NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 527, 21 November 1857, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

We have papers by the Eliezer from Sydney to the oth instant. They contain several interesting1 items, of which the most important is the— WRECK OF THE CATHARINE ADAMSO3S\ LOSS OF TWENTY-ONE LIVES. - (Prom the 'Empire,' October 26.) After a lapse of little more than two months since the wreck of the Dunbar, it again becomes our painful duty to record the loss of another equally fine ship, and as valuable a cargo, but happily (although attended by seriously fatal results), not so terrible a destruction of human life as in the case of the Dunbar. On Saturday we published such particulars as in the hurry to furnish the public with information we were able to collect. But we are now enabled to furnish more detailed accounts of this lamentable catastrophe. Before doing so, however, it is a duty we feel bound to perform, to remove any impression which may have been entertained owing to the circulation of a most cruel report to the effect that the pilot in charge of the vessel was not in a fit condition for the performance of his duty. We have been assured by Captain Stuart that there were no grounds whatever for such a statement. With reference to the report furnished on Saturday by the chief officer, this in some points is contradicted by Captain Stewart's i statement, which reached our office after Mr. Duthie's was in type, and by which it appears that Captain Creer, so far from not attempting to take the vessel in tow, used his best exertions to accomplish this, but unfortunately without success. The Catherine Adamson was a wellknown trader to this port, and was built at Aberdeen, by and for Mr. Adamson; she was 768 tons.register, and was one of the finest modelled ships that ever entered this harbour. Captain Stuart's statement is as follows:—

" Entered the Heads about 9 p.m., and the wind, about W.S.W. to S.W., strong; breeze; boarded by pilot Hawkes outside; the Heads, and then stood in under double-; reefed topsails, courses, jib, and spanker; ; made several tacks; when off. the reef,: after putting about on port tack, struck, with a heavy squall from S.W.; hauled up the mainsail and foresail, and stood towards North Harbour; wind moderating, and finding it necessary to have more way on the ship, set. the foresail, when the toresheet earned away, and from the strength of the breeze could not, get the mainsail set, and finding the ship had little steerage way, and drifted bodily on to leeward, let go "both anchors^ with sixty fathoms scope on small bower, and forty-five fathoms on' best bower; clewedtip -and[furled all sails,; and ship seemed to lay safe, if the weather had remained.moderate. Burned bluelights and threw'- up rockets, when the. Williams steamer, Coming in from the Hunter, came down and offered assistance and tried to'take the ship in tow, sent a line on board with the pilot-boat, but it broke in hauling the warp on board. Again sent the line on board, and believe .the warpwas taken on board by the steamer, butirom the steamer lying broadside to the-wind unable to slew, she had to slip it again ;!^bput three a.m. heavy rollers began to conae in from the Heads, and the ship swung stern on to the rocks, but clear of them for some time; and abouthalf-an-hour afterwards ship's heel struck the rocks heavily several times, considered it prudent to get the boats out at once, to endeavour to save lives; ship's gig and life-boat got on board the Williams safely, the remainder. of the crew were getting another boat out; the Captain went on

board the steamer in the life-boat for the purpose of getting the steamer to go closer to the ship, intending to return to the ship, but the gig and life-boat were both swamped, and knocked to pieces alongside the steamer. The steamer made every effort to get near the ship, but could not render any effectual assistance, as no boat she had could live in the sea. The pilot's boat left the ship some time before the boats went on board the steamer, without the knowledge of the captain or the pilot. The steamer then went to the pilot-station to get life-boats, or other means of saving the people left on board the ship. Pilots Gibson and Jenkins came with their boats' crew, but before the steamer returned the ship had begun to break up, and soon went to pieces. Passengers lost: — Mr. Leathes, Mr. Ramsay, Rev. Mr. Jones, and 2 servants. Passengers saved:—Mr. Wilson, Mr. Blair, Rev. Mr. Shaw, and 2 servants.

Fifteen of the crew lost, including1 Second Officer and Pilot Hawkes.

