HEAVY GALE AND FLOODS IN OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 60, 24 February 1868, Page 47

HEAVY GALE AND FLOODS IN OTAGO.

£OSS OF #HE STAR OF TASMANIA WATER-NYMPH, william miskin, AND. -Q|^GO. NINE PE&SQNS DROWNED AT TOTARA ■ . STATION. .

The s.s. Ahurin, which arrived from Wellington on Wednesday evening last, was the bearer of sad news from the southern parts of the Colony. The heavy gale which passed over Napier 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 oftbedamag^doae.^;., On Monday ;and Tuesday, 3rd and 4th Feb., . (snyn one account} the streets of Dunedin were -flooded—there being in one part cf Rattray-stroet Suite two feet of/water—and’ much damage was one. From all parts of the country news has been received of houses,. bridges, fencing, &c carried away, crops and stock destroyed, an! iu several instances, unfortunately, lives lost. At Totara Station, belonging to Messrs Douglass, Anderson & Cp,, nine persons were drowned. Mr Robert M’Aulev, the manager of that station, writing to Messrs Douglass, Alderson & 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 w aiareka stream, which passes our house, rose j of a , SU^en al3out two feet into our house; and, on .looking out, the carpenter’s house, the blacksmith’s house, and smithy had disappeared. In the carpenter’s house were Robert Louden, ®"^P®bter; Mrs Louden, James Louden (son) and a little orphan girl. In the blacksmiths house were James Glass, blacksmith; Thomas ■ laborer; James Waddell, ploughman • Robert Young, laborer; Peter Dunn, ploughman • aU of whom were drowned. Six of the ploughmen encamped at the Waiareka paddock were awoke by a little dog yelping, and found themwyves in the water. After escaping from the house they joined hands, and by great exertions got on to high ground. The mill has suffered uttle damage. The two fellmongeries, Messrs - Lees and Crowther’s, and another on thcKakanui, 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, exof Peter Dunn and those of thel’ittie girl.” . Sergeant Bullen’s report to the Commissioner ,of Police states that the girl’s name was ■Annie Smith.. Inguests 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, and a man named John.Chapmans, commonly called “ German Charley,” lost his life while crossing Morrel Creek. At Tokomariro a young. man named Draper, a batcher, was drowned while attempting - f to cross the river.. The Daily Times say S: —“lt seems probable that the village of Outrara 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.” . 1 - It is supposed that Mr James Shand, of Taieri, has lost 1000 sheep. Butt-lie greatest destruction _. was at Qamaru, whete both the Star of Tasmania, with 2200 bales of wool on board; and the Water Nymph went on shore, and became, total wrecks, involving, inthecase of the former vessel, a loss of human life. • The jetty completely disappeared during-the storm with most of the surf boats.' ' ■ tVBECKQF THE STAR OF TASMANIA. AND THE -i WATER. NYMPH. : ' ; The Oamaru Times, pf the ;14th inst., gives the ; following particulars respecting the loss of -these ..vessels•

, : . :':,ln;coiiseguence of the stormy, weather yesterday, the Blue : Peter .’was hoisted ,by the Beacli j at about 1 p.m., as aeignaltothe vessels -r ; .lyinjg in,,the‘roads togb to sea;' There were lying '• irithe roads atlKritimethe'shipsßtar of Tasmaniu .fad .Water Nymph, and the' schooners Anne and Emtu' At half-past one; the Emu spread her canvass and; worked-out, and about, am,hour afterwards .the; 1 Ague Mowed, both

vessels may gale. About 7 p.m. the one of her chains, and shoftly ■ Sgjlms?tim:-6ther J add rapidly drove towaritajj^VeacU^J''There was great excitement in flocked to the point towards which the fated vessel was driving, Shortly afterwards she came ashore, about 400 yards above the Scotch Church, and almost immediately heeled over, deeks 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 board, among whom was a lady passenger/named Mrs Baker, and two children.

