WRECK OF THE BRIG RELIANCE.
{From the ' S. M. Herald, August 4.)
Two of the survivois of the abovenamed vessel arrived yesterday morning by the steamer Boomerang, fromjPsrtJOenn^ipiS; THe ollowing" are the full particulars of the wreck and sufferings of the crew, which are furnished by Captain Austin, who was owner as well as captain of the ill-fated brig.' Her cargo consisted of ten tons cocoanut oil, one ton tortoiseshell, three tons pearl-shell, and a quantity of other shells and curiosities, and she was from the South Sea Islands, bound to Sydney. The captain's account is as follows : — On the 2nd of April, 1868, the brig Eeliance struck on a reef — supposed to be the Indispenaible Reef, in lat. 12deg. S., and long, 166deg. 25min. E., at 3 o'clock a.m. ; the weather being with heavy squalls and heavy seas, the ship struck, bilged, and immediately began to fill with water ; succeeeded in launching the whaleboat, put two hands into her, and sent her off to wait for daylight. At daylight got out the longboat, and put into her provisions and water for eight days, taking with us the snip's, chronometer, two compas es and chart, and two quadrants. When the vessel was filled with water all hands took to the boats, got them over the reef, and there lay-to to watch tie last of the vessel. Ni^ht came on with heavy squalls, rain, thunder, and lightning, both boats leaking very much. The boats hung to the reef until the second day ; the ship was on the reef pretty much as before. The weather becoming moderate the boats made sail, and steered for Cape Deliverance. On the 2nd no water in either boat. Oh the morning of next day made Satisfaction Island," went ashore, and tried to get some water, landing at a small grove of cocoanut trees, where we found several natives. We gave them some bread, and they gave U9 water and some cocoanuts in return. The natives appeared to be friendly, so much so that, it being a very good place to repair our boats, we took everything out of the whale-boat into the lonerboat, intending to repair one boat at a time. We anchored the long-boat at some distance from the land, leaving two hands in her. Took the whaleboat on shore, and the natives understanding what we wanted to do, they seemed to be very glad at our proposal, but wanted the other boat brought on shore alao. They helped us to drag the boat on the beach, and turned her over. We set to work at once on the boat, for the natives kept in- : listing that the other boat should be brought on v.ore. We tried to make them understand that as soon as one boat was repaired, the other one would change places with it. Nevertheless, they wanted both boats on shore together. As the boat was not ready at night, we slept on shore, keeping watch all night. The natives still persisted in wanting the second boat in the morning, and as they kept mustering stronger and stronger, and their behaviour showing signs of hostilities, we hastened to put the things in her, and found they had robbed us of an aie and a knife, and one native just in the act of wa»king off with a pistol, which we got back; they also ran away with a piece of meat that we were boiling for breakfast. As we got the boat in about twenty or thirty yards from the beach, there came a heavy shower of spears, one going through the starboard side of the boat, and another piercing the steward's left hip to the depth of five or Bii inches, so that we had to pull hard to get it out. A pistol was fired, which sent the natives running to the bush, giving us time to get out of reach of their spears j a second shower came, but fell short ; the long boat weighed anchor, and we sailed along the land, keeping a proper distance from it. In half an hour nfter, a large canoe started from another place on the islaad, and gave us nearly two hours' chase, but as we kept distancing them they gave up. At night we anchored under the lee of a small island or rock.; in the morning repaired the spare boat and the longboat. It rainiDg and blowing very freßh, we stayed all night. In the morning we started again — the longboat with the captain, the second mate, the steward, and one sailor ; the whaleboat with the mate and three sailors. At night we anchored again of a reef; in the morning started again. In the afternoon came to a small island some distance from a large one. Found no natives there, but there were houses,
and we saw human bleached bones and skills about; aruc>n» the houses. Got some water, cocoanuta, and sugar cane, | and more repairs done to tho boats, and stopped all night. In the morning saw four canoes coming from the main island towards us ; we made sail, and started on ouv way. In the afternoon it blew a gale of wind, with a very heavy
sea. The whale boat being the best sailer was i running away from us, but took hi sail to wait j and as she could not heave-to very well on account of the heavy sea, she kept distancing us all the time. A 9 it grew dark, we kept a good look-out for the whale boat, and three Bmall islands coming in sight, both boats steered for them, but darkness came, and we could see the whaleboat no more. Steering the same as the whaleboa l , and expecting her to follow, we anchored under the lee of the middle island at nine p.m. In the morning no boat could be seen,' and as it was raining, and blowing a gals of wind, wo dared not go out to look for her, knowing they would do the same wherever they might be. At dusk the wind began to moderate. In the morning weighed anchor, and started to look for the boat, but as soon as we cleared the point of the island, behold there was a very large canoe, manned by fifteen or twenty men, so that if we had been half an hour later in getting under way, we should have been caught unawares. As soon as they cleared the point of the island they up sail, and gave us a hot chase ; and as we only had the main and stay sail, they kept gaining on us, so that we had to turn to our oars and paddles, and in an hour afterwards they gave up the chase. We went to work to rig a equaresail, and whilst so engaged did not perceive five canoes that were trying to cut us off until they were nearer to us than was agreeable. We hoisted the square sail and again had recourse to the oars and paddles until they gave up the chase. Seeing that we should have no peace with, the savages, we gave up looking for the bo.it, as she did not come in sight of us ; until noon, when we took a farewell of the Savage Islands, aud steered S.S.W* for Cleveland Bay. On the next day the wind increased to a heavy gnle, with such heavy seas that we could not keep our course, and had to run before it — the captain steering the boat for three night* and three days without relief or sleep. On the 23rd, made the Barrier Reef in the morning. On the morning of the 25th no water in the boat ; made Claremount group of islauds and main land. Landed on the island No. 2 j found no water on the island. All hands covered with sores, and suS'ering from swelled feet. No water or food ; dug a hole in the sand and got some water, half salt. On the afternoon of the 28th started for the mainland, where we shortly afterwards arrived.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18680902.2.4.5
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,350WRECK OF THE BRIG RELIANCE. Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.