HEAVY GALE AND FLOODS IN OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 554, 24 February 1868, Page 3

HEAVY GALE AND FLOODS IN OTAGO.

toco ()w 'nnw s.TAI'. OF TASMANIA * °WATEII* N Y MPil, WILLIAM MISKINI ! AND OTAGO. ‘ < NT NT. PERSONS DROWNED AT TOT All A j STATION. 1 Thk s.s. Ahuriri, which arrived from Wellington on Wednesday evening last, was the bearer of sad . f, nrr . ji,„ r ji j],. p n i nnv fi.f, * Hcsivv which passed over "Naoier on Sunday and Monday, the 2nd and 3rd February also ‘ swept with terrific violence over the Province of ( Otago, where its effects were disastrous in the extreme. From our files we compile full particulars . of the damage done. On Monday and Tuesday, 3rd and 4th Teh., {says one account) the streets of Dunedin were flooded—there being in one part of Rattray-street quite two feet of water—aud much damage was ' done. From all parts of the country news has 1 been received of houses, bridges, fencing, Src, carried away, crops and stock destroyed, an! in i several instances, unfortunately, lives lost. At Totara Station, belonging to Messrs Douglass, 1 Alderson & Co., nine persons were drowned. Mr Robert M’Auley, the manager of that < station, writing to Messrs Douglass, Alderson, & t Co., on Wednesday says, “ It is my painful duty to report to you a fearful catastrophe that visited ns on Monday night, about 11 o’clock. The Waiareka •stream, which passes our house, rose all of a sudden about two feet into our house and on looking out, the carpenter’s bouse, the blacksmith’s house, and smithy had disappeared. In the carpenter’s house were Robert Louden, carpenter ; Mrs Louden, James Louden (son.) and a little orphan girl. Iu the blacksmith’s house were James Glass, blacksmith; Thomas Richardson, laborer ; James Waddell, ploughman; Robert Young, laborer; Peter Dunn, ploughman : all of whom were drowned. Six of the ploughmen encamped at the Waiareka paddock were awoke by a little dog yelping, and found themselves in the water. After escaping from the house they joined hands, and by great exertions got on to high ground. The mill has suffered little damage. The two fellmongeries, Messrs Lees and Crowther’s, and another on the Kakanui, were completely swept away. The loss of stock is not yet known. Dead sheep are strewn along the sea beach and sides of the creeks. All the bodies of those drowned have been found, except those of Peter Dunn and those of the littie girl.” Sergeant Bullen’s report fo the Commissioner of Police states that the girl’s name was Annie Smith. Inquests had, on Wednesday, been held on the several bodies, by Mr T. W. Parker, R.M., Coroner, and a verdict of “Accidentally Drowned” was returned in each case. Mr T. Grant, son of Mr P. Grant, of Granton, was drowned at the West Taieri, aud a man named John Chapmans, commonly called “German Charley,” lost his life while crossin" I^forrsl l Creek. At Tokomariro a youth; man named ' Draper, a butcher, was drowned while attempting to cross the river. The Daily Times says : —“ It seems probable that the village of Out.-ara that was, will cease to be a township. The river has sent a branch along what was, no doubt, an old bed ; so that there is a stream through the township, which will also affect the land belonging to Mr D. Borrie.” It is supposed that Mr James Shand, of Taieri, has lost 1000 sheep. But the greatest destruction was at Oamaru, where both the Star of Tasmania, with 2300 bales of wool on board, and the Water I Nymph went on shore, and became total wrecks, involving, iu the case of the former vessel, a loss i of human life. The jetty completelv disappeared during the storm with most of the surf boats. WRECK OF THE STAR OP TASMANIA AND THE WATER NYMPH. The Oamaru Times, of the Mth inst., gives the following particulars respecting the loss of these vessels - In consequence of the stormy weather yesterday, the Blue Peter was hoisted by the Beach Master, at about 1 p.m., as a signal to the vessels lying in the roads to go to sea." There were lying in the roads at the time the ships Star of Tasmania and Water Nymph, and the schooners Anne and Emu. At half-past one the Emu sptead her canvass and worked out, and about an hour afterwards the Anne followed. We trust that both vessels may succeed in weathering out the "ale. About 7 p.m. the Star of Tasmania broke one of her chains, and shortly afterwards the other, ami rapidly drove towards the beach. There’was great excitement in town, aud hundreds flocked to the point towards which the fated vessel was driving. Shortly afterwards she came ashore, about AGO yards above the Scotch Church, and almost immediately heeled over, decks to seaward. The sea was perfectly awful, breaking on the beach with a violence never equalled in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. There were at the time some twenty-two or twenty-three souls on hoard, among whom was a lady‘passenger, named Mrs Baker, and two children. •

