DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4980, 9 March 1877, Page 3

DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOR.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION .OE THE HULK ELI WHITNEY ! AND LOSS OF . TWO LIVES. One of the most terrible events it has ever been our lot to record occurred at aii early hour; on ; February 24th. 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 o£ the affair. On proceeding to the wharf, our reporter met with Captain Bowling, who stated to him that between halt-past twelve and one o’clock the watchman oh 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, arid a boat was lowered ;to make search 1 for those requiring help. He (the captain) arid"’a'“crew gbt into the boat) arid went into the darkness and the troubled writer, 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, herirtrending 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' from 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 the 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 child aged four months was in charge of the hulk Eli Whitney, being on board on Friday night. At about one o’ clock (we presuirie 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 child was the work of a . moment, no - time being , wasted by put : ting on clothing, for the. sounds they heard were ominous, and seemed to tell of a coming struggle for dear life. They were not a moment too soon. The man and his wife, were scarcely on the deck before the Eli Whitney literally parted in two, and rapidly sank, arid this terrifying scene occurred in the pitchy darkness of the night, with no one near to jlend a helping hand. They were indeed alone. Davey saw that he had only one chance. Getting hold of a large plank, he and his wife with, itheir frail burden got on it and submitted themselves to the mercy of the sea arid their fate. The hulk disappeared from their sight entirely, before the force of the wind had driven-them away from the place which she had occupied. Then they drifted away towards the shore, passing the Adrimant on Itheir hazardous way, : and it was the voice of ! Mrs. Davey. that the watchman heard piercing tbe riighit wind. Thrit cry , for help would have brought willing hearts and hands to the assistance of the waifs, bat, 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 rieriring the fence of them he and his wife parted —exhausted nature could no longer bear up against the fatigue, and all went into the seaj together, father, mother, and child. ! 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.

iThe 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 wiere 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 atsthat hour, and on a night so wild;. but poor Davey, with whom it was next door to 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 thq 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. Me|ebh, 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 Mrk. Davis, but there was evidently no hope.' It was a pitiful sight, not to. be seen and forgotten in a day, or many days; 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 . trades of the straggle recently made to escape death; they bore a calm look of repose. The caijse of the accident was veiled in mystery till about ten o’clock in the morning. It was then ’learned that the Taupe, which left the wharf ait twenty minutes past 12 o’clock, ran into the Hulk. ’Various opinions .were expressed about this, and naturally there, were many who censured Captain Carey even oh the strength of •■the! rumor. A‘telegram was sent to, him by the! agents, aud a reply was received to-the •effict‘;tl>at a ‘collision place; (The ; following Press Agency (telegram ... received in reference l .td the affair .will speak favorably >on ibehalf Of-Captain Carey ” .vr.. v ) f ‘j‘ Captain,Carey’s' account re the 1 Eli Whit-' ney isthatafterleaving the wharf—it -blowing very hard and the night being very dark fit ithe* sawi the- schooners '(Olio ?) lights ahead. Cleared her, and then saw, the hulk, which had no lights burning,, ahead. ’ The" steamer * was going easy at the’ time, and' the engines ’were• reversed ■ immediately to full' • speedi astern. The Taupo touched the hulk so Tight(ythat thq .passengers .standing on,deck .scarcely!'felt the shock. * Carey'immediately .suhgout 1 to 1 - the mate ; 'and' carpenter, asking 1 .whether any damage was, l donej and they re,plied, ‘ Not to any extent, but.to the bulwarks.’ They stood by the hulk; for five, minutes, all hands forward singing out at the' top of their voices, asking whether ; there was'any one on 'board; but got no reply, so steamed on., Carey, was!greatly shocked on,hearing: the .result, .as hejhad no idea of the collision bemg Berions or that there were any’people aboard.' 'Everybody on the steamer was equally surprised.’' • The following telegram • has ■ been . sent; to collectors of customs at ports whence vessels may bo. expected to. sail for,. Wellington ;-r- ---.“. Warn masters of vessels .sailing for Wellington that the hulk Eli Whitney has sunk iii the harbor. She lies about a cable’s length B.|tf.E. from the! wharf. The mainmast stands about 25ft. out of water, on which a white light will be hoisted.” (, . _ ... . . Davey had been married only eighteen months. His wife, whose maiden name was Amy Price, whs only twenty years of age, having been formerly at service in the family of the Right Rev. Bishop Hadfield. Davey,had furnished the cabin of the hulk, and of course had lost everything. ; With reference to the collision, we may i state that she was built in such a way that a steamer with a straight bow running into her, the chief damage would be sustained below the water-line, as her sides fall out towards the bottom. ‘ _ The Eli Whitney was an American-built barque of 540 tons, built at Boston in 1840 of pitch-pine. .She 1 was purchased by Captain Williams about six years ago from Messrs. Pickett Bros.,' of Melbourne, and was brought down by him to this port, Svliefe "ahq has been used as a coal-hulk ever; since. She had two' powerful steam winfches on board, one forward and the other aft, the two being, valued at several hundred pounds. The coals on board’ were worth upwards of £I2OO, and the hulk herself about a like sum ; thus, as there was not a penny of insurance on either the hulk or 1 her contents, Captain Williams is a loser to

the .amount of fully £"000. Captain Williams' states that the hulk was thoroughly overhauled only three- days 'ago by several shipwrights, who pronounced her. sound in every part. ■ THE ; INQUEST. An inquest Was held on February 2Gt,h at the Morgue, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, on the bodies of Mrs. Davey and Alfred Ernest Davey, drowned on Saturday morning last. Inspector Atoheson was present on behalf of the police ; and Mr. Bell appeared to watch proceedings on behalf of the captain and owners of the steamer Taupo. The following were the jury Messrs. Jas. Hughes, J.; M. Richardson, F. Simeon, Thos. ITrwin, C. Hillsden, A. Lindsay, F. Wallis, G. Aldous, B.; Wilson, J. Thompson, J. Chappell, R. Hannah, and C. Willeston. Mr, Richardson was chosen foreman. .The bodies having been inspected, the following evidence was taken • Alexander Chambers, Captain of the Clio, deposed : On Friday night the schooner was at anchor about 300 yards from the'wharf, and about the same distance from the hulk Eli Whitney. About 12.30 on Saturday morning was on deck, and saw the s.s. Taupo just leaving the wharf. It was a very dirty and dark night. The steamer slacked far enough, before letting go from the wharf, to clear the Clio’s stern. She then steamed slowly ahead. Both the Clio and the hulk were swinging about at a great rate in the heavy squalls. As soon as the steamer passed the Clio’s stem, I heard somebody on board the Taupo sing out that the hulk , was ahead, and immediately afterwards the-telegraph bell was sounded; but directly afterwards I say- the steamer strike the hulk, apparently between.the mast and stem, and I heard the crash. The hulk was 1 swinging towards the steamer at the time. She was struck on the port side. The sound was more like a grinding than a blow. The steamer was going very slow, but the wind was blowing her towards the hulk. The steamer then dropped astern and lay by for about a quarter of an hour er twenty minutes. I did not hear any one calling out. I saw Captain Carey on the bridge. The Taupo must have been steaming slowly ahead as she lay by, or she would have been blown away on: to the beach in the gale which was blowing. After this the Taupo steamed away, and I watched till her lights were out of sight. I then went below, remained there about five or ten minutes, and then returned on deck. Oh looking round I could not discern anything for ,a few minutes, but as my eyes became used to the darkness I could see that the hulk had sunk, because nothing but her mast above the water was visible. I did not think anybody was on board the hulk, because I had seen her light up to ten o’clock or halfpast, and it was not relighted after it went out; and also because I heard no distress signals or cries, of distress on the hulk after she was struck by the steamer. So long as the lights were kept burning on the hulk I think there was sufficient room for the steamers to leave and come to the wharf without danger of accident. '

