Wreck of "Montmorency"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 20, 8 February 1937, Page 9

Wreck of "Montmorency"

RUSSELL

DUNCAN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — ln your issue of the 4th. inst. you describe the efforts o£ Bouvenir huntere in their unsuccessful efforts to obtain pieces of wood from the old wreck and their coticlusion that the ship was constructed of iron. This iB not so, for ehe was of compoaite build, with iron ribs or frame and wooden planking. The deck beams were probably wood and were burned with the ship. The following description is taken from Lloyd's Eegister : — "Montmorency" built at Quebeo n 1854, 668 tons, length 168ft. 4in., breadth 32ft., depth 18ft., 7iix., Spruce, Felt and 1'eliow metal. The ship arrived at Napier on Mareh 24, 1867, and was anchored at the usual place, the passengers being landid sately. Late on the night of the 27th., or early on the 28th, fire broke out on board and very soon enveloped the ship, the crew getting away iu their own boats. A cannon fired from the barracks was the first intimation ashore that there was anything wrong. The hre burned fiercely and it was a magnificent sight m the darlmess, The harbour master, to avoid the obstructions the wreck would be if allowed to sink at the anchorage engpged the s.s. "Star of the South" to tow the burning ship away and beach her. Very great difticulty was experienced in getting cohnection with the 1 'JMontmorency's" chain cable. The ohain was hot to the water 's edge, and ~not only that, the heat radiating from the burning mass made it a hard task to takb a boat near the cable. However, when this difficulty was oyercome the "Star of the South" towed the burning vessel away from her ailchorage and succeeded in running her aground, where ehe lies to this day. Tne ship was drawing 16ft. - of water when she took the ground. Most of the passengers' luggage and all the cargo was lost. As years went by the expose'd woodwork was washed away aixd at low tide all that could be seen were two gauut rows of iron ribs standing up in the water. One day the Government steamer "Luna" happened along and droppea her anchor as near as she could to the old wreck, and with th6 aid of a long hawser >and her stearu winch removed all the iron ribs, aiid hoisted them on board, as well as all' piefces of iron getable. Since the earthquake of 1931 the whole length of the ship can be seen at low water. If souvenir huntefs would visit the beach near the wreck after the lirst heavy north-easterly sea they would no doubt be able to pick up some old worm eaten wood.— Yours, etc.,

Napier, Febrnary 5, 1937.