WRECK OF THE BRIG "FANNY."

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 468, 9 October 1850, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BRIG " FANNY."

[The loss of tie Fanny, has bo much local interest that— although the following graphic narrative of the circutnsances connected with it nppcared in the columns of our contemporary yesterday— we have no doubt that it will be acceptable to our readers that we should repeat it.] The brig " Fanny, 1 ' William Twoliey, master, sailed from Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, on the 11th ot June for Auckland, and nothing particular happened till the 6th of July, when the weather became boisterous, with heavy squalls and rain ; the foretopgail gave way ; unbent it, and bent another. The four natives shipped at Honolulu, as able seamen, were of no use, never hiving been at tea before. At noon, blowing heavy, with rain ; no observation could be taken. Double-reefed the topsails ; iv jib and mainsail. July 6.— At Ba. m. heavy squalls and rain ; shoitened Bail accordingly. At midnight, blowing a heavy gale, with a high cross .sea; the wind veered to the N.N.W. Hauled the brig to the wind, under low sail. Morning*— blowing heavy, saw the land, bearing S.W, by S. distant about 8 leagues. At 6fc a.m. saw a •mall low island bearing W.S.W. about 3 leagues, and from the mast head saw a reef bearing E.S.E. to west 7 miles. Neither the reef nor the small island were laid down in the chart. I had set the foresail, main* tail, and jib, with double reefed topsails, and stood close on the wind towards the small island — blowing 1 heavy, with a high sea. When nearing the island, we found we could not weather it, and saw a reef extending to the N.W., from the island about one league ; tacked and stood to the eastward. When Hearing the reef, we could see the breakers bearing N.E. as far as the eye could reach. Tacked to the westward and found we were losing ground rapidly, with only five hands to work the brig— the natives were of no use, even in pulling on the braces. At 9a. m. the win! veered to the northward ; tacked—blowing heavy vrith a high confused sea, and losing giound on eveiy tack. We could not make out an cn l ranee on any part of the reef. The mainsail split in pieces, and shortly after the jib split, and was blown from the bolt-rope ; the brig would not stay — obliged to wear ; the heavy sea and strong current setting the brig almost bodily to leeward. At noon got the anchors over the rails, bent and ranged the cables, in case we should find any place to anchor. By this time the brig was about 1£ mile from the reef—dangers were fast approaching ; the boats could.be of no use, the tea running very high, and nothing but breakers almost surrounding us. About 2 p. m., wore about half « cable's length from the breakers, and discovered a narrow place in the reef where the sea did not break so heavily as in other places, and inside of the barrier reef there appeared to be shoal water, with the sea breaking, ouljr in patches : this was the only chance we had of saving our livei, or any portion of the vessel. Had we struck on the eastward reef, not one of us would have been saved. The brig was tun for the entrance, the sea breaking dreadfully on each side. Cleared the barrier reef, and struck in 9 feet water } dropped the foresail and payed off, not doing much damage. The wa'er became moie smooth and shallow, £ less 2 fathoms, with black patches and rocks, too close together to anchor; left the topsail* on life cap*, and conned her through, avoiding the breakers and shoals. Had the anchor been let go, the brig would have struck at once on the outward reef, which was close to, with a heavy lea breaking- In this state we ran absnt three milef , and discovered a small passage through the reef; we wete in some hopes of getting clear when we shoaled the water. About 3 p. m. the brig tfrttok' in 8 feet water, the tide ebbing fast and the ciment letting to the S.W. 3 miles per hour. Commenced to start the fresh water in the hdd, leaving enough for

