WRECK OF THE BRIG ESPERANZA. I

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 338, 14 March 1868, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BRIG ESPERANZA. I

(From the Sydney Morning, Herald, Feb 21 j On Sunday last, the well-known brig Esperanza, Baker, master^ coal laden, bound for Melbourne, was wrecked at Bird Island, nearly half-way between this port and Sydney, and the captain, his wife and child, one passenger, and six seamen were uufortunately drowned. The following particulars were given by the only survivor, Peter Moss : —We sailed from Newcastle on Wednesday last, at noon, coal laden, bound for Melbourne. We had a fair wind and favorable weather. Sighted Sydney light same night. On Thursday morning, at ten o'clock, the wind shifted to the southward. Made off land, and continued the same course during all Thursday and Friday, wind drawing to the eastward all the time. On Saturday wore ship, and tried to make Sydney Heads; weather very thick and blowing a heavy gale. Kept pumps going all the time. Ou account or the strong current setting northward could not make the land. Gale iucreasing towards night, with a heavy sea ; lay -to during the night. On Sunday morning squared the yards to naake the land ; weather fearfully think, heavy "sea, gale continuing., Made Bird Island at a quarter-past seven on Sunday eveniug, distant about twenty yards; fchip right in amongst breakers. At haif-past seven let go both anchors, just inside, to the leward of Bird Island. Mad© all sail secure, and while doing so, one of the author-chains parted, and almost immediately after the dther chain parted. The captain ordered all hands on deck from aloft. The crew, seeing the danger, did not go down, except Ijhe second mate, who went on deck; the Captain asked him for a knife to cut the lashings of the chains. The second mate then went forward, when a sea struck the vessel, washing the second mate into the lee scuppers, aud the long boat and sheepfittings' wer,e washed overboard^ seas continually breaking on board. The lashings were cut. The captain then called on all hands to man the rigging, as the seas were constantly breaking on board. The steward and passenger named ''Bill" (from Hokitika and who was working tig passage to Melboure), still kept atj the pumps. The captain's wife and child were in the cabin. ; A fearful sea then struck the ship, and I immediately afterwards missed the passenger. 1 noticed the steward go the cabin and bring out tlje little child on his left arm. The cap•^ai,n's wile followed him. I was the only one aft the port rigging, and I called out to her to make haste and get up the rigging, but unfortunately her dress caught in the cabin door, and the lurch of the yespel threw her forward. She caught hold of an iron rail, when a sea struck the vessel, dashing pof r Mrs Baker flat qu her back against the skylight, completely burying her in water. She was washed backwards and forwards with the wash on deck amongst broken timber and debris. She made several struggles to get up, bnt without success. Another fearful sea struck the vessel, which carried the unfortunate '.ady overboard, and I never saw her afterwards. The same sea carriwl the steward and. the poor little child overboard.

The captain and crew, with the exception of mj sejf, were in tfye starboard rigging. I came down, aud went aft, on the port side, to see if I could discover anything of the captain's wife, and while doing so a sea struck the vessel. 1 held pn to the rail for a moment, but the sea came with such force that I was compelled to let go my hold, and immediately 1 was carried overboard, about fifteen yards from the ill-fated ship. I swam underneath the water as long aa I jould, feeling afraid the vessel would come on top of me. When coming iip I found myself in the surf, and a heavy breaker passed oyer me, when 1 gave up all for lost. I observed the vessel in the same uositipn. I cooyed to the crew without success. I then made for the shore f which I happily succeeded in reaching iv about half-an-hour, much exhausted. I soon recovered myself, and stood watching for some of the crew to come ashore. A ca sk of water was drifted up about ten minutes afterwards. I cqoeyed every ten minutes during the long night to the crew, but to no effect. I waited anxiously for daylight to see if the vessel still held together and the crow were safe. When mornn-g dawned not a vestige of the ill-fated vessel was to be seen excepting the mast, which were broken in pieces, lying on the beach. Soon afterwards Mr Hargreaves came up to me, offered me assistance, and treated me very kindly, giving me clothes and providing me with Food. We went along the beacb\ and continued, the searcli all day, but could not see anything of the bodies. I left the scene of the wreck yesterday (Tuesday) mo.rning, Mp Hargreaves kindly promising to kcjp a good look-out for any bodies that might be washed ashore, and saying they should be properly buried. Captain Baker was. well known iv Sydney, having been at one time chief oificer of the steamer Susannah Cuthbert.