STRANDING OF THE FRANKLIN BELLE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 990, 21 June 1879, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE FRANKLIN BELLE.

Throughout yesterday afternoon, last evening, and to-day the heaviest sea that has been known since the Breakwater was started has been rolling into the bay. Waves have been dashing with terrific force over the Breakwater, but that noble structure has withstood the full force of the waves. Of course all operations at the port have been suspended. It was deemed advisable to send the barque Gloria, which was lying at anchor in the bay, to sea, and this -was done shortly before dusk. The ketch Franklin Belle, which arrived from Dunedin with a cargo of railway iron, and had come to anchor about 150 fathoms nor'-west of Normanby Wharf, was, at four o'clock, hauled nearer the shore, and the vessel left in charge of oneman. At dusk the whole of the vessels, of which there were a large number in port, were apparently riding in safety ; at but about eight o'clock, the nightwatchman called out that the Franklin Belle was adrift, and Captain Matheson, who was on board the Good Templar with one of his men, immediately put off to her, and was followed by Captain Bradshaw, of the Good Templar, the owner of both vessels, with two of his men. Just about this time a heavy squal from the south sprang up, and it is highly probable that the two anchors being fouled had lost its hold, and the vessel so became adrift, The second anchor was let go by the man on board, but it failed to take a good hold.' On arriving on board, the captain attempted to pick up the anchors, and bring the vessel under the shelter of the Normanby Wharf. Sail was got on, but some delay was occasioned through one of the anchor chains becoming fouled on the windlass, and before it could be got clear, the littl^'vessel had drifted out into broken water. Here the seas began to break over her very freely, and in endeavoring to work to windward, the two boats were carried away and the deck swept by the heavy seas, and those on board had great difficulty in preventing themselves being washed overboard. The hatches were smashed in, and the cabin and hold becoming full of water, the vessel, which, as we have already said, ■was heavily laden with railway iron, began to settle down in the bay. It was then found impossible to bring her into safety, and Captain Bradshaw, therefore, determined to run her on shore, in order, if possible, to save the cargo and enable those on board to get ashore. Putting the vessel on the other tack, he ran her on the beach near the mouth of the lagoon, unfortunately at the spot where a large number of concrete blocks are strewn. Luckily everyone on board got ashore, but they were unable to bring their things with them, the cabin being filled with water and the sea being so high. When it became known that a vessel had come ashore, a large crowd of people gathered on the beach, and many lingered near her for x .ime time, watching the waves dash-

