STRANDING OF THE WILLIAM GIFFORD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 356, 14 June 1877, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE WILLIAM GIFFORD.

FULL PARTICULARS. [By Telegraph.] (from a special correspondent.) Invercargill, June 13. An enquiry was held at the Customhouse, Invercargill, on the 31si ult., before Captain Ellis, Collector of Customs, with reference to the stranding of the barque William Gifford. John Bishop, master of the barque William Gifford, said that his vessel was lying in the Oamaru roadstead, near the

Breakwater, on the 11th May; Owing tol the tidal wave, the vessel parted from hci) moorings. The ship was under the cjv.-fy of the Harbour Master, and he (th { captaiu) was on shore at the time. g, joined the vessel about 1 p.m. When hi got aboard the Harbour Master told hin that she had struck heavily outside thi Breakwater, and as the vessel was makiiij water he had the pumps sounded, an, found lift, of water in the well. Th Harbour Master recommended him t make all sail for Port Chalmers, and sai that he would tell the owners to telegrap to that port for a tug to look out for th vessel. The Harbour Master then Id the vessel, and he (the captain) stcere for Port Chalmers, putting all hands t the pumps. There was a fresh sntf, westerly wind at the time, and a nasi sea. At 8 p.m. reduced sail, as tk vessel was making water fast, apparenll at the rate of about Ift. an hour. A daylight the wind moderated, and at p.m. it was calm. Saw the land abot Moeraki bearing W.N.W., about 25 inili off. The crew were kept constantly i the pumps, and at 2 p.m. a light broci from the N.E. sprung up, and he shapt the vessel's course.for Ota-o Heads, i

10.30 p.m. he made the light at Otaj Heads, bearing S.W. by \V., about 1 miles off, and steered for it. At 11.30 p.n the light was invisible, owing to the thii rain and fog. Hauled off on* the pa tack to wait for daylight, but before 1 did so, and before it got thick, he shew a flare-light for 15 minutes, but receivt no answer. Again reduced sail, an found that water was making at the r« of about two feet per hour. Soundi the pumps, and found seven feet of wate This was at about 2 p.m. He then cal'i all hands aft, and consulted as to wli was best to be done. It was decided run for the Bluff, and put the vessel I fore the wind. At daylight on Sr.ndaj made the land, bearing N.W., distal about eight miles, and, as far as cou judge, 28 miles south of Cape Sayindei The wind was N.E., and blowing a hew gale, with the sea boisterous. Kept tl vessel's head S.W. by S., which course was judged would bring her clear of tl Nuggets. At about 10 a.m. she v abreast of the Nuggets, and seven kail from shore. Altered the course to* "S.V! to clear the long point, the pumps coi stantly going and the water still increa ing. Seeing what he supposed to be t! reef off Ghasland's Mistake, he altered tl vessel's course to S.S.W., and kept heri this direction for one hour. Ho the took a more westerly direction, and sot afterwards saw that his only course w to beach the vessel, the water liavii risen 2 feet above the lazaretto deck. Tl mate and crew wanted to leave the vess in boats, being quite exhausted. Ho the hauled in W.N.W., to beach the vesse as he did not believe the boats would li< in such a sea. At about 4.15 p.m., mat the the land between Waikava and Wa papa Point, keeping her away to clear tl reef of Slope Point. The ship then bi came unmanageable. Got into smoot water after rounding the reef, and puttli long boat over the side, keeping heri the tackle. Dropped anchor in fit fathoms, at about 500 yards from tli shore, the time then being 8 p.m. Pre vious to this had found 11 feet 7 inches u water in the ship's hold. The crew wen ashore in the boat after the anchor wn dropped, and when he (the captain) lef the vessel the water was over the cabil floor, and he judged from the peculia motion of the ship that she wai sinking. The next morning ho fouiK that the ship had dragged her an chor, and was on the beach with hoi rudder gone. At great risk, he and tin crew tried to save all they could. He had lost an anchor in Oamaru, so that he had only one available.

By the Court: The reason why he did not beach the vessel was because he did not know what the character of the beach was. Had the beach been rocky, loss of life might have been caused. Spars might have fallen, and damaged the boats and injured the crew, if the vessel had been run ashore. The cargo consisted of 2000 bags of grain. The ship belonged to Mr, George Sumpter, of Oamaru., and her tonnage was 232 tons. Corroborative evidence was given by the seamen.

After hearing the evidence, Capt. Ellis pronounced his opinion, which was to the effect that the master and crew did all in their power to save the vessel and livefc That had a steamer reached the vessel off Port Chalmers she might have been towed, into the port, and saved ; and that there was no blame attaching to any Se for the loss of the vessel at the Tois-T"~*> The Court highly complimented'oaptain John Bishop for his behaviour under circumstances of a most trying nature, and ordered that his certificates be returned.