The vessel rapidly breaking up evcrv effort was made to save the crew and passengers, who (with the exception of the children referred to, and who, we believe, were drowned in the cabin) were seen clinging to the port side of the vessel almost drowned by the sheets of water which broke over tile ship. In the excitement several poor fellows jumped into the water, three of whom got safely to shore, being met by some of (he bvstanders, at the imminent peril of their own lives, who literally snatched the drowning men from the (aws of death , while an equal number were unable to withstand the force of the waves, and were carried out to sea and drowned. Everv effort was then made, to save the remainder ; a boat was brought, but it- was found it could not live in such a tremendoussea ; rifles were also brought into reqnisitiGn, with the hope of firing ramrods with line attached across the vessel, hut from some cause or other, with no effect. All sorts of expedients were fruitlessly tried to carrv a life-line to the crew who could be seen, with .Mrs Baker, supP® r *~ °y Captain Cnlbert, din ring to the side r\v rho vocooi Af i. N ▼% ,« - ***..■ — * —■. oersreanc DUiien. ol in* t*OilPP. PCsavoH eorawnl • ••«

'lines ai, me mumnenr pent of his Lie, to threw a life-line to those on hoard the wreck; but owing apparently to the line being too heavj, he could not succeed in doing so. Duncan Young, one of the men employed by the Jjanding Service Company, then ventured boldly into the water, with a line fastened ronnd his Crm«t nr>d i,: n. n • ■» tu icauimg me vessels SIQC, up which he clambered amid the cheers of the bystanders. By this time the masts were over the side, and the vessel as far forward as the forehatch, completely broken up. Darkness had now set in, bnt a large bonfire was kept np upon the beach, v. inch threw its light upon a sea of peril seldom equalled. Cheers greeted the daring man who had, at the risk of his own life, borne the means of salvation to the almost perished crew, which were redoubled as one after the ether made the perilous descent by the life-line fromt he vessel’s side to the shore. Mrs Baker was brought safely to land on the shoulders of Mr Stevens, the jnate of the vessel. Captain Cnlbert was the last

man to leave his ship, and it was with a feeling of thankfulness that he was seen to step, or rather totter, ashore. Dr Wait was in attendance upon the shinwreeked sailors, some of whom were scarcely’able to stand, and paid them every attention in" his power. About nn hour after the wreck of the Star, the Water Nymph came ashore about half a miie to the northward, but all her crew fortunately escaped safely to land, except as regards the mate, who broke his arm. The late hour at which our notice was penned, and the circumstance that our reporter was wellnigh drowued, must be our excuse for so meagre details of a disaster the most serious which has ever visited this port. We cannot help, however, (>TDffi£ e, *!l l> C"** noHIo /'or.Hnpt »>f Duncan Young will meet with that recognition which is its just due at the hands of the Government and public.

Sergeant Bullen, who is in charge at Oamaru, has sent in a full report as to the wrecks, and the floods in the neighborhood of Oamaru. Sergeant Bullen refers to the gale, and to the small vessels getting out of the roadstead; and he continues—