use, and heaving the ballast overboard. At 7|> m. blowing hard, with rain ; the brig lay on the bilge, only 2 feet of water around her j at low water at midnight had about 30 tons of ballast and the water pumped out — the gale increasing and the tide rising ; let go the starboard anchor and cat the topgalhntmast away ; the wind veered to the eastward, with very heavy squalls and rain. JulyU. — At 1 a.m., the brig striking heavily, started from the bank ; veered out 70 fathoms of cable, and let go the port anchor— veered out 12 fathoms. At this time the back rollers came in astern, and caused the brig to surge and strike heavily. She had made no water up to this time ; when the rudder broke, and unshipped, we found three feet of water in the hold. As the tide ebbed, the brig lay on the starboard bilge, and the water ran out. The crew weie completely knocked up ; Mr. Gould, (passenger) worked as well at any ; all did their utmost to save the brig. At daylight heavy gales and rain ; cut the topmasts and hove more ballast over. At high water she had 8 feet water in the hold, and struck heavily as the rollers came over the outward reef, and broke close to ; the rise and fall of the tide was 6 feet, and the current set constantly to the S \V. Two imall islands of the Feejee group bore S.S.W., distant about 8 leagues; Farewell Island, W. N.W., about 7 leagues. The reef extended from N.E, to W.S.W. as far as we could see— the small sandy iiland N.E., 2 leagues. The remainder of the day was spent in getting water, &c out of the hold, and in get* ting the boats ready. Midnight — strong gales and very heavy rain. July 9.— Morning more moderate, hoisted out the jolly boat, and pulled inside of the reef to the small island, to lee if there was a landing-place or fresh water, should the vessel go to pieces, that we might get on the Island, and remain until the weather settled. At 4 p.m. the boat returned ; hoisted her in. The party landed ou the island with some difficulty ; no water on it* Theie were a few cocoa nut trees. The island was about half a mile round. Set the carpenter to repair the long boat. I thought to steer for Rotuma Island, which was upwards of 300 mile*, | knowing the character of the Feegee natives that all who fell into their hands were plundered and massacred, even their own natives; we had no aims of , any kind to protect ourselves. | July 10. — The weather still boisterous; the tide ebbs and flows into the vessel ; heavy back-rollers breaking around the brig. Carpenter repairing the long boat, ,or rather patching her up. S ;me hands making sails j for the boats, and putting washboards on the jolly boat. Midnight blowing hard and very heavy rain. July 11. — The weather still unsettled ; the brig breaking up, and settling down on the starboard side. At noon the boats were ready, but the bieakers were too high and the weather too boisterous to venture to hoi«t them out; and the long boat being very shickeiy, I made up my mind to venture through the Fee/ec Group, and get to Vewa to the Wesjeysn Mission Station, with the expectation of me»ting with the John Wesley, or some other vessel. Vewa is about 180 miles from the wreck. The weather continued boisterous until July 14th, when the wind abated, and the sea became smooth ; midnight calm and clear, all ready to start from the wreck next morning. July 15. — Morning moderate, fine weather; hoisted out the jolly boat and kept her clear of the roller with lines from the yard»arms. We put into the jolly boat bread, water, caipenter's tools, compass, and other small articles. At 8 a.m. left the vessel— in the jolly boa', the second mate, carpenter, and three Honolulu natives — in the long boat, first mate, two teamen, one Hoaolulu native, Mr. Gould, pa«senger, myself, and the steward ; across the shallow patches, S S. W., avoiding the breakers* We run in that direction aboqt three leagues, in from six to nine-feet water, cleaied the shoals and reefs and steered for the islands S.S.W. The remainder of the day we had light bre zes and fine weather. At 6 p.m. made the two small islands, and steered S.W. Having no chart of the group I found it difficult to ascertain our position amongst the islands and reefs. The long boat was very leaky, and kept one hand constantly bailing. Midnight— light wind. July 16. — Morning, moderate ; several islands in sight. At 4 p.m. squally and gloomy ; steered fur a large island. Midnight— heavy gales and t.qually ; we were close under the land, but could find^ no place to anchor ; missed the jolly boat during the iii»ht. July 17.— At 6 a in. the jolly boat joined us ; the ' wind light and variable, we were steering through ; Somosomo Straits. At 9 a.m. several canoes pat off fiom the shore, sailing nnd paddling towards us ; wind became very light. The canoes sail fast, but do not paddle fast — they were cloning on us quickiy ; now we felt the want of fire-arms, to pioteci us. The first canoe came within pistol-shot of us, and hailed us in their own language, asking whether we had any trade. The only chance we had was in pulling away, which ho did— the jolly boat towing the long boat, four oars to each ; there was no wind. The sails were of no use to the canoes, which endeavoured to surround us; we headed them, however, and by noon got out of their reach— they, therefore, stood for the land again. Had the breeze continued, we should hare been at their mercy, and no doubt they would have served us as they have done otherg — robbed and murdered us. At noon a fresh breeze sprung up from the S.E. ; we steered S.W. for Goro Island, distant 50 miles. At 8 p.m. strong breezes and squally, with a cross sea : we could scarcely keep the long boat free, as she both leaked and shipped water. Midnight — Goro Island north two leagues; heavy squalls off thd laud ; steeied for Ovaloo Island. July 18.— Morning, blowing heavy ;— noan, Equally with heavy rain and cross sea ; we could scarcely carry any sail on the boats. At 5 p.m. ran into a small bay in the Mokani liland for shelter ; there wa.s only a few natives on this island, and the chief could speak Eng. lish. We did not let them know we were wrecked. We remained there for three days, dur ng which, time it blew heavy, with constant rain. July 22. — Morning fine, clear weather ; started for Vewa. Noon, gloomy and squally-looking. At 4 p. m. squally with heavy rain. At Bp. m. blowing strong, with a cioss sea and rain; the boats could scarcely be kept free, and no sail set. Miduight we got into shoal water, the sea breaking heavily. The breakers were seen in different places ; a roller broke near the jollyboat and ueaily sivamped her; every moment we expected to be swamped ; in this state we remained until morning. July 23. — In the morning 1 , we were to leeward of Ovaloo Island 30 miles; still blowing strong with heavy ihoivers of rain. Every thing we had in the boats were 6oaking wet ; we had nothing but bread and water that we could use. During the night we run and drifted over several shoalpatches, upon which the sea broke. At low water we were obliged to steer for the Itawa const, as neither ourselves nor the boat could stand it out much longer. — At 3 p. m. when dipping the lug sail a sea bruke into the long ) oat and naarly filled her. This was close to a reef, At 5 p. in. ire go*fiato Beat ley Bay, and amongst the greatest cannibals in the Frjee group ; but this we did not then know. We anchored the long boat close in and weut on shore iv the jolly boat : there eve [only a few natives on the beach. We got some tea and bread having had nothing to eat from yesterday morning, The natives wialied. us to go further up 'the bay;

