STRANDING OF THE T.E. MILLEDGE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 17, 16 December 1863, Page 3

STRANDING OF THE T.E. MILLEDGE.

We publish below the result of the inquiry nto the grounding of the T. E. Milledge:— Biuff Harbor, Oth Dec, 18G3. At the request of the Deputy-Superintendent •we have this day held an inquiry into the circumstances connected with t!hs grounding cf the ship T. E. Milledge, in this harbor, on the sth inst., and subsequently when in tow of the s.s. Phcebe, and found as follows :— That at 5 o'clock, a.m., on Saturday, the oth . inst., the ship T. E. Milledge., bound for this port, was boarded and taken charpe of by Mr. Assistant-Pilot Mills, a little to the southward of Starling point, the wind at the time blowing ' .a i'resli breeze From the lvest-sonth-west, water •smooth, and the ship going at the rate of from rfive to seven miles an hour. That when getting abreast of the Flying TVlist, a -sudden squall headed the ship, throwdng the sails aback, and when they filled again :the .way .on the .vessel through the water was only about two .knote. She was barely heading through the channel, avid was getting towards, the lee side of it. The top-gallant sails and mainsail were <not set, but were loose, hanging iby the gsar. After the sails filled the tmizenstaysail and mizen-topmast-staysail was set, and the order, " ready, about," given by the, pilot. About two minutes afterwards the ship touched the ground, forged aheafi about her" own length and stopped, being at -this time about a ship's breadth inside the buoy on Te , Waewae point. The pilot evidently thought the vessel had water over the place on which he struck, as he intended to go on until she bad gathered sufficient way to come about. After the ship was aground the sails were kept full about two mtnutes, apparently for tbe purpose of forcing her over into deep water; but, as stoe remained stationery, the sails were taken off and furled, and a signal made for the Harbor Master, who at once .-came on board and took charge. The port anchor was then let go, and a line run to.» Jhe ship Jack Frost, which was hove tight to prevent the vessel from going further on, as the wind had freshened after she went aground. . • - Shortly after high water the s.s. Phcebe came in, and an attempt was made by her to tow the ship off, but without effect. The following tide, at nearly 8 p.m., about three quarter flood, the Phoebe came again, and brought up ahead of the ship wilh two anchors, a Tope was run to her, the Phoebe, and the ship ! was towed afloat ; but, unfortunately, a terrific squall coming at the time, the ship, pulling the steamer astern, went ashore again. The squall continued until after high water, when an attempt was again made ; but the tide having- fallen about a ifbot, the vessel was fast aground. Nothing further was done till the Sunday morning tide, and the Phoebe still remained alyyid, riding to two anchors. \j|f hen she began to tow it was fully high water, Sunday morning, and she tnwed the ship oft' tbe ground and ahead as far as her (the Phoebe's) anchor-chain would allow her to go, but not far enough for the ship td'liave'rbo'm to bring up, and having eased ..steam, to get her other anchor picked up^ (one 'anchor having been hove up as the first went ahead), the . heel of the ship, was swung by the ebb on to the bank, where she stuck fast, notwithstanding that the steamer tried again to tow her off. Before next tide the weather had moderated, and the wind shifted to south-east. An anchor with seventy-five fathoms of chain was. run out, the ship hove afloat, taken to the proper anchorage and moored, apparently without having sustained damage. It is our opinion that Mr. Assistant-Pilot Mills ran an imprudent risk in attempting to pass inside of the buoy, and in not staying, or

trying to stay, the ship before she took the ground; At tne 4 same time, we think; he was placed in a position of -difficulty wheri the sails w'erft taken aback, and the vessel had lost her way, and it appears by the evidencw that he wished to put the vessel about sooner, as he asktd Captain Wilson if he thought the ship had way enough to come round, 4.0 which the captain answered, " scarcely." Respecting the ship having gone ashore several time& after having been got off, these occurrences were dalised by Unfortunate circumstances over which the actors had no control, all having apparently been done that was practicable at the time, only there was no satisr'actbry' evidence to show why the Phoebe did not begin to tow on Sunday morning until hi<*h water, that vessel having 1 sailed before the enquiry was insulated. .• •. J- B. Grtijibi \ • Ji Newton' WAtS". ?