By a Juror : Our vessel was between the hulk and the steamer, and would prevent those on board the steamer seeing her until she had passed us. The hulk also was swinging round towards the wharf. Dr. Harding, sworn, deposed : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. On Saturday morninglwas called up at about twenty minutes past 3 o’clock by Mr. Meech, who stated that my attendance was required at the baths. I wept there, and found the deceased in a house neift door to Meech’s, lying on the floor of thel kitchen dead. The body was cold and rigid. From the appearance she had evidently been dead some time. Deceased may have died from ' exhaustion or drowning, but I cannot say which. I'did not see the child. . ‘ Richard Caddy, master mariner, and captain of the ship Leicester, said : At half-past 12 o’clock a.m. on Saturday I was on the end of the wharf. I was there just after the Taupo cleared away from the wharf, and watched her going. About five minutes after the steamer left the wharf I heard a crash, and I could tell that the steamer had run into some vessel. I could not see the hulk, but the noise came from the direction in which sh’e was moored. As soon as I heard the crash Hooked intently, and I could see that the hulk and steamer were together, and they remained alongside each other for about fire minutes, after which the steamer gradually dropped astern, and remained just astern of the hulk for ,about ten minutes. ! I heard no confusion, no noise, or calling out. The Taupo then continued on her way; and in about five minutes stopped again. I could tell this because her port lights were visible to ine. After 'stopping a few minutes she made a fresh start and steamed away. I then went on board my own ship. > Inspector Atcheson : What is the distance from the end of the wharf to the position occupied by the hulk ? Captain Caddy : Between 400 and 600 yards. By the Coroner : I think on a dark night such as the one in question that the hulk was . in an unfavorable position for long steamers to get away. By a Juror; I believe the steamer’s stem line parted. John Orlanda deposed: I am an able seaman on | board the barque Adamant. At about half-past twelve o’clock on Saturday morning I was acting as watchman on board my ship. I heard a woman’s cry coming up from the wafer. I looked over the side, but could see no one. The , cry was repeated several times. I called the captain, who at once came on deck. All hards were called. A boat was lowered, and the captain went himself in charge of it. I did not hear the cry after the boat left the ship. * 1 _ . ilmmft Sancto deposed : ,1 am Mrs. Meech’s daughter. I reside on Glide-quay, at, the baths. At a quarter to 2 o’clock on Saturday morning’l heard knocking at our door, and some one screaming outside. , Mother.opened the door, and I went down and into Mrs. Dayiep’ house; From what I heard there I got a lantern and wont down the beach towards the town. Just in front of the baths I saw on,a floating stage the body of the deceaaed, Amy Davey, lying upon her back'apparently dead. I went for assistance., Mr. Davies and I returned and carried the body into Mrs. Davies’s house. I had hold of. the ' feet; they were, very_ cold; but not stiff. Decealsed.. showed no signs of . life. L jaw my mother and others rubbing the body.'' Edwm'lfavey deposed:,! am alaborer, having been engaged - on board the Eli Whitney, hulk, of which I was in charge prior to'her being sunk. I had held a ’ situation on board fori three years, and had been in charge about eighteen months. On Friday night I went to bed at 9 o’clock with my wife and child. Before going: to bed I went round‘the deck to see that everything was in order. The ship’s anchor light was burning brightly in its proper place, thi main rigging oh the starboard side. I had