Captain Robson, one of the pilots at South Head, who rendered considerable service to the wrecked vessel, gives the following1 particulars. He says :— " I was at the lightship when the vessel entered the Heads, and saw the first rocket go up; I also saw pilot Hawkes leave the beach and round South Reef; a quarter of an hour afterwards the ship entered on the port tack, made four or five boards, but being1 thick could not see the ship under the land. Noticing frequently a light in the position which it appeared the ship was in, I felt certain the pilot being on board, it was not necessary to go to her.. At 11 p.m., squally winds from W. by S. to S.W. by W. with rain; at a quarter to 12 a steamer from Sydney, passed, I hailed her and said there was a ship a-head of her at anchor; heavy squalls until 2 a.m.; Hawkes' pilot boat came to the lightship a little after one, and reported* the ship close down to North Head. They remained on board a short time, when I told them to go on shore and report to Mr. Gibson, on duty at the flag-staff, and Mr. . Graham, signal-master at South Head, and to send to Sidney for the Washing-ton with air dispatch; the ship being so far to leeward I knew from the state of the wind and weather she must be -in imminent danger, as the sea was fast running in from the south-eastward. I then left the lightship and determined to ascertain the exact position of the ship, when I found her to be lying at anchor outside the breakers off Old Man's Hat, which is a little inside the inner North Head. The steamer Williams lying near the ship, Mr. Hawkes asked me to run a line.to her, which I did, but it broke, and I returned and brought a second line, and succeeded in getting that one on board the Williams for the purpose of hauling a hawser to the steam-boat, but there was very little chance even then of towing her off, against a frightful sea and heavy gale from W.S.W. Finding my boat nearly swamping, and my men nearly exhausted, I was compelled to return to the lightship for the preservation of self and crew, which was accomplished with great difficulty. At quarterpast 4 a.m., at daylight, I saw the Williams approaching towards Watson's Bay; I left the lightship and pulled to her, when* I was informed that half of the persons belonging to the Catherine Adamson were on board, and that more boats were, required to save the remainder. At this time Messrs. Gibson, Jenkins, and Hyde, went towards the wreck, I being with much reluctance compelled to take my crew- ashore, they with myself being rendered totally unfit for duty from over exertion, wet, and intense cold. At quarter to six, I went io the edge of the cliff and found that the vessel had almost entirely disappeared." From information obtained from servants of the New Hunter River Company's steamers have printed instructions to save life and property where they see it endangered without reference to salvage or any other pecuniary benefit, and the seamen of the wrecked ship (two of whom waited upon us in person) are of opinion that the whole of those on board would have been saved by Captain Creer's praiseworthy exertions, but for the heavy swell which suddenly set in and so materially assisted in quickly breaking the ship iip. Amongst the seamen saved are. the following: — William Handley, William Watson, John Bowles, Edward Bowles, Charles Sweetlove, James Potter, George Taylor, .Jas, Sillers, Beatinan, Peter Le-svis, Thomas Doric, the boy. Ellis, Alexander Dorm, Alexander Tosh, Jas. Duthie (chief mate), and Alexander Glover (third mate). No sooner was intelligence of the disaster received in town, than- the . Washington

steamer was despatched to the scene, and at 10 o'clock, having then been down to the heads, and returned, she again started to the wreck, having- on board the hon. S. A. Donaldson, Captain Williamson, Malcolm, Mr. Watt, of the firm of Gilchrist Watt, and Go., agents for the Catherine Adamson, with Captain M'Lerie. Inspectors Weale, Brown, Eeed, Mortimer, three .sergeants, and about 25 constables, who .proceeded to the Quarantine Ground, where iall the police force was landed, and went to the scene of the wreck, a little to the left of the Quarantine Ground, and with some difficulty picked up two bodies, seamen. Shells were lowered down the rocks, and'the corpses, after being placed in them, were hauled up. After this a thi. d body was recovered, also a seaman. *One person had, previously to this, been picked up in the Quarantine Ground over; and, it is supposed, was iiuaced there by some of the hands "be-l-longing to the Boanerges, at present anchored in .Spring Cove. About 4 p.m., .another body was recovered near the H^uarantinei^ouEd, considerable difficulty •having been experienced in obtaining it, owing to the heavy-sea setting in; and in -rescuing it, the Harbour Master, with Inspector, W^sioa and others, ran much risk, .and- -deserve <^mmedation for their courageous efforts, ultimately crowned with success. The body of Mr., Pilot Hawkes =was found about the same time, more than half-a-mile from the Quarantine station, •r'the face somewhat mutilated, but not sufii--ciently so to prevent identification, nor •were any of-the other bodies so far injured .as to disfigure their features to an extent . rendering? it difficult to recognise-them by f^iny persons acquainted with them. In .consequence of a < uantity of spirits and other dutiable goods being washed.ashore, ax body of police, under Inspector Brown, left to watch them, while other goods .were placed under the surveillance of Inspector. Mortimer, with eight of -the city police, - where - ■ they, remained all night. Messrs. Weale and Brown returned, to -Sydney-by;the Washington, in charge .of '.the recovered bodies,.on board of which nressel -was also a quantity of cargo; the igoofis were taken charge of by the Custom House authorities; the bodies being conveyed to the dead-house to await an inquest. -Miv-€rook was on board the Washington <*>n her first trip to the Heads and was busily >eTigf>gM in rendering all possible resistance, v£fc -Ms setam to town he vW.aited:iij)on: CaptamMcLerie and reported tot tke? Fipance Minister- The «sr.^t6?-Geriei*a2< of ordered shells to be procured a^d^sgjfc them down by the steamer to reeei-T^ eucli bodies as might be recovered.