During the night it rained very heavy, we had vet little shelter in the boats, and all our clothes wcr thoroughly wet. July 21.—T his morning the weather ftill boislrou; with rain ; we all went on shore and got a fire unde shelter of a rock, where we had some bieak f ast. Til natives gathered around us in numbers, wanting to se what we had in the boats. In the evening we ran u to a small sandy bay for more shelter, where we had t go on shore to light a fire. The natives were, or Bp |>e,»red to be friendly ; but they tried to stop tv steward from getting into the boat. They vTished u to go up the cieek with the boats. Midnight mor moderate. July 25.— There were numbers of natives on th beach ; we purchased a small pig, as we had no mpa I hey wanted to go on board the long boat. All thei plans had been arranged to massacre us the next nigh' this we learnt afterwards ; their intention was to hau both boati up the creek—club the whole of vi, an plunder what little we had. Had they lucceeded i their plans, not one of us would have lived to tell th fate of the others. At 10 am. a sail was seen in th offing beating; to windward ; we ran out towards he in the jolly boat, and hoisted the jack. It was som time before she noticed us. When they discovered u from the mast head, as they always have a look-ou amongst the reefs, the stranger ran down towards us and proved to be the Sylph, yatch of Sydney, *nd now in the employ of Mr. Williams, American Consul, seated our case to the master, who ran the cutter mt the bay where the long boat lay. He had some nsftiv chiefs on board, who expressed 1 their surprise that w< had not been cooked before. The carpeoter und som hands were on the bench. The natives all ran into th bush with the exception of one or two, who told of th plan that had been laid for us The cutter took the boat in tow, and anchored about fifteen miles to witulwaid and sent the Ions; boat on shore with the native chief to remain in a creek until the weather settled, it beinj then too heavy for the[cutter to take us in )tow. July 28— We arrived at Vewa, in fourteen day from the wieck. Mr. Cousins, master of the cuttei behaving very kindly to us during our stay on board The John Wesley arrived from the Friendly Islands and no doubt be the first to s,ul from .these islands fo New Zealand, and we hope for a passage in her t Auckland upon her return faom her cruise.

