LOSS OF THE NEW CASTLE BRIG LAUGHING WATER IN FOVEAUX STRAITS.

Southland Times, Issue 1198, 21 January 1870, Page 2

LOSS OF THE NEW CASTLE BRIG LAUGHING WATER IN FOVEAUX STRAITS.

On Tuesday morning intelligence was received in town te the effpct that a large vessel bad been wrecked close upon onr shores, and that tbe crew, who had escaped with tbeir lives only, had • reached Riverton. Conveyances were at once despatched te brin? them on. and they all arrived in Invereargill safely the same evening. For tbe following narrative of events, we are indebted to -Tapt. Gibson, late in command of the ill-fated vessel. The brig Laughing Water, 411 tons register, owned by Mr Clarence Hannell, of Newcastle, New South Walos, left that port on the oth January, bound fov Otago with a cargo of 620 tons • coal, consigned to Messrs Hutcbeson and Co. of the Dunedin Gasworks. Tbis was the lasfc of six trips, which the vessel had been chartered to run for that firm, five having been safely completed under tbe same master. Fine weather was experienced up to tbe llth, when tbe wind set in strong from tbe N.E. At midnight tbe gale freshened, with high cross sea running, and very thick cloudy weather, and heavy rain. By 2 a.m. it b.ewaperfpcthurrieane from the N.N.E., the seas making a clean breach fore and aft, tbe vessel; laboring heavily. At 3 a.m. shipped a heavy" sea, filling tbe decks np to the roils, and staving in tbe cabin skylights, filling the cabin with water, washing spars and anchor adrift, carrying away part of her bulwarks on tbe starboard side, at tbe sime time splitting tbe fore topsail and main staysail. At 3.30 p.m., tbe sprs still breaking over, thought it advisable to heave to. Callpd the chief mate (Mr W.C. Moore) and told him to haul the foretopmasfc Btnyj?ail down. He went forward to do so. and set some of tbe men to secure the spars and anchor. He then went with tbe second mate and one seaman to pass a gasket round tbe staysail. Wliile they were out on the bowsprit tbe ship gave a heavy plunge, dipping ber jib-boom, bowsprit, and the forecastle rigbt under, washing the thief mate and the seaman overboard. The second mute, who retained bis hold on the bowsprit, managed to grasp the seaman and hold him until assistance came, but the mate was seen no more. A sail was lasbed round the cabin skylight. All hands were called aft, and ordered to make themselves faffc to ropes to prevent, their being washed overboard, as I intended to try how the brig would weather it bead to wind. Tbe ship was then rounded to under close reefed main-topsail, tbe storm increasing, and the weather continuing c'ondy, with heavy rain. Kept hove- to for twentyfour hours, tbe wind veering rigbt round the compass during that time, when the weather having moderated, hut still very th*ek and cloudy (on Thursday, the 1 3th) all plain sail was made, ond the vessel stood in for land to pirk up tbe Solanders. This continued up to Friday at noon, when the breeze increased to a brisk gale. At 6.45 land was sighted, 8 or 10 miles off, which was taken to be about Preservation Inlet, although, from baying bad no observation for the previous five days, through constant thick and miny weather, we were not quite sure abort it, when all bands were colled to tack fci.e vessel off the lane. Tliis was done, and she stood off till 10. "J 6, going about 4 knots, when tbe sliip struck violently on a sunken rock, Btaving tbe whole bow in at one blow. She immediately began to sink, and the watch below rushed out of the forecastle and ran aft. saying tbe water was en tbe forecastle deck. No sign of breakers was seen to indicate the proximity of the rock, neither is there , one laid down in that position in the chart by ■which the vessel was navigated. AU hands rushed to get out tbe boats, but the shi>> was sinking so fast thafc only tbe smallest boat could be launched. There was barely time to gpfc all hands in her before the ship sank in from 11 to 12 fathoms water. Mrs Gibson (tbe captain's wife) and her child, aged 4 years, bad to leave tbeir berth clad only in their night-dresses, while Beveral of the crew were equally unprepared for tbe emergency. Fifteen persons in all entered the boat — which was only 17ft. keel, and square sterned, a heavy sea running at tbe time. In the hurry neither tholepins, plug, nor rudder were obtained for tbe boat, and it wa3 only by roving aline tbat tbe oars could be plied. The first idea was to pass through Foveaux Straits to the Bluff, but, sighting a clump of rocks off Paibi point, tbey pulled in to seek shelter between them and the mainland. After searching a while a sandy beach was found, and the boat run ashore, and not before it was time, as the men were nearly exhausted with the 17 hours' exposure and hard rowing. The steward, H. Davis, had steered the boat all the time with a piece cf board torn off her floor. Davis and other two men then started, 4 p.m., to seek assistance, and shortly fell in with Mr Durbridge's station. This gentleman immediately supplied food to all, and clothing to Mrs Gibson and child, and then took them to bis bouse, where tbey remained until Monday, when tbey proceeded to Riverton overland. Mr Instone (of Whittingham Bros.), provided them all with quarters in tbe Marine Hotel until they proceeded by coach to Invercar- < gill the following day. On their arrival here, they were placed by Mr M'Pherson in the Albion Hotel. Of tbe kindness received since landing, the poor people — who lost tbeir all — speak in the highest terms. The Orej.ula minerr, so soon as they Litivy of. the wrick,. cain^L-dH^lijL- a^k_ -jL-

subscription of £16. besides giving such article** of clothinrr as could be snared ; the "Rirertom'ans, with equal prompt-hide at once siibscrib-d £38— Messrs Tn«tone, Macdonald, Daniel and Cnmnhell. the mail contractor, tbey mention as particularly 'ind — Mr Daniel, in fact, completely " rigged out " three or four of the most necessitous. Messrs H. T. Ross and H. E. : Osborne waited on TTis Honor the Superintendent, who remained in town on hearing of the oeeurrcnoe, and after an interview, set to work to obtain such clothing as appeared in the meantime requisite to fre comfort of the men. On tbe suggestion of His Honor, it was agreed to bare a meeting of citi-'cns at the Club the following morning, to consider what further steps should be taken. Thb MTSsiyo Fmp Mato*b:a. — TWa apppars little hope of tbe safety of the Matoaka, which sailed from Lyttelton on the 21st of May last, and lias not since been heard of. There is a possibility she may have put into tbe Falkland Isles, -n-l-icli will ba cleared wp by the nexfc mail from fronce to England. The Matoaka had on board the following: passengers and cargo * — Mr and Mrs "Hancock and the Misses Bannock, for and Mrs Fanley and child, "Rev. — Grant, wife, and four children. Misses Kennawnv (2) and servant, Dr and Mrs Miffe. Mr and Mrs Wilson and two children, Mr and Mrs Allison and six children, Dr Evans, Messrs "Brown, Coup. Pusey. and Co -4-sev. 3.000 bales. 3 balf bales flax. 750 sacks flonr.'3.3fio sacks wheat, 8.658 bushels, S2 sacks shanks. 5 casks tallow, 7 cases effects, 9 boxes gold. Total value of cargo, £76,651.