Yesterday every available steamer was engaged in taking on board such property as could be recovered, the chief part of which was strewn along the beach from Green Flat to Manly, in the Quarantine Ground, and at Collins' Cove. A quantity of cargo has been obtained consisting of 91 casks and 20 cases spirits, 246 packages merchandise, a quantity of which has sustained but little damage. Mr. Stuart arid Mr. Bremer of H.M. Customs, were officially employed at the Heads, and were Indefatigable in their exertions to recover j£oods of a dutiable nature. A large numoer of,persons were at the Heads throughctut Sunflay, and many unprincipled men were endeavouring to secure a harvest out of the wreck- Borne,' however, were detected' and.giveana custody. The ship is in perfect fragments., .=but a large portion of lier cargo remains scattered about the rooks. The declared value, of the cargo is £71,299; and tlie entire vaise of the \eargo has been estimated at '£79,000.. When the sjiipwrecked seamen arrived in Sj'tlney they were, through the hospitality of several well-known citizens, re.lieved^frora temporary want. Messrs. T. and W. Bennett furnished several of : them with boots, Mr. Aldis supplied them with;; .cash to purchase clothing and other neces--saries, arid Mr. Poehlmann, of the Cafe ■Francais A supplied them with refreshments. The -conduct of Captain Creer is everywhere spoken of in the highest terms; all who have been saved acknowledge that it ias been mainly through .his -exertions and his remaining by the vessel all night. Had he come on to Sydney, and sent instructions . for the Washington to get up her steam, all hands must have been lost. The decision-, and energy displayed by Captain Creer is highly creditable to him as a young commander, and will not be lost, we hope, on his future prospects. .; Captain Stuart has.lost his all, and those. vrho know him eairfrut.deeply sympathisewith himin'liis misfortunes.; he "is a gen-

tleman who had attained his position as commander of a fine ship entirely through his own personal .zeal and perseverance, and he was highly respected in this colony by all who knew him. One bull was saved, he having managed to swim en shore without sustaining much injury ; the other stock was drowned, consisting of three bulls and two horses, belonging to Messrs. Blair and Wilson, passengers.

The captain was part owner of the vessel and she is not fully insured. Of the five bodies recovered, those of the carpenter, Anthony Smith, an Austrian, Perry, and John Browne, seamen, have been identified, and are now at the deadhouse awaiting1 a coroner's inquest. The inquest upon the recovered bodies was held on the 27th, 28th, and 29th October ; the evidence produced was of great length, and went minutely into particulars. After an adjournment of the case, the jury came to the following' decision on the 3rd November:—

"We find that the deaths of the persons named in this inquiry were caused by an error in judgment displayed by the late Mr. Pilot Hawkes, in attempting to bring the ship Catherine Adamson into harbour during the unfavourable state of the weather at the time, and that through that error the lives were lost. The jury would remark, that it is their impression that the late Mr. Pilot Hawkes's boat's crew should not have left the ship when they did without the orders of their employer— thereby rendering themselves censurable. They (the jury) also think some further effort should .have been made with the life-boat to save if possible more lives of the late passengers and creV- It is with gi'eat pleasure the jury now avail ilhemselves of this opportunity of expx'essing the£i' tegh sense of the very praiseworthy manner in which Captain Creer, of the steamer Williams, at.'d Mr. Pilot Eobson acted, in rendering their services to aid the Catherine Adamson, with, crew ano! passengers in distress."

