COLLISION AT SEA.- ABANDONMENT OF THE BARQUE ‘A. H. BADGER.’

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 25, 4 November 1871, Page 3

COLLISION AT SEA.- ABANDONMENT OF THE BARQUE ‘A. H. BADGER.’

The Sydney Morning Herald of October 24 says :—“ The ‘ Alice Cameron,’ barque, from Auckland, came into port yesterday morning, and by her have arrived the crew and passengers of the barque 1 A. H. Badger,’ who were picked up from their ship, which was in a sinking condition, in latitude 345 S., longitude 165-30 E., she having been in contact with a steamer. The following are the particulars of the disaster, as related by Captain Leddra, late master and owner:— ‘ The ‘A. H. Badger,’ barque, 337 tons, sailed from Newcastle on the 7th October, with a cargo of coals, maize, and coke, bound for Auckland. Everything went on well, with every prospect of a speedy voyage, until within three days’ sail of Auckland, on the 15th October. On that date, at 10.30 p.m., a steamer was seen ahead, steering direct for the barque, our lights having been well looked to and burning brightly. Put the helm ‘ hard aport,’ no alteration being made by the steamer to clear us, but she came rtem on, striking us in the port-mizzen chains, canying away tho main topmast, and all upper spars attached, tearing the belts and mizzen channels bodily from the ship’s side, leaving a large hole level with the water’s edge, and starting ten planks. We tried, by calling out, to make those on board the steamer stop and assist us, but without effect; she proceeded on her course. I liaibd and told them to stop her, as we were sinking, but she never even eased. A new tarpaulin, previously made for the afterhatch, was (rot? out, and two men lowered over the side, who succeeded, after considerable difficulty, in nailing it over the principal hole. All hands then set to work to throw overboard the maize from tho port side, so as to list the vessel to starboard. On the 16th, at 6.30 a.m., a ship was seen bearing N.E. Stood towards her. and hoisted the colours union down, and she shortly was alongside, and proved to be the ‘ Alice Cameron,’from Auckland, bound to Sydney ; sent the boat on board, and requested the commander, Captain Carfer, to come on board, which he did at once, and ns soon as he ascertained our condition he sent for five of his crew to assist in lightening the ship of cargo. Ho then brought his carpenter on board, who, after examining the damage we had sustained, endeavoured to draw the planks to the ship’s side with heavy spike nails, but could not succeed. On examining the ship’s side, he found tho planks damaged, more or less, from the after-part of the main chains to the quarter-piece, and he finally came to the conclusion that nothing could be done to save tho vessel. Captain Carter then offered to take us on board and bring us to Sydney, which we accepted, as the sky looked overcast. Accordingly at five o’clock, myself, wife, and children, and my crew, having collected our effects, left the ship, and proceeded on board the ‘Alice Cameron,’ there being then five feet of water in tho hold. That night a gale came on from the N.W., with a high confused sea; so that had we not fallen in with the ‘Alice Cameron’ we should have had to take the boats, which I fear would not have been of much service to us in such a sea. The steamship that came into collision with us resembled the ‘ Nebraska,’ American mail boat ; she had a straight stern, and two funnels and upperworks painted white. The steamer bad no masthead light, nor could there have been any look out, for the shouting on board my barque might have been heard at a distance of half a mile. But for the. timely assistance of Captain Carter, we should have all been drowned ; and my crew, together with myself and family, sincerely thankhini, his ofiicers, and crew, for their and exertions in our behalf, and hospitable tr eatment while on board his ship.