sounded the pumps on the same morning and found about three inches of water in the hold. I bad on board between 700 and 800 tons of coil. Daring the night I slept soundly, and do not know the exact time when I was disturbed. My wife woke me by saying to me “ What is that ?” I listened, and found it be water which was rushing into the closet near thi stern of the vessel. I went out, my wife coming after me with the child, who was only five months old. When I got on deck I tried to haul the boat up, at the same time I looked round to see if a steamboat was near, but I could not see one. Not seeing-anything to cause'this rush of water, and finding the vessel was sinking rapidly, I endeavored to haul the boat up, and had almost succeeded, when the 'vessel sank under us. My , wife was standing a little distance from me ready to jump into the boat, she having the child in arms, so that we, were separated the moment the hulk sank. I struck out as she sank, and secured a stage plank which had been lying on deck. I then looked around and found my wife aqd child close alongside of me. I got them on to the plank and endeavored to paddle it along with a paddle I had in my hand, but the wind turned it oyer, and my wife lost, the child. I and my wife, got 6n'r : 'the.>p^^^again.^/i,W^crie^.jfopj4ji?lp;: 1 finding it useless to attempt to direct the plank, and I heard the dog on board_ the India bark, and I heard a voice on deck sing out “ I will be with you in a minute.” We then censed to

call out, as we were becoming I looked round, but could see no boat ‘oiirmng. I then sang out again, this time calling, upqn Peter Ferguson, who was in cliaigo of. th<*'' India, to come to leeward on the’starbhard, but no help came, The plank capsized many “ times during the time we were in the water. ' My wife kept up her spirits till the last time the plank capsized, about the ninth time. Thatt 1 we were getting in pretty shallow water; ’ ; t‘ caughtmy wife by the hair, that being the only part I could get hold of, and placed her on the bank, but she was insensible. I got on to tie j beach, my wife still with me, and hauled her up as far as my strength would allow me,, and ’ went up to the first house I saw for’help. X ■ ’ ' recollect nothing more till three o’clock, when .. I found myself lying in Mr. Davies' house ou ! the sofa. There was no mark of damage be- ' tween the stern and the main riggitig. I be- , heve she was struck forward, as she.went down bead first, her stern rising up in the air as ’ she sunk. : ce

The Coroner here remarked to the jury that j this was all the information he had to brin» before them that day ; and as he thought’it ! would be necessary to adjourn the inquest until the arrival of the steamer Taupo, to ohtain evidence from those on board of her, he thought it might be as well for the jury to ' suggest that steps should be taken.to examine the hulk by means of diving. He could not order the expenditure,' or do anything in. the ; - matter, because he had very decided instruc- ' tions not, to enter oa-any expenditure .except ■ such as was specially authorised. ’ The jury passed a resolution in accordance with the Coroner's suggestion. ' ' , , It was then resolved to adjourn till'Tuesdajr next, the 6th of March. ' ’ The Coroner’s inquiry into the clrcum- i! stances attendant on the death of: Mrs. Davey ’ " and her son, drowned at the time of the wreck of the Eli Whitney, was resumed’at the Market House on Tuesday, March 6. -i The following evidence was taken r—-' ; . Michael Carey : I-am a master mariner, fa > cotfimand of the s.s. Taupo. On the morning : r of the 23rd February last cast off from the Queen’s Wharf about ten minutes past twelve 1 o’clock to proceed to Piotoh. It was a dark, gloomy, and stormy night. Got away from A the wharf and cleared a schooner lying offit, f there being no difficulty with the lines. So % soon as the steamer swung from the wharf so as to point clear of the schooner let the stern line go and went easy ahead, and then half- . speed ahead. The screw could not have made more than twenty revolutions when the chief , mate called out “a hulk ahead” and “g* : astern.” The mate was on the forecastle head, at his station. The engines were at once re- ' , versed to full speed astern, and in half a minute, or perhaps less, came into collision with, the ' hulk, there being little or no way ’on the •' steamer. I saw