Colonel Eobbins, an agent of. the Indian Gov-ernment, w*3S purchasing horses in New South Wales iind Victoria, and has -charfcered^the Undau^ed and JstambGul steamers to convey hi:s purchases to India. :

It was on Tuesday, Oct. ,27th, that H. M. S. Iris returned with Sir William Denison. His -Excellency landed e.arly in plain clothes, and without any dismay* although for a more formal reception had been made and announcerIt was not indeed until a considerable .time after he had come on shore'that the customary salute was fired. He -resumed at once the reins of Government. During his visit to Norfolk Island, Sir William Denison has established a complete system of civil organisation, simple indeed in. its character, but apparently well suited to the circumstances and requirements of the people. We doubt not that it will work - well.— S. M. Herald, Nov. 2.

The Homebush Spring* Meeting was held on the 2?th, 28th, and 29th October, and was upon the whole well- attended, although not so well as is usual at this time of the year. The weather, however, was not very favourable, and this may account for it. On the first day, the Maiden Plate was won by Mr. A. Schroder's br. h. Socrates; the Homebush. Spring Sweepstakes, by Mr. C. Roberts's jun., c. g. Euroka; the Albert Stakes, by Mr. R. Boberts' b. g. Whisker; and the Ladies' Purse, by Mr. de Clonett's b. g. Stumpy. On the second day the Publicans' Purse was won by Mr. J. H. Rutter's br. g. Stranger j the Hack Stakes, by Mr. Pike's Traveller; and the Pony Stakes, by Mr. G. Willis's Queen of Trumps. On the third day, the Trial Stakes were won by Mr. R. Roberts' Whisker; the City Plate, by Mr. C- Roberts' jun., Euroka; the Huntsman's Purse, by Mr. J. T. Ryan's b. g. Harkaway • the Consolation Handicap, by Mr. J. t. Rowe's g.m. Alice; and the Forced Handicap by Mr. R. Roberts' Whisker.

,The Manuel Carvalho, whicli arrived yesterday Brought the news of a Chilian brigantine, the Sarah Ann, having .been wrecked on one of the barbarous islands of the Paumotu^ or Dangerous Archipelago, and of all on board—fourteen souls— having been murdered by the savages. The most striking feature" .'in connection with this event is the great contrast between the prompt and energetic measures taken by the French authorities at Tahiti for chastising'the. murderers and for rescuing the survivors, if there had been any, and the disgraceful apathy and neglect of our own government in reference to the murderous doings at Woodlark Island. The Sarah Ann was under a foreign flag, but a war schooner was at once despatched to the island in question and chastisement inflicted. As it was still thought that

there might be some survivors, aid was extended towards the fitting out of a private expedition, which resulted in the capture and deportation to Tahiti of nearly all the murderous tribe. The ill-fated Gazelle was under British colours, and belonged in fact to this very port ; but every appeal for an official overhaul of the savages who murdered the fourteen or fifteen British by whom she was manned (to say nothing of the Italian missionary) has been in vain. It is known that this is the third massacre" of the kind that these islanders have been guilty of, and it has been reported upon good authority that they hold two British subjects in captivity. But they murder and make captive the crews of Sydney ships at their own good pleasure and with perfect impunity. For if any humane captain, "unauthorised to make war in the name of her Majesty," should attempt a rescue, and in the course of the attempt should cut off one or two of the known murderers, and be unable to prove that he did so at a time when the taking ] of their lives was indispensably necessary to save his own, he would stand a very unpleasant chance of being hanged in due form at Darling-hurst. A long time has now elapsed since the massacre, but the remembrance of it and of the absence of all efforts (on the part of the Government) to rescue the survivors, if any, and to chastise the murderers can never pass away. It is a deep and lasting stain upon the British name—a perpetual 'impeachment of the supposed even-handed character of British justice. Nay, it is to be feared that the recollection may hereafter be terribly revived.by the intelligence of further 'mui-ders; in the same quarter, and people will hfittiraHy enquire how far those who have secured to the murderers this impunity foi£ past crimes are morally responsible for^thVfurther shedding- of innocent hlood.^r~jtbid.