DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4969, 24 February 1877, Page 2

DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOR.

, TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE ELI WHITNEY. LOSS OF THREE LIVES. One of the most terrible events it has ever been our lot to record occurred at an early hour this morning. At about two o’clock information was obtained that a boat accident had occurred in the harbor, and inquiries were at once made as to the nature of. the affair. On proceeding to the wharf, our reporter met with Captain Bowling, who stated to him that between half-past twelve and one o’clock the watchman on board the Adamant heard a cry of distress in a female voice coming up from the water, and then repeated cries, till they ceased altogether. The alarm was given, and a boat was lowered to make search for', those requiring help. He (the captain) and a crew got into the boat, and went into the i darkness and the troubled water, and pulled in the direction of Clyde-quay, but. they could see nothing, further than that they saw a boat bottom upwards tossing about, on the waves—a sure indication that those piercing, heartrending cries were the signals of real distress. It being impossible to pull back to the ship in consequence of the strong wind blowing on shore, the boat was beached on , Clyde-quay, and the crew walked ,froin there to the wharf, the search having been continued along the beach for some time, but without success. Captain Bowling, who with his men were drenched to the skin, having given all information it was in his power, to give, went on board the Avalanche, advising our reporter before doing so to look out for the woman round by Meech’s baths. '

Further inquiry led to the knowledge that the circumstances were, if possible, more dreadful than we. had anticipated. On going in the direction of the baths, .as recommended, a young man and a woman were met with, who stated that a man and a woman had been washed ashore on the beach at Meech’s baths, and they were going for Dr. Doyle. This information was not only confirmed on arrival at th 6 place mentioned, but . there we learnt the full force of the disaster which had occurred. It appeared'that a man named Edward Davey, with a wife and children aged sixteen and four months respectively, was in charge of the hulk Eli Whitney, being on board last night. At about one o’clock (we presume that must have been near the time) DaVey was awakened by, hearing the rushing of water beneath him in'- the hold of the vessel To rouse his wife,; and. get on deck with the ■ children was the work of a moment, no time -being Wasted by putting on clothing, for the sounds they heard Were ominous, 1 and seemed to tell of a coming Struggle for dear life. They were not a moment too soon. The man and bis wife, with their two poor little 'infants, were scarcely on the deck before the Eli "Whitney literally parted in two, and rapidly sank, and this 1 terrifying' scene occurred in the pitchy darknesS of the night, with no one near to lend a helping hand. They were indeed alone. Davey saw that he had only she chance. Giving one child to his wife, he took the other himself, and getting'hold of a large plank, he and his wife with their frail burdens got on, it and submitted themselves to the mercy of: the sea and , their fate. The hulk disappeared from their sight entirely before the force of the wind had driven them away from, the placewhich she had occupied. Then they drifted away towards the shore, passing the Adamant, on their 'hazardous way, and it was the voice of Mrs. Davey that the watchman, heard piercing the night wind. That cry for help would have brought willing hearts and hands to the assistance of the waifs, but, as we have already mentioned, the generous and courageous efforts of Captain Bowling and his crew were rendered useless by : the tempestuous weather and the impenetrable darkness. So Davey and his wife were carried away, drifting in the direction of the baths, and on nearing the fence of them he and his wife parted—exhausted nature could no longer bear up against the fatigue, and all" went into the sea together, father, mother; and children. Davey was thrown ashore on the east side of the baths, and he then went as fast as he was able to a house occupied, we believe) by a Mrs Davies, and knocked at the door. The above particulars were gathered from the feeble answers to questions given by Davey. For the rest of the account we are indebted to those on shore who were first to hear of the affair. Those in the house at which Davey knocked were roused out of their sleep, and demanded who it was that sought admittance at that hour, and on a night so wild; but poor Davey, with whom It wsm next door te death, could not speak, and the woman describes the attempt he made as strange and unearthly. She opened the door, and the half drowned man was discovered to

her astonished gaze. He was taken inside, and subsequently tho body of Mrs. Davey, naked, poor thing, was discovered on the floating ; stage to the west side of the baths. She also was taken into this house by Mr. Meech, who found her, and placed her in the back room, the husband being in .the front on a sofa. She was tended by Mrs. Meech and Mrs. Davis, but there was evidently no hope. It was a pitiful sight, not to be seen and forgotten in a day, or many days.J She was a young woman, and the contact with the salt water had given her face a rosy tint, so that in death she appeared as in life, the features bearing no traces of the struggle recently made to escape death; they bore a calm look of repose. The , husband was doing well when we left, or at ■ v as well as could be expected. But nothing had been seen of the two children, j Their bodies—for they could not have survived ‘ —will probably be found during the morning. The wreckage of the vessel, which must have completely broken up, was thrown upon the beach, along which; it was seen through the early dawn. She was the property of Capt, Williams, and most probably contained a large quantity of. coal. A word regarding the medical gentleman sent for ; and it is desired to say that word because we fail to see -that members of the medical profession should be allowed with impunity to turn a slow ear or careless to the demands made upon their attention in cases of distress. ,Of course, we speak subject to correction as to facts, but if the doctor was called up as stated by our informants, then his delay in arriving where his skill was required was the reverse of commendable. It is unnecessary to say more.