ing ruthlessly over the taught little vessel, and anticipating seeing her speedily break up. She managed to withstand ■ the heavy seas, and though driven still further up the beach by the rising tide, is to-day apparently perfectly sound. It is feared, however, that her bottom has been qtove in, owing to her i having bumped upon the concrete blocks. The Franklin Belle was a regular trader to the port, and was noted for being one < of the smartest and best built vessels frequenting the harbor, and would undoubtedly have been still afloat had not ; the hatches been stove in, and the vessel ; filled with water. She was insured for L4OO in the National office. Captain Bradshaw, however, is a considerable loser, as he was in treaty for her sale for L 650. It is pretty certain that her cargo will be saved, but whether she will be got afloat depends entirely on the amount of damage that she has received. OFFICIAL INQUIRY. A preliminary inquiry iuto the circumstances attending the stranding of the Franklin Belle was held this afternoon, before Mr. Farquhar (Collector of Customs) and Captain Sewell (Nautical Assessor). Henry Matheson deposed : I am master of the ketch Franklin Belle, registered at the port of Dunedin. and of thirty tons regislor, owned by Charles Bradshaw, and trading generally between Dunedin, Kakanui, and Oamaru. I have no certificate either of competency or service. The vessel left Port Chalmers at 3 p.m. on the 19th inst. ; brought up at Otago Heads until 7 a. m. on the 20th inst., when I left, the wind being sou'west, and arrived at Oamaru at 2 p.m. on the same day. Anchored about 400 yards off Normanby Wharf, in a nor'-west direction. Aftereonsultingwith PilotShand, we thought it advisable to haul close into the wharf, to be better under shelter of the wharf and Breakwater, on account of the very heavy swell rolling in. I accordingly hauled her in and let go the anchor quite clear, and gave 25 fathoms of chain. At 6 p.m. I gave her 10 fathoms more chain, which I thought was sufficient to hold her, as the weather was at the time. I then went on board the ketch Good Templar. At 8 p.m. the wharf watchman hailed us, saying that the Franklin Belle was adrift in the bay. I, along with two other men, immediately went on board, and found that the crew had let go the second anchor. We proceeded to make sail, as the vessel had dragged out into broken water, so as to work her up again into shelter. At this time Captain Bradshaw, the owner, with one man, came on board to render assistance. AVe then proceeded to heave up the anchors, but in getting up the second anchor the chain failed at the windlass, and the vessel was driven far down into the bay, the sea breaking clean over her. Before we could get the chain of the second anchor slipped, and both boats had swamped and broken adrift. We then made several efforts to work to windward, but found that the vessel was buried undnv each suceeding sea, which .swept the decks, washed off the hateii tarpaulins, and was rilling the cabin, and the men had to take to the rigging. We found then that the vessel was settling down, and that the only course to save life and property was to beach her, otherwise she would have foundered. The vessel was loaded with railway iron, and was a first-class vessel, and well found in every respect. She now lies stranded at the mouth of the Oamaru Creek, and I believe the bottom of the vessel is stove in, two of the main beams broken, and the butts and planking started on the port side. On account of the vessel having been driven over several concrete blocks which are lying on the beach, I consider her to be a total wreck. The vessel is insured in the National Insurance Company for L4OO. She is valued in the policy at L 750. There is also as cargo on board thirty-five packages of iron wire, which is partially damaged. Charles Bradshaw deposed : I am master and owner of the Good Templar, ketch, and also owner of the ketch Franklin Belle. About 8 p.m. on Friday, the 20th inst., seeing the Franklin Belle dragging her anchors, I went aboard with one of my crew to assist them in getting the vessel back into shelter. About this time there were hard squalls driving out of the bay .from the south-west, which I think must* have caused her to start her anchors. Whenl gotaboardlfound the sea breaking right over her, which necessitated all on board taking to the rigging. The same sea carried away the two boats. I found the sails set and the men heaving up the anchors. I then took the wheel. Captain Matheson called out " She is all clear forward —hoist the staysail," which was done, and we stood out to the southeast, but the heavy sea knocked her round on the weather tack, heading in about west, the sea rolling in right after her, sweeping the decks, and washing me twice from the 'wheel. Got her round after getting her in shore, and stood to the south-east again. Finding that the seas were so heavy that she was burying herself, that the cabin was filling with water, and that the tarpaulin was washed off and the water rushing down between the seams of the hatches, I started one man to the pump. The master came aft, and said she was re-filling, and that we had better go on to the beach. I said, " All right; put her round and let her go, or she will founder in the bay." I kept her before the sea, and beached her at the mouth of the Oamaru Creek. The wind for a day or two previous to this had been backing from south-east to south-west, and back again, with a heavy swell along the coast. On the day of the accident the sea increased, and was breaking for miles seaward and all over the bay I consider the vessel, before dark, was in aa good a position as any vessel in the harbor, and remarked to Captain Matheson, "I wish I was in the position that you are." I was just on the point of selling her for the sum of LCSO, and I consider my loss to be L 250, besides the loss of the Good Templar's boat. lam of the opinion that the vessel is a total wreck, and it is my intention to hand her over to the underwriters.

John Johnson, a seaman on board the Franklin Belle, deposed : I was on board the ketch on the 20th inst., at 7.30 p.m. I found her dragging her anchor, and accordingly let go the second anchor, and gave her about 15 or so fathoms, but she continued to drag. The captain being on board the Good Templar, I hailed him, and he came on board. After the captain came on board, sail was set and the anchors got, and we tried to get her under the Breakwater, but could not do so on account of the tarpaulin being washed off the hatches, and the water getting into the hold. She would not answer her helm, and being in danger of sinking, we had to run her ashore to save our lives. There were six of us altogether to work the vessel. I consider that everything possible was done to get the vessel back into safety, but she became unmanageable, on acoount of the heavy seas breaking over her while in the bay.