THE SCHOONER ORPHEUS IN A GALE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1054, 28 March 1882, Page 4

THE SCHOONER ORPHEUS IN A GALE.

CAPTAIN DOUGHTY WASHED OVERBOARD (From Hie Auckland Star.) Mr Plater, agent for Schappe and Auxenne's estate, has received a telegram from Dunedin conveying the inoiirnf d intelligence that Captain Doughty, master of the Auckland schooner Orpheus, was lost overboard during a gale on the 14th inst. The schooner arrived at Dunedin on the 20th inst. No further particulars are yet to hand. The Orpheus left this port in ballast about a month ago, pro

needed to the Thames, and loaded with timber for Dunedin. While on her way thither she had most likely been caught in one of the late terrible gales j which have been experienced down the • coast, and her captain while endeavoring to save his vessel, lost his own life. Captain Doughty is one of A tickland’s oldest coasting captains, having been engaged in that capacity for the i past thirty years. During that time he has been most fortunate, and until the present lamentable occurrence, has never experienced a mishap of any kind. He was a first-class seaman, and was known to all as a thorough gentleman. Many A uckland residents will regret his loss, but none more so than his wife and family of five children, who reside in Auckland. To them the intelligence of the drowning | of their husband and fatter will be a heavy blow, and one which will|be long and severely mourned. Later, An inquiry into the death of Captain Doughty, was held before the Collector of Customs, Mr Hackworth, at the Custom house. T. Walsh stated :—1 am mate of the schooner Orpheus, of Auckland. She is 52 tons register, and belongs to J. Ansenne. We sailed from the port of Thames on March 3rd, bound to Dunedin. Nothing particular occurred until we reached tiie neighbourhood of Bank’s Peninsula, at 8 p.m. on the 13th. The wind was then blowing from the N.E., the weather was fine, and the vessel was going about 5 miles before the wind. 1 took the wheel at 8 o'clock, and kept it until midnight, when the -captain came up to relieve me. The weather at that time was thickening up from the N.E. The captain gave orders to take two reefs in the mainsail and stow the jib. The ship, after jibbing, steered S.W. by S. Seeing that everything was clear, and the captain not requiring me to do anything more, I went below at 20 mins, to 1. At 10 minutes to 1, 1 had occasion to go on deck, and as 1 was passing forward, 1 saw that the jib was hauled down, and I also saw the •captain out on the jibboom, making the jib fast, 1 went into the rigging, and whilst there I heard a loud shout aft. The cook, who was at the wheel, ■Bang out “ man overboard.” 1 ran ■aft and told him to put the helm hard down, and then ran forward again, ■and after calling up the third man 1 ■let go ail the gear belonging to the square sail, which I though would ■then come down, but it did not, owing <to its getting flat aback and around •the rigging. This made the vessel unmanageable, and it took the three •of us about 15 or 20 minutes before we got the sail clear. During this lime we kept a sharp look-out, but, •owing to the darkness, we were unable to see anything of the captain, nor did we hear his voice. We tacked to and ■fro for two hours, and sometimes laid •the vessel to. The wind was from the N.E., and blowing at the rate of 5 or 6 'knots. We had a double low-boat on board, but we did not get it out, be•cause there was too much sea on to •launch her, She was lashed across the main hatchway. We had no lifebuoys on board. In the excitement ■of the moment, 1 did not think of throwing anything overboard to the •captain, but afterwards it occurred to me that a piece of the timber with which the deck was loaded might have been thrown over. After laying off and on for two hours, we stood into the land, which we could not see on account of the thick fog. Fearing that we should got on to the land, we ■hove the vessel to, and lay that way •until the 17th, when we ran to the N.W., making the South of Cape •'Saunders at 9.30 p.m. From that time till arrival at Port Chalmers we had •clear weather. I went up aloft to •clear the square sail, and tried to roll dt up so as to get it down aud make it •hold less wind. It was impossible for us to have got the sail clear sooner than we did. We lost no time about •it. We were all perfectly' sober. We ■are teetotallers. The Captain held a certificate of service for Home trade. He was between 50 and 60 years of •age —a native of Whitley, England, •and was married. He leaves a wife and 4 or 5 children in Auckland. George Else, A.B. on board the •vessel, slated that whilst he was in his ibunk he heard the jib being hauled down, and shortly afterwards he heard the cry “ Man overboard.” The ■witness then gave corroborative evidence to that given by the mate, and further staled that be called out to see if there were answers from the captain ; but none came. There was a ladder lashed alongside the boat, but witnessed did not think of cutting it adrift. When he last saw the captain he was wearing a heavy top coat. At daylight witness noticed that the gasket liad been carried away —not a _y.rticie remained. He thought tl.e -.uptain must have gone under the

vessels’ bottom when the gasket gave way. 'The crew were all friendly, and, besides, were total abstainers. The mate, recalled, said that he did not hear the captain sing out, owing to the noise made by the vessel rushing through the water. Bethought the vessel had subsequently risen at the stern on the port side where he heard a cry the same time as the cook called out. If the squaresail had not been set, witness was of opinion that he might have been picked up. The vessel was kept away till the squaresail was drawn, because she would not answer her helm. There would have been no real danger Io the vessel even if they had let the sail remain aback. Alfred Migrant, cook on board of the Orpheus, gave corroborative evidence. This was all the evidence, and the inquiry being a preliminary one, it therefore closed at this stage. The evidence will be forwarded to the proper quarter.