The Maud Graham’s Disastrous Voyage.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 37, 3 June 1890, Page 3

The Maud Graham’s Disastrous Voyage.

The N w Zealand Herald of Simrday rives the following account of the Maud Graham’s voyage when K"* captain and mate, the brothers liUgerald, were washed overboard On W third day out. .was off Portland Island, and at nightfall ...the wind, which had be n blowing very fresh from the WS.W. all day, increased to a furious gale. Captain Fitzgerald, after consulting the crew, expressed his intention of heaving to at 8 p.m., but the high seas running rendered this impracticable, and it was decided to k ep running till midnight, when, if the weather moderated at all, it was agreed to l->y ‘<> tor themight. About 11 o’clock Captain Fitzgerald came on deck to see how things were, and found that there was no diminution in the force of the wind,which was now a howling hurricane, while the sea was running very high, and threatening to poop the vessel. The master took the helm, hut had not long been tlnre before an enormous wave broke over the stern and washed him over the bulwarks like a cork, A second wave swept him hack however, and grasping a ropei he manag'd to retain his footing. The poor fellow’s respite from death w.«s, however, very brief, for in less than ten minutes a similar sea broke on board, and carried the hapless master over the side into the seething waters without any of his shipmates, being aware of the fact at the instant. The mate, John Fitzgerald, came aft to see how his brojher was getting on, and to his Horror f-mnd that he was mot ate Ins cost and the first accident furnished an easy means of surmising how he had been lost. The wheel was found to have been broken bodily in hidf, and the fragments were, washing about the deck*, which were full of water. Mr John Fitzgerald then took command of the schooner, and, undaunted by. the tragic fate 'of his brother, stationed himself at the broken helm. For about five or six minutes he succeeded in keeping- the vessel on her cour se wh-m a mountainous sea almost overwhelms I the sc noon r, breaking over her stern and sweeping along the deck. Toe crew held dm to th neares hold* for dear life, but when the vessel shook hers-If free from the wave they were horrified to find that the mate was not at the wheel win re he had been . standing when the water broke on board. While bravely standing to the post vacat dm so untimely a manner by his brother, John Fitzgerald having been hurled into eternity without having time to utter a cry for assistance. It was-impossible to launch a boat, and tjie crew could take no means to rescue those who had been washed ZSLi. W.W:eto..Kl, T Tilly took charge, and as there was no change in the weather they had to recourse to pouring oil and kerosene over the side td break the sea with good effect, and they also heaved-to on several occasions during .heavy squalls. The gale lasted over three days and after much anxious toil on the part of the five men on board they arrived at Auckland without further mishap.