FEARFUL FASSAGE OF THE SCHOONER MACQUARIE FROM MELBOURNE TO AUCKLAND.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 119, 26 February 1872, Page 3

FEARFUL FASSAGE OF THE SCHOONER MACQUARIE FROM MELBOURNE TO AUCKLAND.

Wk take (lie following extract f-.om (he report furnished by Captain James to die Auckland papers : The schooner Macquarie left Melbourne on Saturday, the 27th January, and cleared the heads on Sunday mo.ning, bound for Auckland. The storms first commenced on rounding the Nor'.h Cape, and continued with great sorority for several daj’s. On Sunday, (lie Mill, at (» p.m. “ Tlio sea is now in one solid break, and the roar of the wind is deafening ; all hands aft round (he wheel, watching every slant to rim to (lie pumps, and feeling great anxiety for the ship, and consequently for our lives. Soon found that the warp had parted close to the ship : all our hopes seemed now at an end. Might coining on, and the ship frequently on her beam ends,the triple seas breaking over, none of us bad any hopes of ever seeing another dnv dawn, hut, through a merciful Providence, we were spared through this’terrible night. At 2 p.m. the wind and rain came on again with double f.irv, and a most Ir.ghlf d sea miming from 2 o clock until 4 a.in. on Tuesday morning. Wo were in tlio greatest peril : the sea _ was this night most terrible at 10 o’clock ; the we. thrrbiihvaiVs carried away,stanchions, and all tiie sea making clean breaches over ns; had the decks swept of everything moveable, galley and all utensils swept clean away : boat washed away : saved her again, and managed (o drag her aft and lashed her. From Sunday morning until Tuesday morning all hands were on deck without food or wafer ; all the water spoiled with sea water. On iocsday morn ng tiie wind veered more northerly, and moderated a little, but a terrific sea still on. Noon —The North Cape hearing couth 2s* miles ; wind hauling to the northward. Made some sail on tl c ship, but socn had to take it off her. At 6 p.tn. a shift of wind to the X.W.: wore the ship, and ran her through a

frightful sea under close-reefed topsail. Had thick dirty weather until arrival here at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning. The ship is greatly strained ; and were she not a strong vessel, she would not have stood the gale. For (iff hours crery man behaved with great courage, and did their utmost to save the ship, and all orders were obeyed with alacrity. It was a nnr-

1 row escape, and it is a great wonder that ! no one was washed overboard ; very | frequently all floated about from one side to the other, and we were continually cxj posed to the greatest peril getting tackles on the rigging to save the mast, halyards, I and chain plates, something or other being conti.ii' ■ ly blown away.” ■