NARROW ESCAPE OF THE GANYMEDE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2412, 28 December 1881, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE GANYMEDE.

|“ Morning Herald,” December 27th. J

On the night of December 21th, when the tng Plucky was outside, the flash of a blue light was seen in the direction of Capo Saunders, but no importance was attached to the circumstance, as it was thought two ketches wore exchanging compliments. But on the mornin jof the 25th Captain M’Callum received a telegram from the Heads informing him that a large barque was distant seven miles north, having lost three topmasts and jibhoom. The Plucky left the Port at 10.55 a.m , with Pilot Kelly, and sped down to the Heads. On getting outside the vessel was made out to be an iron barque in light ballast trim, and speculation was rife as to what she would prove to bo, some hazarding an opinion that it was the Sam Mendel returned. On approaching her the name Ganymede on her bow was read by means of the glass, and it was then known that she was the vessel reported by the Botorua on the 21st December. A tow lino being put on board, and Pilot Kelly having taken charge, the vessel was brought up harbor and moored to No. 4 buoy at 2.30 p.m. She is a whole* ome looking iron barque, 669 tons register, built at Sunderland in 1868, and owned by Mr White of Timaru. Captain Morgan, her commander, is well-known here, as is alao_Mr Couaens, the chief officer. The difficulty into which the Ganymede fell was _ owing to the shifting of her ballast, which is composed of beach shingle and is notoriously dangerous, more than one vessel figuring on the list of missing presumedly through the ballast shifting. Indeed Captain (Morgan and his officers and crew may be said to have saved their lives by little short of a miracle, and that they should have brought the vessel _ into port, although in a dismasted condition, speaks volumes for their pluck and skill. Having eight passengers on board only tended to increase Captain Morgan’s responsibility, but even at the worst ho had a thought for them, and they speak in high terms of the conduct of the captain, his officers, and crew. Some idea of the manner in which the vessel heeled over may be inferred from the fact that her keel was some four feet out of the water, and the passengers had to walk on the starboard side of the cabins. She left Timaru _on December 17th, and experienced variable wirds and moderate weather down the coast, entering Foveanx Straits on the 21st inst., and on reaching the Narrows was met with a furious gale from the westward, which compelled her to run back to the southward of Stewart’s Island, where she lay-to under her two lower topsails until midnight of the 22nd, when it was discovered that her ballast (composed of Timaru shingle) had shifted. The helm was immediately put np. and an attempt was made to wear ship, but it was found impossible to get her before the wind. Sail was then clewed up fore and aft, when a tremendous sea struck her, and the squalls continuing with unabated fury, she was thrown on her beam-ends, the lee side of the main hatch being completely under. Mr Couseus, with some of the hands, went below to endeavor to trim the ballast, while the rest, by the direction of Captain Morgan, attempted to get the boats clear. "When the chief officer returned on deck and reported the water coming down the main hatch, and the whole of the ballast quite 3ft to the leeward of the keelson and above the ’tween-deck, it was deemed advisable, for the safety of the passengers and crew, to get the boats over the side. The lashings of the gig wore cut and the boat turned up on the skids, when a sudden lurch of the ship swamped her. A similar fate met the pinnace, and as the longboat’s lashings were being cut another sea struck her. tearing away the chocks, which were bolted to the deck, and floating the boat over the rail, several of the crow and the officers being washed overboard with her. They, however, managed to get hold of something coming in with the sond-back of the sea, and were washed on board again. Finding the vessel in a sinking condition, the water coming in by the hatches, her fore and main topmasts were cut away, which eased her slightly. All hands at once sot to, and with great difficulty trimmed the ballast, and finding a slight impression had been made on her (the lee rail being in sight), the mate was directed to take some of the hands, clear away the wreckage, and secure the lower yards, the trusses of which had carried away and left them hanging in the slings, threatening to come down every instant. Her jibhoom was also carried away, taking with it a part of the port cathead, remaining floating and attached to the ship by one of the guys, which were kept fast. As the ship was lying in the trough of the sea, the spanker and mizzen staysail were set, which, together with the wreckage floating on her wa-.ther bow, had the effect of keeping her up to the wind a little more. Trimming ballast was continued without intermission, the men only relieving one another in order to take a little coffee and a mouthful of food until 4 p.m. on the 23rd inst., when they had succeeded in trimming her nearly upright. Her lower yards were then secured with rolling tackle, truss lashings, &c., and a spare sail was bent and set on the forestay, together with the foresail, brailed mizzen, and mizzen staysail. The wreck of the jibhoom was cut away, the helm put np, and she squared away for Port Chalmers before a gale of wind, which moderated on running north, with considerably leas sea, and arrived as before mentioned.