the hulk for the first time almost ' simultaneously with the mate seeing her. She- ’’ - was struck on the port side, and had been lying outside of the schooner in line with that vessel, so that I could not see her until I cleared the schooner. At the time of the collision the hulk was sheering about a good deal, , and seemed to sheer down towards the steamer, '.j I called out “Why there are no lights,’’ V (meaning on board the hulk.) • He said “So, ' ’ sir,” and I ordered him to hail the hulk and see! if anyone was on board. I also drew the purser’s attention (who was standing by the ’ telegraph) to the fact of there being no lights. ; The mate and others hailed from the forecastle r several times “Hulk, ahoy,” and “Is there J anyone oh board, 1 ’ and got, no answer. T backed the steamer astern, and .then went i. ahead, so as to keep under the hulk’s stem, for ' ■ nearly fifteen minutes, and then stopped the J steamer for some minutes and let her drift t* leeward, but got no answer from the hulk. From the time the steamer struck the hulk until I finally ..steamed away would be fully fifteen or twenty minutes. ; , _> .Getting no reply from the hulk, and there being no light and apparently no life on board, , I concluded that no one was there, and steamed away slowly down the harbor, fully under the impression that there was’no 'one on board. - The Taupo did not show the smallest damage, . ’ and the shock being so slight I was under the impression that the hulk was not. seriously in- . jured. On examination subsequently the paint , 1 was not even rubbed off the Taupo., In answer to Mr. McKellar, Captain Carey ;.) said that before steaming ahead to leave the harbor, after the collision, he saw the hulk ap- ’ patently .all right. She did not look like settling down. ,< ’.. d

To a Juror : The hulk wag nearly in' a line ■' with Somes Island light and ..the wharf. f When leaving the wharf the stern dims did not part; it was cast off in the usual way. •-» Findlay McArthur, chief mate of theTaitpo, , gave evidence in most /points corroboratory,, of > that of Captain Carey. The steamer had still i g headway on her when she struck'the hulk, but the collision was very light,,‘iand- the immediately backed. N o light" astern could he j seen anywhere on board the hulk,' and no '' answer Was received to; 1 ; the hailmgs. thought some of the bulwarks of the hulk were j smashed, :as he heard. a .crash at . the, time of -i s the collision, which was somewhere'about the v mainmast or amidships. He did not think that anything serious had occurred. The crash was . so light that he did not suspect any damage; below the bulwarks. , , ‘ ,

. John McQueen, chief engineer of the Taupe,,. ; i was examined, and deposed . that on. the mom-, f ing of the 23rd she left the, wharf, without fusion, under easy ,steam. In about three! ... minutes the telegraph rang half speed,” and } almost immediately afterwards (about , half a ■ minute) “ full speed astern.". In another half minute the collision happened,', the, shock felt ” ~j being very slight, so slight sthat- had''the -1 steamer not being going: full speed'astern ho' ; would not have thought of-ifs being a collision. , The steamer then went- easy ahead and easy astern for about 15 minutes,- and then half speed ahead until the! Heads .were passed, 1 at ; \ a quarter past 1 o'clock.! The shock of tho collision felt,in the engine-room was not suffi* ■■> cieht to induce any one there to go on deck. , " Henry Woods, th£!, diver,!, who; had: gone;,,; w down and examined the ‘wreck ,of the Eli ■> Whitney, lying in about-36ft! of water, gave 1 evidence,as to the damage done, which waa 1 ahqut amidships, where there, was a small open* j ing made into the ship onlynbout 18in. i ■ like a jagged cut, and .4 or sft,, long, It’r»» J from the deck downwards,; the: deck- being 1 un- .‘j injured, and also the bulwarks. He went all ,- j ovelr the ship, but found' ho Other damage: ‘ ■ He ' ’ ;' brought up some pieces .of timber from where; .Vjf the; damage was done,, r and the wood was i*, j excellent preaervation—quite sound. The jury returned a verdict of accidental ? death, no blame being attachable to the captaut .{> and officers of the Taupo. They added a rider l •»' —That the EH Whitney was moored in a wreag and unsafe position, and that'all hulks shoal# be compelled to carry a bright light front ; subset to sunrise. - '■ > ■' ' '