THE WRECK OF THE MARIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1162, 19 April 1872, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE MARIA.

timesj; At last, finding that it was useless to pull against" wind and current, we ran to leeward, and found the other boat had landed in a small bay on Hinchinbrook Island, where we arrived at about 12 a.m. on the 27th; thoroughly exhausted. The weather did not moderate for several days, and there was not the least chance of leaving. We explored the island, 1 and found by comparing it and neighboring islands with the island marked Hinchinbrook on the chart (which I had seen) that this could be no other. The bread which we had in the boats hod become saturated with salt water and mixed into pulp. It afterwards became mouldy. We subsisted seven days" bn periwinkles, which I found excellent in their own way, but I will never eat any more if I can avoid doing so. The weather being a little better on Saturday, the 3rdinst., we took to the boats . and .pulled round the island towards Card well, which we reached safely. on Sunday morning, 12 a.m., and where our wants were immediately attended to with great kindness.

The following account of the wreck of the Maria, having on board the ill-fated New Guinea Expedition, is abridged from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 27th March. The narrator is MrGoble, the Btorekeeper of the vessel :—

The Flinders Passage was supposed to be safely passed, but at 1, a.m. on thq 25th there was a cry of " breakers ahead," and every one tumbled vp f in alarm. The' oouroe of the ship was altered, so as to clear tho reef, but during the day reefs were discerned in al' directions, and it reauired great vigilance to 'keep clear of lem. Night came o% and brought a strong south-east breeze, with rain and frequent Bqualls. The topsails were reefed, and the maintopsail backed, and we lay quiet enough within a circle of breakers. During the afternoon I went aloft -and descried tiie land apparently distant about 17 or 18 miles. I do not think the captain knew his position: At about two o'clock on the morning of the 26th another cry of ' breakers under the lee bow' startled us and therskipper— he, would not turn out until thus aroused, yet complained of fatigue— took to our legs and the deck. Some orders were given, and the vessel was kept sailing on— the course various— until ■ three o'clock, when , shegrazed on a reef and passed over it, but in about five minutes mdro went bump on another and forged on to it. - Threequarters of an hour passed, when she commenced to break up astern, and tho water rushed in. . No steps were taken by the captain to secure life. Bafts of a shaky description were constructed uuder the superintendence of the chief-, mate, who was crazy with excitement. Not so the members, who iemained cool throughout. I, with 'assistance, gdt &\i the stores on the deck of the vessel, thinking that if she did not go off., the .reef into deeper water, they. would, then perhaps remain dry, and we could hang them out until some' 41S8^ance.aTmvedr^Unt8rtMTfiaTely* the vessel co tomericed -to Heave) the reef and- drift into deepar water. Both anchors were let go, but they did not restrain her from swinging clear of the shallow water. Previous to going below to hoist out stores, having some suspicion of the captain's intentions, I asked wbist he meant to do— if he would adopt proper measures to secure as much: life as possible and stick to, the wreck. ; He- replied that he would stick to the last ; and I

said, if that is the case you will not be left alone, and then proceeded to work, but I had not been engaged more than thirty minutes when I was informed that the captain had left the ship with six men, faking the only good boat we possessed, saying he was going to procure assistance. I hurried on deck ; it was breaking day, and I could just see the boat making away, but it was too late to stop her. This boat would have held 25 men, and it was the only serviceable boat we possessed. The two remaining boats were then lowered, and I placed a small quantity of provisions, with water, in-each; -dropped them astern ready, foe .use, and mounted guard on the taffrail with a revolver in my pocket to prevent . any similar. mishap occurring. Many begged me to let them into the boats, but the majority of the men behaved nobly, amd there were individual instances of courage and magnanimity which I never shall forget. The more excited* individuals I tried to calm, and was successful. The ship was fast settling down. ' I knocked off the lids of throe cases, one of brandy, of port, and of sherry wine (our sole stock), and commenced to se,rve it out, expecting there wonld be a rush for the alcohol, but no such event happened, and I left the cases open that each might help himself, but none cared - to; drink. One yQong, fellow proposed a big drink for the last to his mate, who replied, ' No, na ; it won't do to go to hell drunk.' I think: that a case and a> half lies in the vessel yet. Two rafts were launched 'at about a quarter'to 7, : and 'the' people crowded on them. I remained on deck, as I had made up my m&d to stick to the second mate, who had resolved, to be the^last matt on the wreck!, but through' some accident one of the boats got adrift, and there being only two men in it and a strong wmd blowing, .they , could not manage to mako hea.d against it; so I jumped* into the 'other boat, called in a orew, and gave. chase. . ; We; soon' overhauled her, and pnt in two bands, and polled np to the wreck, which we had barely reached when she heeled over and sank, leaving only her topgallant-masts above water. There was no outcry, only a slight wail, from those who were suddenly submerged. I think all but one or two, reached the topgallant rigging. I saw Mr C. F. Andrew, .the second mate (and member of the expedition), reach. the rigging, and throw a liae from thence to. the mast on which he stood for a time, then plunged into the water to rescue others, whom he placed on his perch; several he thus placed temporarily in a place of comparative safety. An empty tank which was bnmping against the poor fellows, and likely to knock them off, be made desperate efforts to cut through with his tomahawk, which ho had siting to. the rigging previous to the vessel sinking. He was requested to go in one of the boats by all in the rigging, and was continually, called to jump by the boat's erew — some urged him to remember his wife and child, but he could not be induced to leave his post, bat made the others go, and afterwards perceiving that tho breaker of water was not iv the boat, he cat away that, which he had secured for himself, threw* it towards the boat, and wished them' Godspeed. We rescued those who were in the most critical position, and the boat being' small and a veay heavy sea on, only twdnty-eight person? could be carried in safety. Those on the rafts told u» not. to .coino too near or- we .should be swamped— some beckoned,, but nearly all shouted to keep off. We accordingly pulled away as hard as we could towards the nearest point of land visible, which was 18 miles distant, in order to land and return to rescue others, but we could not return. The wind increased and a heavy sea made, which prevented, us getting to windward. One boat drifted on to Hinchinbrook Island — the name of the land or position was not known until afterwards, but we, in ortr boat, made effort to reach some islands to windward. As I knew that. Cleveland Bay mußt be Considerably to the south, where I knew that assistance could be. best procured, *o stuck to the oars all day and night, •ieavy squalls occurred at intervals, ai.d she boat was nearly swamped seveial