TOTAL WRECK OF THE WHALING BRIG "PANAMA."

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 582, 2 June 1858, Page 4

TOTAL WRECK OF THE WHALING BRIG "PANAMA."

The schooner Esther, Captain Blair, arrived on Monday last, from the Chatham Islands via Port Napier. She had a boisterous passage of 11 days to the Ahuriri, having been hove to five days in a gale of wind from the S.S.W. She left Ahuriri ,at : midnight on Thursday last. Mr. Stratton, the navigator of the brig Panama of Sydney, belonging to R. Towns, Esq., is a passenger by her. He informs us that the Panama sailed from Sydney on the 23rd Feb. 1857, on a whaling voyage; touched at New Zealand, and after leaving New Zealand proceeded on a cruise^ On the 16th Aprilaman named Thomas Glover fell overboard while loosing the jib, and was unfortunately drowned. Every effort was made to save him, but without success. '' In August she: sprang a leak, which continued increasing until they reached Kangaroo Harbour, Chatham'ls-' lands, in Decerilber. Nine of the crew, including boat-steerers arid seamen, appealed to the resident magistrate there, Mr. Shahd, arid stated: that theywould not risk: their lives in the vessel in consequence of her unseaworthiness* 'rind Mr.; Shand, coinciding with they views of the appellants, signed their discharge. The vessel ;was making at.that time twenty-four' inches per hour lying then at-anchor in smooth water On the 4th January, 1858, she sailed from the Chathams^for Sydney, with 17 souls: on board. Shortly after leaving Kangaroo Harbour, she encountered a. severe gale bf wind from the S W the vessel steering N.W. by N., and ran until the sth, at 6 p.m., when she was hove-to, under, close reefed main topsail. On the 6th Jam,- at 3 a.m., a heavy sea struck'the vessfel, carrying away three boats, the cranes, bulwarks, staun-, cheons, &c. The vessel-was then put before the wind and the wreck was cleared away At 6 a.m., on sounding the pumps, four feet of water was found in the we 11.,, All hands were then called to the pumps, until. noon, when the .leak was found tp^increase so fast, that notwithstanding every effort was made, both by baling and pumping, it was found impossible to keep her afloat. The, carpenter, cooper and hands were set to repair the only remaining boat, which had been stove about a month previorisly by } a sperm whale. The boat was launched at 2 o clock, p. m., and it was found that two men continually baling with buckets could keep her afloat. The captain and officers then consuited together; it- was found that the boat could not hold more than eight persons with safety; and it was agreed that the ablest of the crew, with the officers, should comprise the eight; 14 gallons of fresh water and two small bags of biscuit were put into the boat. The anchors and try-works were thrown overboard, the masts cut away, and everything was done to lighten the ship, with the intention of keeping her afloat until assistance reached her. At 3

V.m., Captain G. Griffiths and seven others got into the boat, leaving nine on the ttreck. VVnen the boat left the wreck, the painted portswere in the water, the sea was' getting smooth,ancl ; the wind almost calm. The ship was left in lat. 40 S., long. 175.55 W., with a light; air from.the southward and drifting to the N.N.E. : At sunset the boat pulled up to the wreck and Mr.: Stratton asked how she was getting .on; and they replied that she was nearly full; the decks at this time were level with the water; they requested those in the boat that if, they lived to get to New/Zealand to send a vessel in, search of them; which was promised to be done. The boat then pulled, away, in the direction of New Zealarid, and the vessel was seen no .more.. After several .attempts to reach New Zealand, the boat was compelled to steer for the Ch'athain Islands. \ On,--. the eighth ' day after leaving: the wreck, the;-boat reached Kangaroo yHarbour. Duririg the,eight, days, the parties hi the boat were reduced to three wine glasses ofjwater per dayV'.arid half a biscuit,, which was saturated with salt water/ The boat had to be continually baled night and day , during the whole time, and they encountered' -three westerly gales. .When -the boat, arrived all parties in her were reduced.. to ; a miserable state; having lost all but what they stood upright in; i The whaling brig Grecian,,of : Hobart Town, arrived at Kangaroo harbour.the day after the boat. Mr. Shand requested Capt. Griffiths to proceed in the Grecian in quest of the Panama. A strong northerly- gale setting in, the" Grecian could not proceed'to sea until the 24th Jan., when she left the harbour with Capt. Griffiths on board. Six days after she returned, but nothing could be seen or heard of the Panama; it being considered on shore that a sufficient time had not been devoted in search of the wreck. Mr. Stratton speaks in high terms pf the courtesy and kindness shown him by Messrs., Baucke and Engst, and from the white inhabitants on the island generally, The names of the men saved in the boat, were— George Griffiths; (Captain •) John Edward Stratton, (navigator); Elisha Jones, (first"mate); John Jbhristbn, (second mate);: Henry Dixon, (cooper); Michael Wheeler, (steward); James Rodgers and John Reyriolds,. (seariaen). The names of those'left on the'ship were, George Merret, (cook); Joseph Poynter, (carpenter); two natives of the Saridwich Islands; one New Zealander, named Turi, belonging to Monganui, and four natives of the-Solomon's Group. Those left on the wreck had made every preparation for rough weather, by netting the vessel all ovfer with whale'liries to prevent their being washed away. It is supposed that her stern will be under water in consequence of a quantity of copper bolts and chain cables being in the after part of the vessel, and bow out. : f '• '"':-' ■'■''■■>

Captain jPlair gives the follpwing description of the boat in which, the eight,persons escaped from the, wreck; she. had been a five-oared whale boat;: one half pf the larboard side is completely gbhe,..arid, the gunwale and .three planks of the starboard side also, they having been s'mashedby a whale.'•'■.'.. Spars were lashed along ea,ch side for gunwales,r<ragh boards nailed outside which were covered with; canvassji arid lashings passed rotind the boat to keep her from breaking the Imiddle; one side was considerably larger than the other, and the planking. was about ten inches from the thwarts. ' It was said that when in a sea-way she twisted very much and. leaked like a sieve, and it was really a miraclethat "such a frail thing should ■ever have reached the shore with eight persons inker.— Wellington Independent, May 12.