on the Sth ult., and Snnda Straits wore cleared on the 12th. Careful navigation was required daring the remainder of the voyage, and CapBreach had a trying time of it altogether, with the weather and his vessel being so tender.

The second adventure was that of the Orange Grove, which sailed from Port Lonia on October 28th, end had shifting westerly winds until the 27th nit., when heavy gales set in, and on the evening of that date, while the maintopsail was being lowered, the claw shackle on the portyard arm of the lower topsail-yard carried away, and the port elew of the nppertopsail knocked a hole in the lower maintopsail. The upper topsail was stowed, but before the men bad time to touch the lower topsail the wind increased to hurricane force and there was a fearful high sea. The maintopsail; was out from the yard, and at the same time a fearful sea rolled up on the port quarter and filled the decks, taking away the bouse abaft the mainmast and all the contents. The back water burst in the fore part of the cabin and completely gutted the mate’s room, besides filling the after compartment, damaging all the stores, filling the captain’s cabin, and washing oat his chest, mail bags, and writing desk and contents, the ship’s papers and certificates, &o. As soon as the crew could get down from aloft the foresail was hauled up, and in trying to clue the foratopsail it took charge. Men wore sent np to cut it away, and the ship was brought to the wind on the port tack, under mizen staysail. The foresail was made fast in the best manner possible, and the wreckage was cleared away. The wind was now blowing a complete hurricane, and Captain Patching held a short consultation with his officers. It was thought best for the safety of all concerned to throw a portion of the cargo overboard from aft to lighten the ship. About 109 pockets and six bags sugar were jettisoned, and finding it was not safe to keep the hatch open, the men were called out of the hold, and the hatch was secured. On Tuesday, the 29th, the after compartment was baled oat, although there were only two buckets, the rest having been washed overboard with the house. The pump belonging to the compartment was also choked with the dthrit from tho stores, &o. The cargo was also damaged, owing to the combings of the cabin having been started and leaking, and the whole of the cabin was much shattered, so that it is neither wind nor water tight. This gale wns the heaviest that Captain Patching has ever experienced during forty-four years of a sea life.