WRECK OF H.M.S. RATTLER.

Southland Times, Issue 1117, 3 March 1869, Page 2

WRECK OF H.M.S. RATTLER.

( From the ' Japan Times,' ) The Rattler, steam-sloop, 17 guns, 952 tons, 200 horse-pover, left Yokohama on the 9th of September last, having on board Messr9 Adams and Satow of the British Legation. For some years, Russia has been making gradual encroachments on the Island of Faghalien north of the Japanese Islands proper. Lately, rumours reached Yokohama that an attempt was making to encroach still further into the Island of Yesso, in fact ; and to establish or dissipate these reports was the object of the Rattler's cruise. They turn out to be without foundation, but a heavy price has been paid for the information. The Rattler touched at Hakodate, took in coal and wood, and passed up along the west coast of Yesso. The first point at which she looked in was Iwanai — a small port, within a couple of miles of "which is a coal mine, worked for the Japanese Government by an English engineer, Mr Erasmus Gower. Passing Strogonoff Bay, into which fulls a considerable river, navigable for several miles the Rattler proceeded into the Straits of La Perouse, between Saghalien and Yesso, and entered Romanzoff Bay, in which is ■ituated the \ illage of Soya — a point particularly requiring examination. Soya is the extreme Japanese station on the Island of Yesso, whence travellers pass across to Saghalien, a distance of 40 to 50 miles. Romanzoff Bay has for its N.W. point Cape Nosseyab, the extreme north-west point of Japan, the other horn being Cape Soya. On entering this bay in the early dawn of the 2 1th everything lay fair and calm before the ship, not a breath of wind ruffled the surface of the sea, and the lead gave nine to ten fathoms in both chains as she slowly and cautiously felt her way in. Suddenly, a few minutes before six when the leadsman had just given eight fathoms and was swinging for another cast, she struck. It was Boon seen that she was in an almost hopeless guet a pen*. Under the deceptive calm water lay a series of reefs, stretching in long succession right in front of the port and about a mile-and-a-half from shore. They lay like a comb in the ship's path, and between two of the teeth her bows passed and she lay imprisoned and helpless. Everything was immediately done that was likely to draw her off ; four of the sternmost guns were hove overboard and buoyed, anchors taken out and laid ; but all was of no avail. About 3 p.m. it came on to blow, and then was seen how hopeless •was the condition of the ship. All round her were reefs, awash at low water, and as the swell began to lift her, she crashed down upon the ro^ks and commenced to roll in a manner that threatened then to break her up. It was clearly time to think of providing for ihe safety of the 149 people on board, and preparations for landing men and provisd.'ns were accoidingly begun. The wind was from the south-west, so that there was no imminent danger ; but the night of the communication with the shore be'.ng impossible, owing to the dangerous reefs between it and the Bhip. At 3 a.m. on the 25th the whole of the engine-room being stove in and the rudder knocked off, the vessel began to fill, which steadied her. On thp morning of the 25th the officers' and men's bedd'ag and clothes, with the greater part of the provisions were landed. In the atternoon the barometer falling and the wind shifting to the N .W., everybody was landed, and at sunset a gale came on from the same quarter, which lasted for two days, rendering all communicatiou impossible, the seas making a clean breach over her. Houses were then prepared on shore for the crews and officers, sentries set, watches kept, and all went on in good order. The men behave'! very well. Perfect discipline prevailed ; there were no attempts to break into spirit room or stores, acd all worked hard with u-will to save guns, stores, small aims?, sails, chains, anchors, and ri-iging. The engine-room having been store in, the machinery could not be got jut, but almost everything ei*e, to the mar-ts, which were cut out of her, was taken on shore, properly etored, and Jeft in charge of Japanese officials. We need not dwell upon the small events of the sixteen weary days which e'apsed before relief arrveil. The country is very thinly populated, bare of wood, and apparently holding little game. Quantities of duck and plover were got ;ilong the ed ji- of the bay, and salmon was in absolute pro iusion. Nine miles across from 3o.va, near Cape JSosse>nb, is a email river; and there at a village eaLed Kot oi, is a salmon fishing station. Wishing and drying seaweed constitute the trade of the place, and as many as two thousand saLnon aretak. nin a day. The trade is farmed by guild in Hakodate, anil th ir agent, at Soya was the chief man in the place, and rendered good service lo the shipwrecked crew. M. anwhile a message had reached Hakodate overland. Captain Dv Petit Tbouiirs, who was there with H. I. M. Dupleix, lost not a moment in starting to the relict of the Rattler. His inuihinery was undergoing repair, and his ship was without coal, but by working double tides ail through the night, he managed to get away the morning after the news reached Hakodate, and steaming her best, the Dupleix rraehed the scene of the disaster on the 9th instant — 46 hours after leaving Hakodate — and embarked the ship wrecked crew. JNothing could exceed his courtesy and attention or the kindness and consideration of officers and crew. He insisted on giving up his own cabin to the guests creeping himself into some berth down in his cock pit, and ihe whole starboard side f the lower deck was given up to the Rattler's crew. All arrived in safety here on the 17th instant. There is generally some redeeming point, some cause for cheerfulness in most' mistortunes, and in that one we may certainly greet this thorough illustration of the entente cordiale. Altogether, to use a common phra=e, the very best was made of a bad job, and though Britain has lost a ship, the intelligence oi her officers, the men, and tho exertions of a truly friendly ally, have saved a fine crew without a single casualty, and we have every reason to congratulate ourselves that so little harm has been done.