At 3’30 p.m. the Star was observed drifting, having apparently parted her chain. She was moored with her own chain attached to the swivel of the Government moorings. Having gone about 300 yards, she was brought up with the starboard anchor. She continued to drag this anchor, and the chain, which had been broken from the swivel was being hauled in, when, at 7 p.m. she parted from her anchor, her head canting in shore. Sail was set hut to no purpose. * * * * Alter this she heeled over to starboard, and the seas went clean over Her. Her deck was soon stove in, her masts went, aud the sea came through her bilge, washing out the wool, of which there were over 2100 bales on board. During this time the crew were on the upper or shore side of the forecastle. Captain Culbert had barely time to crawl forward before the after part of the vessel gave way. He was seen holding Airs Baker, whose two boys, aged three and five years respectively, were drowned in the forecastle, where their mother had put them for shelter and safety. During (his time lines were being procured, with the view of getting one on hoard, but the sea was so terrific that no person dared venture sufficiently near the vea.-el for the purpose, the “ drawback” aud pieces of broken spars, rendering it a service of great danger. Several persons having failed, the Sergeant fastened a line round his body, and took in his hand a line with a weight attached to its end. He ventured into the surf, and made three, unsuccessful attempts. If there had been daylight, the last throw would have been successful, for the weight struck amongst the people on (he ship - hut through the darkness, they did not see the line, and they did not know what was being tried until they heard the blow of the weight on tinship’s side. After the throw referred to, the Sergeant was knocked down by a s'-a, or by a floating bale of wool, and he was with difficulty hauled on shore. He was so exhaused that he was not again able to essay such an attempt. The crew were now hailed to hold on, as the tide was receding. About 10 p.m. a surf-hoat man, Duncan Y oung, succeeded in getting on hoard with a rope, one end of which was fastened on board, aud the other held by the people on shore. It being now nearly low water, the whole of those on board were passed safely ashore. Shortly afier the vessel struck, Air Stevens, the Chief Oliicer, fell, or was washed oIT the forecastle. He was tossed about for some time in the Isurf, and was then thrown on the beach and was jsaved. A seaman was saved in a similar manner. ]One man who jumped overboard was last seen jelinging to a bale of wool, outside the line of surf. Brooks aud Petrie, two seamen, are the only ones of the crew lost; and the other two sufferers are the children of Air Baker.

Whilst all were engaged at her, the Water] Nymph was seen close in shore, with all sail set. j But the crew could not beep her off; and about j ten o’clock, she struck 100 yards north of the Star. Being light (she had but 244 bales of wool), she was washed nearly high and dry almost as soon as she struck. All hands got safely out of her, saving their effects. Owing to her canvass being set, she canted in shore, and remained comparatively steady ; but in a short time water was seen breaking through her main hatchway, and it was evident that her outer bilge was stove in. She now [ll a.m. Tuesday] lies on her beam ends with her back broken. 2 p.rn.—The auction of (he wrecks concluded. That of the Star sold for £4O, the wool for £I3OO. The wreck of the Water Nymph sold for £172, and her 244 bales of wool for £SIO. The purchasers of the Star’s wool are a company here, and of the. Water Nymph’s, Messrs Cargills and M'Lcan. Both the vessels and the wool are insured. Several seamen of each ship have been injured, hut not seriously.

February s.—The bodies of the two seamen(Brooks and Petrie) of the Star of Tasmania, were recovered to-day from the surf in front of the town; and later on the bodies of the children were recovered, namely, James E. Baker, aged 51 years, and Malcolm W. Baker, 3 years. The bodies are to be buried to-morrow. LOSS OF THE SCIIOOXEK OTAGO, Capt. Clark, of Port Chalmers, who was the owner of the schooner Otago, has also received from Mr Aitken the following information with regard to the wreck of that vessel. Mr Aitken communicates the gratifying news (bat Captain Campbell and his crew were fortunately able to save themselves before the vessel broke up. He writes:— “ I am sorry to have to inform yon of the wrrek of the Otago. She left here about mid-day on Monday, being ordered out by the Harbor Master. The wind was then south-east, with a nasty heavy sea. Captain Campbell slipped his cable, and made a very pood ofling, so far as I could see, and I believe he continued to do so till between five and s’x o’clock, when the rudder-head gave way. Then, of course, there was nothiug for it but to run for the land, which was made about seven miles from here. The cr.jptain and crew got ashore with great difficulty, ana saved nothino- but the clothes they wore, and the greater part of the clothes they were wearing they had to leave behind when the vessel struck. All here whe know anything of the sea had lost all hopes of ever seeing the crew alive again. The, vessel, everyone knew, must have ccrr.c ashore somewhere on the coast, the sea was so terrific. I was mote nroud to see Captain Campbell and his crew "this morning, having given (hem up for lost. A few pieces of the wreck hare been washed ashore down here, and the captain picked np a part of his time-piece on the beach just about where the Vistula was lying.” LOSS OF THE WILLIAM MISKIX. The Otago Daily Times of the Bth says—Early this morning we received intelligence, bv the Geeion g from Oamarn, that the William Miskin had gone ashore at Timaru, and was a total wreck. The Bed Rover had sailed. We could not learn j wheth.fr the crew of the William Miskin were sayed or not.