We received Captian Twohey's letter— in which hi expretses his grateful acknowledgments to the Rev W. Lawry, Captain Buck, and the Officers of the bri« John Wesley, for himself and his fellow-sufferers, foi the kind, humane, and Christian treatment they r# caived — too late for insertion in this morning's issue We also acknowledge the receipt of his log book, fol which we thank him.

We copy the following letter of J. B. Williams, Esq American Consul, from th 2 Southern Cross of yester day.

THE TEEJEE ISLANDS. To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Dear Sib. — It is with great rrgret that the undersigned has to inform you that John Foster, born an inhabitant of Dutnfiies, Scotland, in the year 1/90 was cruelly murdered on the morning of the 4th ult. at his residence at Nukulau, Ruwa, Ferjee Islands This adds one more to the list of mas3ucres of Britist seamen in ihis group of islmcls, The sanguiiiarj wretches, after inflicting 1 ihe mortal blow, proceeded to pillage the house otid all the stock in trade ; but po enquiries have been made, it only emboldens them te greater acts of cruelty and treachery pn other unsuspecting victiini. After the death of John Foiter, twe Christian chiefs made the following remarks to me :— « " I ran assure you, sir, if the nivives are not punished for the rturder of Foster, it will lead to fuither massa* cres, plunder, barbarity, injustice and cruelty." On the 21st of May last, the brig ' Lady Howden,' of London, from California in ballast, bound to Sydney, was cast ashore at Ongea, one of the wmdwaid-. most Islands of this group, and the master informed me that an md senminate plunder ensued by a body of natives as he stated ' not heathen.' And on the 7th of July lust, the brig ' Fanny,' of and for Aurkiand, from the Sandwich Islands, vias wrerked at Foituna, a reef about 45 miles distant Irom Somo.omo, one of the Fecjee Islands. The ship's company were compelled to remain in their boats for twelve days for fear of being murdered — fortunately the cutter ' Sylph' rescued them from the jaws of death ; the natives having recently informed me that on the night of the day they were discovered by the cutter, they were to have been killed and cooked. I legret to say that seamen do not experience that protection they so justly deserve. Doubtless many vessels have shared the same fate, wholly pillaged, and all hands massacred, leaving not one individual to tell the tale. < Tut Viti and the Chiefs have the means, and ought to be made responsible, to pay for the plunder and tpoilation of property by their subjects. They are not ignorant of the punishment due for such crimes. Why then should these natives be passed unnoticed and unpunished ? Europeans suffer death for murder — ban* ishment from their country and friends for the various criminal offences for a term of yean, or for life; but these, and the aborigines of other islands in the Pacific Ocean, are allowed to commit (depredation! on com. meres and individuals unnoticed in these distant parts —in these little known lands. Very respectfully, &;., John B. Williams. Vewa, Feej^e Islands, Sept. 3, 1850. P. S. — Touched at llandavu, Feejee Islands, about the middle of August last, the ' Proteus, an^i typ ' Tigress,'of Sydney, N.S.W., and Bailed on" a crime .to the Line. Oil not staled. J. B. W.'