THE " LADY CLARKE." (From the Sydney Herald, August 15.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 349, 1 September 1849, Page 2

THE " LADY CLARKE." (From the Sydney Herald, August 15.)

We have been favored by one of the passengers with the following interesting account of the misfortunes of the Lady Clarke, the ship in which hie Excellency the Governor's (Sir Chares Fi'z Roy) family had taken a passage from England. The Lady Clarke, belonging to Mesirs. James Thomson and Co., of London, it a ship of about 500 tons burthen, and is commanded by Captaia M'Lran. The ship left Plymouth on the 13th March, having on board Captain the Honorable Keith Stewart, R.N., (<on-in-law of his Excellency the Governor) the Honorable Mrs. Stewart and four children, Captain and Lieutenant Fi'zßoy, Mr. John Thomson (brother to the owners) Mi6S ant' Master Scott, of Sydney, indMisi Boningman, of Scotland. There were alio ten steerage passengers. We had fine weather until we arrived at the Cape, which we reached on the 16th of April, when, in consequence of severe illnesi, Mr. Thomson Jeft v* to return to England. Mr. T. S. S. Boyes, of Walmer (Enelund), now joined us and we left for Sydney on the 13'h. For the first nine days we had but little wind, and nothing of importance occurred until t ],e evening of the Uth of June, in latitude 7040 east and 40* south longitude, when it was observed that there was something the matter with the rudder— the iron bolts which fastened it to the deck had sprung, and at seven that evening the ship would not answer her helm: the wind was veiy high at the time, and the ship was immediately brought to. Every effjrt was made to lash the rudder, the lower girdeon of which had given way. We were in hopes that the morning would enable vi to secure the rudder so as to take us into the nearest port, but we were disappointed. The gala increased ; the rudder became unmanageable, and beat with tremendous force againat the ship's «tcrn-posf. At daybreak the rudder parted— it

snapped, to use a vulgar sayin?, likcr a carrot ; the body immediately sunk, leaving the main piece, "heart of oaft," fifteen inches in diameter, in the rudder trunk A. ship without a i udder in a heavy gale of wiud must • trike the most un -nautical reader as being by no means in an enviable position The gile increased, and lasted for three days, during which time we had detrmiined on making a new iudder, rather than have recourse to the old method of steeling by some spars thrown over the stern. We were now about 2000 miles from the C-ipp, and about 25< 1 0 from the unrest Australian poi t. To Mr. Boyes, who is a practical manner, and who proposed the pl-u, was entruited the task of building the rudder. It consisted of a spar thirty six feet lons-, to which was lftshcd an anchor weighing 15 iwt. This wai the basis of tl c machine, by which we were enabled to construct au excellent rudder ; of course it was planked in a'l way*. The lasted about eight daysi during wh eh | we were diifting about the ocean, and we sustained two heavy gales. On Sunday, the 24th of June, the rudder was completed, but the gale not having moderated, (he shipping of the rudder could not be at- ! tempt d. -We had, on the Sabbath morning, in conse. quence of the weather, omitted our usual sea service ; but at the proposal of Captain Stewart, the prayers were read in the afternoon. Information was now sent to tde steerage passengers that all who wished to join in tl c service might attend in the cuddy, and the greater por. ion of the passengers availed themailves of 'he opportunity. A few of the " Jacks" also were j present. I shall never f rget that singularly impresj sive scene. The gale was still at its height : there I wai an immense cross sea also running, and every few minutes a sea would pass over the ship's deck, sweeping " fore and aft," as she seemed bravely to struggle with the contending elements. While in the middle of the prayers— and the sublime service of the Church of England never to me appeared so beautiful as at that moment— a monster sea struck the ship, which literally made her stagger for a few seconds. One of the steerage passengers happened to be, at the moment, Httemptingto pass the forecastle, was struck by a por tion of the sea, and after a loud cry of " Oh I my God!" lay senseless among the loose span as they rolled to and fro on the quarter-deck. A paleness seemed to overcome the features of all as though they enquired "Whe.e will all this end?" The night passed away, and on the following day ths wind moderated a little. On the 18th the gale bad so far subsided as to induce us to make an attempt to ship the rudder. At one o'clock it was over the ship's side, but for <hree hour* all our effor's had proved fruitless, as the rudder floated lengthways on the water. We had almost determined on cutting it adrift, when a cheer from two or three of the seamen announced that the top of the rudder had been brought to the bottom of the trunk, and in half an hour thiee heatty cheers finai all on board told of " the consummation devoutly to be wished." The next day at noon we set anil, when we found ourselves in lat. 40* south, and long. 76' ea t, we had consequently drifted 300 miles in our true course. For several days all proceeded smoothly, but on the 23rd of June, the hawser (nine inches in d ameter) which connected the beel of the rudder with the windlass, parted, the rudder again became unmanageable, and again struck with terridc force against the ship's sternpost. We were now in a worse position than ever— the great weight in tbe bottom of the rudder made it act as an immense hammer, and one of the claws of the anchor projected, the destruction of the ship's stern now appeared almost certain, as the gale incieaied and lasted for three days and nights. On the night of the 26th, rudder No. 2 broke off, like its predecessor, and our hopes of safety brightened. We were now in latitude 377 south, and longitude 9 '*24 east ; when the gale terminated we commenced No. 3, which wa» completed on the Ist 'of July. It was on the occasion of our being, for the second time, rudderkss, that a heavy tea broke into the stern cabin, washing Mrs. 6-tewart find her four children out of their bfrth ; once more, after shipping the tvphe of our eyil genius, we set sail ; we were now in 35*8 south and longitude 92-36 east, This rudder was secured to the windlass by a powerful chain cable, which slipped off the cradle on the 9th July, when we again unshipped the rudder, secured the chain, and then re»*hipped our tormentor. In about nine days afterwards we were off King George's Sound, intending to put in there, but when we were about seventy miles from this port, the wind that had previously been W.S.W., now suddt-nly changed to the northward, dead cgainst us. After fruitlessly attempting to beat In, for two days, we bore for Port Adelaide, distant about 800 inileii We reached Adelaide on Sunday the 22nd ultimo. During the three weeks of our perils, rudderiesi, and consequently powerless, aud while we «us< tamed, thus crippled, three gales of wind, the courage and spirits of the ladies were the theme of our admiration. In this example Mis. Stewart stood pre-emi-nent. To the dangers of the sea must, on this lady's part, be added the cares and anxieties connected with four young children, but never for a moment did I observe the shadow of fear on her countenance.