The vessel rapidly breaking up every 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 the ship. In the excitement several poor fellows jumped into the water, three of whom got safely to shore, being met by some of the bystanders, at the imminent peril of their own lives, who literally snatched the drowning men from the jaws of death ; while an equal number were unable- to ■withstand the force of the waves, and were carried out to sea and drowned. Every effort was then made, to save the remainder ; a boat was brought, but it was found it could not live iu such a tremendous sea ; rifles were also brought into requisition,with the hope of firing ramrods.with line attached across the vessel, but from some .cause or other, with no effect. All sorts of • expedients were fruitlessly tried to carry a life-line to the crew who could be seen, with Mrs Baker, supported by Captain Cnlbert, clinging to the side of the vessel. At last Sergiant Bullen, of the police, essayed several times at the imminent peril of his life, to throw a life-line to those on board the wreck; but o>ving apparently to the line being too heavy, he could riot succeed in doing so/ Duncan Young, one of the men employed by the Landing Service Company, then ventured boldly into the water, with a line fastened round his waist-, and succeeded in reaching the vessel’s side, 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 nowset in, bat a large bonfire was kept up upon the beach, which 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 pprished crew, which were redoubled as one after the other made '-he 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 mate of the vessel. Captain Culbert-was the last man to leave iris 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 shipwrecked sailors, some of whom were scarcely able to stand, and paid them every attention in his power. About an hour after the wreck of the Star, the Water Nymph came ashore about half a mile to the northward, but all her crew fortunately escaped safely to land, except as regards the mate, who broke liis arm. The late hour at which our notice was penned, and the circumstance that our reporter was wellnigh drowned, must be onr excuse for so meagre details of a disaster the most serious which has ever visited this port. Ws cannot help, however, expressing onr hope that the noble conduct of Duncan Young wiil 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 but to no purpose. * * * * - After this she heeled over to starboard, and the seas went clean over her. Her deck was soon stove in, her. masts went, and the sea'came through her bilge, washing out the wool, of which tl’.ere 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 Mrs 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 this time lines were being procured, with the view of getting one on board, but the sea was so terrific that no person dared venture sufficiently near the vessel for the purpose, the “ drawback” and 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 the ship; b.ut through the darkness, they -did'not see the line, and they did riot know what was being tried until they heard the blow of the? -weight, cn the* ship’s- side. After the .throw referred to, the Sergeant was knocked down by a sea, of .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 aq attempt." The crew were now hailed to hold on, as the tide was receding! About 10 p.m. a surf-boat man, Duncan Young, succeeded in getting on board with-a rope, one end ofwhipji was fastened on board, and .the other, held by the people on shore. It being now low water, the whole of those ori board were- passed safely ashore. t ‘ '

Shortly after the vessel; struck, Mr Stevens, the Chief Officer, fell, or was washed off the forecastle. He was tossed.about lor some time' in tlte surf, and was then thrown oh'the, beach arid whs saved. A seaman was" saved in a similar manner. One man''who jumped ’overboard was- last seen clinging to a bate of wool/outside the line of surf. Brooks arid Petrie, two seamen, are the only ones of the crew lost; and the other two sufferers are the children of Mr Baker. . ;

"Whilst all were engaged: at. her, the Water Nymph was seen close in shore,, with all sail set. But the crew could not keep, her, off; and about ten o’clock, she.struck 100 yards nbrth pf the Stan. Being light (she liad but- 244 bales : bf wool), 1 she was washed nearly high arid dry almost its soon as she struck, AH' hands got ; safely out of.her,

saving their :effects. Owing to her canvass being set, she' canted in shore, and remained compara-. tively^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 novrlll a.jh: Tuesday] lies on her beam ends with herqack broken. - - ■

• 2 p.m.—THe auction of the wrecks concluded. That .of the Star,sold for £4O, the wool for £1360, The,wreck of the Water Nymph sold for' £172, ahd her 244 bales of wooL for £BIO. The purchasers of the Star's wool are a company here, and of f 1 the Water : Nymph’s, Messrs Cargills and M'Lean. Both the vessels and the wool are insured. Several seamen of each ship have been injured, but not seriously. February 5.—-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 townand later on the bodies of the children were recovered, namely, James E. Baker, aged years; and Malcolm W. Baker, 3 1 years. The bodies are to he buried to-morrow. LOSS OF THE SCHOONER 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 that 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 you of the wreck 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, au"d made a very good offing, so far as I could see, and I believe he continued to do so till between five and six o’clock, when the rudder-head gave way. Then, of course, there was nothing for it but to fun for the land, which was made about seven miles from here. The captaiu and crew got ashore with great difficulty, and saved nothing but the clothes they wore, and the greater part of the clothes they were wearing they bad to, leave behind when the vessel struck. All here who know anything of the sea had lost all hopes pf ever seeing the crew alive again. The. vessel, everyone knew, must have come ashore somewhere on the coast, the sea was so terrific. I was quite proud to see Captain Campbell and his crew this morning. having given them up for lost. A few pieces of the wreck have been washed ashore down here, and the captain picked up a part of lus time-piece on the beach just about where the Vistula was lying.” LOSS OF THE WILLIAM MISKIN. Tlie Otago Daily Times of the Bth says—Early this morning we received intelligence, by the Geelong from Oamaru, that the William Miskin had sroue ashore at Timaru, and'was a total wreck. The Red Rover had sailed. We could not learn whether the crew of the William Miskin were saved or not.