THE LIZZIE BELL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 10

THE LIZZIE BELL.

WRECKED OFF PIHAMA. THE STORY RECALLED. The erecting of the hell from the barque Lizzie Bell recalls one of the worst disasters that ever occurred on the rugged coast of South Taranaki. She was a barque of 1036 tons, Captain Rees, and was wrecked on the coast at Pihama. on July. 24, 1901. The vessel left Wellington for Newcastle (N.S.W.) in clay ballast at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, and experienced favorable weather during the remainder of the day, and at II p.m., the time of the disaster, was moving along under full canvas at the speed of twelve knots. At the time of the disaster the captain and Second Mate Olley were on the bridge, and there was the usual look-out and man at the wheel. Mate Barrow had turned in, as had also the bitlk of the crew. Everything appeared to be going smoothly, and up 1o -within five minutes of the vessel striking not a soul on board, with the possible exception of the look-out, apprehended the disaster that was soon to come. Suddenly, without warning, the ship struck, and in quick time everyone was on deck. The lifeboat was swung out, .and the captain and crew got in, the former being the last to leave the ship. Then the line was cast off. The captain ordered the oarsmen to put to sea in order to clear a point of land and reach a possible landing place. The sufferings of the crew were great. The night was bitterly cold, with a keen wind blowing. Before daylight the boat had reached the beach south of Captain Good’s farm, and two of the crew (the chief mate and Hardy) dragged themselves to the homestead. Mr. \V. Good at once went to the spot indicated, and Miss A. Good rode to Pihama to give information. When Mr. Good arrived he was at first under the impression that he had to do with dead bodies only, but fortunately this conclusion was not verified. The captain and two of the others were in a very weak state, and Arbuckle, tvhose first voyage it was, was in a state of collapse. Mr. Good, who had by this time been joined by Mr. D. Carrol, of the Oeo Hotel, administered whisky , to the youth, and after a considerable interval had the satisfaction of seeing him revive. Soon settlers began to arrive, among the first being Messrs. Lambie, and the survivors were taken to Captain Good’s, where they received every care. The captain, mate, and Arbuckle were put to bed, but the others managed to keep up, and later with the mate, visited the beach.

The Lizzie Bell struck on the Whamoka reef, at a point about 14 miles from the beach. Near this spot four vessels were lost within the short space of five years—Annie Wilson (schooner), Manaia (steamer), Maramara (steamer), and Liverpool (barque). The lifeboat upset twice, and the men were thrown into the water, from which some emerged while the more exhausteq succumbed. Arbuckle was twice dragged abroad by Glenn. After the boat had ; been righted the second time the men had to sit up to their middles in water, the cold being intense. Jones, one of the apprentices and a member of the Naval Reserve, died in the captain's arms. Two others left the boat when she reached the beach, but then collapsed, and were found dead., with their heads among the rocks. A halfcaste negro endeavored to swim ashore after the boat capsized the last time, and his body was washed up on the beach later in the day. John Glenn had the experience of having been wrecked twice within the short space of five months. The names of the victims were Olley, Jones, Laing, Simmons, Perry, Mulligan, Bryce, Chapple, Guy, Rvner, Partland, and Frederickson.

The whole of the woodwork of the Lizzie Bell parted, leaving only the iron shell. Heavy spars which were seen on the beach were broken to matchwood, thus showing the ruggedness of the coastline. The beach was strewn with wreckage. Among the things found, was a letter to one of the sailors from his father imploring him not to go to sea again, and referring to the awfuls perils of the deep. The Lizzie Bell was classed Al at Lloyd’s. She was built in 1877 by R. Thompson, at Sunderland, and own-sd by P. Iredale and Porter, of Liverpool. She arrived at Wellington on June 29, 4901, from Port Chalmers with part of her original Glasgow cargo- Discharging it, ballast was loaded, and she sailed for Newcastle, being towed out by the tug Duco, which vessel was, it will be remembered, lost a few years later with all hands on a trip to the Chatham Islands.

The funeral, which took place on Sunday. July 28, 1901, left Oeo at 2.15 p.m. It was a sad and solemn sight. It was a most melancholy and pathetic sight to see the row of coffins in the one grave, and one could not help thinking of tlie dangers and difficulties of the life of those that “go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters.” It is of melancholy interest to recall that most of those drowned were young men, from 19 to 25 years of age. They twere all buried in one grave, but a headstone was erected for each body. Some time after the news reached England—the young men were all Englishmen —very appreciative letters were received from the parents and relatives acknowledging the great kindness shown and the work done by local residents at the time of the wreck.