Englvh Shipping. — The Sir Ed war I Paget, from Sydney the 12th December, and the Agricola, from Sydney the 1 lth January, arrived at Gravesend on the 27th April. The Australasian, from Hobart Town, armed the same day. The Compe'itor, from Adelaide, and Melbourne, from Port Phil ip, arrived at Gravesend on the 25th April ; the latter vessel was advertised to sail again for the same port on the Ist Junr. The Bright man, from Sydney the 12lh December, and the Lady Kinnaird, from Adelaide, bound for London, were spoken on 14th Apiil, in la*. 15 S,, long. 7, W. The Robert Syers, for Launceston, and the Pilgrim, for New Zealand, sailed from Giavesend on the 26th Apri'. The Cornwall, for New Zraland, sailed from Graveiend on the. 20th April. The Secret, 500 tons, HutcViinson, was to nail from London for Sydney on the 32th May ; and the Tamar, 556 tons, on the 2 th June The Senator, 480 tons, Burrell, wan advertised for Port Phillip. The Louua Baillie, 750 torn, Roxby, for Adelaide nnd Port Phillip, lo sail on the Ist May ; the Caspar, 650 tons, Eldred, on the lsth May ; the Duke of Bronte, 542, J. T. Barclay, on the 25th M«y ; and the Bolton, 541, Young, on the sth June. The Enterprise, 350 torn, Lovering, w»s to sail for Auckland on the Ist June ; and the Oriental Queen, 645 ton?, Thoneai, on the lOfh May.

The Londonderry Steamer.— Trial of the Captain and Mates. — The master and two mates of the Londonderry steamer, on board of which so many people peribhed by suffocation through their being confined in a small cabin, have been tried at Londonderry. Judge Torrens and Mr. Shei), Q.C., acted as Admiralty Commissioners. The meu were cbargrd with cawing the death of the sufferers by put. ting them in an improper place, and by neglecting to pay the requisite attention to them The trial lasted two days. In summing up, the Judge lold the Jury that it was the paramount duty of a captain to save his veaiel, and thu« preierve the people in her : .the question therefore was, had the mester and crew, exposed to a tempest, striven to the but of their judgment to lave the crew* »nd passengers ? After deliberating for three quarters of an hour, 0 c Jury gve a verdict of " Not Guilty."