WRECK OF THE YOU YANGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 5 July 1890, Page 4

WRECK OF THE YOU YANGS.

FOUNDERED ON A SUNKEN ROCK.

Australian papers to hand to-day contain particulars of the wreck of the steamer You Yangs. The You Yangs struck on asunken reef on Sunday night and became a total wreck. All hands took to the boats, and these turned up safely. The You Yangs passed Cape Willoughby on Saturday afternoon, but it was soon discovered that the cargo of iron was shifting. The captain decidoi to turn back and make for Blackstairs Passage. Tne compasses were said to have been affected by the iron, thus throwing the captain out of his reckoning, and it was not till striking the rock close by Pelorus that the position was found to bo critical. Boats were got out. Shortly afterwards the vossel struck the shore and began to break up. The men saved nothing but what they stood in. The' second mate’s boat with six hands reached the shore, and after hauling the boat up on the beach two of the men returned to the beach to have a look at the steamer. When they returned to the boat the second mate and four men were not to be seen. The two men after some delay managed to hail the captain’s boat, and were taken on board and brought on. After the captain and mate's boats had exchanged some gear they separated. The captain beached his boat on Sunday night, camping ashore and coming on to Willoughby on Monday. When effecting a landing to the south of the lighthouse, the boat upset; but, with only a few bruises, they all managed to reach the shore. They have since been comfortably looked after by the head keeper, Mr Carter. The captain declines to make any direct statement. The cargo shifting necessitated the steamer being put about, and the error in the compass brought the vessel on to the rocks. The You Yangs is a complete wreck. Messrs Cave and Co., agents for Howard Smith and Sons, have been informed that the missing boat turned up at Kingston at half-past 6 o’clock next morning. The mate and the other occupants are all safe. CHIEF, OFFICER’S STATEMENT. Frank Bell, chief officer of the You Yangs, on being interviewed, said “There was a falling glass on Saturday, and the captain decided to seek the shelter of Kangaroo Island. We got on an outlying reef to tho eastward of Pelorus rock at 9.39 on Saturday night. Just before the vessel struck I turned in. The steamer went clean over the reef. At the time there was nothing to be seen. The sea was smooth in comparison to what we afterwards experienced. My boat was the last to leave the ship, and I cleared away from the ship in about 10 minutes. The three boats we bad on board were quite sufficient to accommodate all the crew. 1 hailed tho captain, anc asked him what his intentions were, and he replied that we had better romain in the vicinity till next morning. The engines were then started, and she went over tho reef and sank in deep water, leaving nothing visible. On Sunday morning we made for the land to the eastward of Cape Gantheaume. It was then commencing to blow very hard from the land. After five hours’ pulling in order to gain the sandy beach we found we could nob manage it. The captain gave me a jib, the only spare sail to be had when the wind came off the land. Sooner than risk being driven to the southward we hoisted the jibsail as a trysail. We thought that we would try the Backstairs Passage. This was about 2.30 on Sunday afternoon, when the weather was very dirty, there being thick rain with thick squalls. At 9 on Sunday night we had to take Willoughby abeam four miles. The boat was then allowed to run before the wind, as we found that it would not live in any other way. At daybreak on Monday morning land was not to be seen anywhere. We did not see the sun until mid-day. There was an immense sea on, and we continued running before the wind. At 2 o’clock on Monday afternoon the sea moderated, and the wind blew, but more to the westward. I then decided to steer east by north. I reckoned by the look of the Southern Cross that we were going in easterly direction. About 2 o’clock on Tuesday morning we sighted a light on the starboard bow, which turned out to b 6 Cape Jaffa. We ran the boat into a sandy beach in smooth water. I and tho donkey-man walked into Kingston, the others being unable to do so. When I went, into the boat I took the precaution to throw in a bucket for baling out. If we had nob had that we would probably have gone to the bottom. On starting we had eight loaves, and I gave two to the captain. That was all the food we had, and the water we had was brackish. We did nob use the bread, but saved it in case we should more urgently want it.