WRECK OF THE SUSSEX.

Southland Times, Issue 1529, 26 January 1872, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SUSSEX.

The fine clipper ship Sussex, belonging to Money, Wigram, and Co. , was wrecked at Barwon Heads on the 31st ult. The following ia the captain's account of the occurrence : — "We left Plymouth on October 9, and after experiencing a strong' westerly wind for a few days we had fine weather which lasted throughout the passage. We made Cape Otway yesterday (Sunday, December 31) at 2 p.m., a strong southerly breeze blowiag. We came up along the coast, steering straight for the Heads. About 10 o'clock at night, I aaw a flash-light which I considered was the Schanck light. (Captain Collard subsequently expressed an opinion that the flash-light he saw must have been that exposed by one of the pilot' vessels, and the Corsair and Rip were both outside the Heads that night.) I then thought I had, after running my distance, got too far to the eastward. Shortly after, two other lights were reported, but I did not see them. I sent an officer to the mast-head to look for them, and he reported them on the port bow. Taking the other for the Schanck light, I assumed these other lights to be the Queenscliff lights. I was about half-way between them. I put the helm starboard to let her go off, when I found the ship in amongst breakers^ lat once tried to stay her, there being no room to wear her. I did not like the idea of letting go the anchors where there was so little water. While attempting to stay her, she struck, apparently on a shelf of rock, over which, however, she seemed to boat and got into deep water again. She went a little way after this, but us she was making water fast, and evidently gradually settling down, and making a bed for herself as it were, I had the yards squared so as to harden her up on the beach. There was a heavy ground swell, and the ship was unmanageable. The ship bumped innumerable times, bat after her first touch, which was certainly upon rocks, she seemed to strike softer as upon sand. She hung on her heel, and her bow went Quite before the wind when we squared yards. The breakers were not more than half a mile from the shore, and in daylight next day 1 could see the men and women on the beach. The beach is a very long and shelving one. I did not attempt to send the passengers ashore, believing that tKeir lives would be needlessly endangered thereby. I thought it preferable tv bold on till morning. On the other hand I thought a boat might live outside the breakers and get help from the pilot cutter or- from Queeneclilf. Accordingly, I sent away Mr O'Flaherty, third officer, and a crew of six volunteerSjSrith' strict instructions to keep well outside the line of surf. I b»w them for half an hour but then lost sight of them. They haye not been feMrd of since, and lam afraid the poor young

fellow departed from my instructions and has been lost, perhap9 on the reef close to the Barwon Heads. We waited all night, and at daybreak the Titan steamer saw us and took us off in our own boats. A lifeboat came from Qneenscliff, but we had got off the womep and , children then. It is my opinion that if the weather is moderate, a great deal may be saved from the wreck. She lies with the shore east and west, and the southern swell grinds her. With a north wind she would be much better. I think it was high water at 2 a;m. Her head now is about north" :: half east. I could not see the Queenseliff lights when we struck." The following ib the result of the inquiry into the cause of the wreck : — " The Official Court of Inquiry 1 , held at Melbourne, to enquire into the circumstances attending the stranding of the ship I Sussek, near the Barwon Heads, on the night of I the 31sfc December last, find that the ship was lost through the default of the master, in not taking the necessary precautions to verify her position before attempting to make Port Phillip Heads : — lst — By not properly making sure that the light first seen on the starboard bow was the Cape Schanck light, which he had ample opportunity of doing while it was in sight. 2nd — In steering for the lights seen on the port bow after discovering that his assumed position showed some great error in the steering of the ship. Taking into consideration Mr Collard's long servitude, and well known excellent character as a careful officer, the court suspends his certificate only for a period of six months."