WRECK OF THE STEAM TUG SAMSON AND SOHOONER JOHN BULLOCK.

West Coast Times, Issue 51, 30 September 1865, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAM TUG SAMSON AND SOHOONER JOHN BULLOCK.

Seldom has a moro disagreeable office fallen to our lot as public journalists than tho ono wo havo now. before us, for wo have to chronicle tho loss of two fino vessels, to each of which thoro is a strong interest attached — to tho ono, on account of tho remarkable circumstances connected with her weary and protracted voyago, and tho congratulations wo indulged in on tho arrival of tho othor to our shores ; for wo considered that an imhad long existed, and without which Hokitika could not reasonable expect, whon tho wretched stato of tho entrance to our harbor is taken into consideration, to make advances in commercial prosperity proportionate to tho astonishing resources of tho country of which it is tho principal town.

Tho roadstoad and river yostorday presented at tide timo quito a busy and chcorful scene, for all our stoamers had gono out to either lighter or bring in tho sovoral vessels in the ofllng, and the spit was more than usually crowded with sightseers, not a fow of whom woro consignees, who woro doubtless watching with fear and trombling for tho results that would porativo want had boon supplied which follow tho arrival of tho precious bottoms to that bar which has so often proved an effectual ono to many a smart craft that, after a hard struggle against wind and woathor had at last succeeded in reaching it. Moreover, it was understood that the John Bullock, whoso arrival has been so long oxpocted, and has so often disappointed us, was at last ready to como in ; and that tho Samson steam tug, which has since hor arrival only mado two trips outside tho bar, was to bring hor in ; and, from hor known antecedents and powor, it was confidently oxpocted that sho would succeed in tho attempt, although tho schooner is a hoavy vessel, with a full cargo on board, Tho first caaft that crossed the bar was tho 3toamer Wallaby, from Nelson ; sho, as usual, came in without mishap, and stoamed to hor berth at tho wharf in hor usual steadygoing stylo. Immediately afterwards tho Eloanor, who has been lightering the Miskin of hor coals, and proceeded outsido to wait hor arrival ; and the Miskin, which has boon lying aground since Wednesday, boing now once moro afloat, soon followed her, and crossed tho bar in gallant stylo, bearing with hor tho good wishes of ovory soul on tho spit. Tho Yarra, having in tow tho sell. William and Mary, was now observed approaching ; and, aftor a hard strugglo sho succeeded in convoying hor charge to a placo of safoty, and then immediately wont out again toattondtho steamship Omoo, from Molbourno, ono of hor spooial charges, which had just arrivod. In tho meanwhile all oyos woro watching^tho motions of tho John Bullock and/Samson, both of which wero under way, and approaching tho bar. Many a remark was passed by those on the spit, touching the oa,sy maunor in which this fino tug dragged hor heavy charge along, and no one for a moment anticipated tho disastrous rosults that followed. Thoy wore making good progress, and had arrivod within a short distance of tho bar, whon the Bruce, which had been for somo timo manoouvring outsido, dashed up alongside, passed them to tho southward, and came in ahead. It was fancied at ono timo that tho. vessels woro in rathor closoproximity to ono anothor, and wo observed tho Samson tako rather a decided sheer to the northward, but whether it was to avoid fouling or not wo could not tako upon ourselves to say. On getting fairly into tho worst pnrt of tho •'break " tho Samson hoisted hor staysuil, to cant her hoad up stream, but without tho dosircd ofrect, for sho came straight on to tho north spit, and just as they had succeeded in sluoing hor head up stream, took tho ground, and in spite of full steam being turned on, thoro she romainod hard and fast. It was pitiablo to watch tho frantic movomonts of hor paddles as thoy whirled rouud with a thundoring noiso, and for a minuto or two it was hopod sho would got off, for so groat was hor power that sho was obsorvod to movo ahead through tho sand, but suddenly a hoavy rollor enmo in, dashed against hor, and tho next instant hor wheols woro high out of tho water and her fato soalod. All this happonocl in loss timo than it takos to writo it, and in tho meantime tho John Bullock, apparently too much astounded at tho fato of tho Samson to make tho slightest offort 1o savo horsolf, followod I oloso uppu her hools and took tho grouud

just astern of hoi\ It was feared at first that sho would run right into her and cut her down; the northerly set, howevor, carried her clear, and thoro sho now lies a helpless wreck — an oyesore to all of us, and a source of heartacho to ovory ono who is unfortunate onough to havo consignments of goods on board of hor. We aro afraid thore is but small chance of hor being saved, as sho could not be on a much worse part of tho spit, and ovory succeeding tide will wash her higher up. Tho usual auction sale will, we suppose, follow, and a vessel that only the other day was worth at least two or three thousand pounds, will, in all probability, be ruthlessly knocked down for one fiftieth part of it, and lucky if sho fetches that. Wo presume > the usual official enquiry will be made into the causos which led to this untoward event, when, doubtless, certain facts will transpire which wo do not care particularly to touch upon at present ; wo, howovor, strongly condemn tho reprehensible practice which on several occasions wo havo observed adopted by masters and pilots of vessels in taking tho bar at a timo when another vessel was as close to the channel as tho Samson was to-day, for to say the least it is very apt to confuse tho master of a steamer in such a critical position as he of the Samson was, and perhaps indirectly might be tho occasion of his going a little further north or south than would be either desirable or prudent, and in such a narrow entrance as that to the Hokitika River, the utmost precision is required to cany a vessel safely in. We hope that this subject will meet with prompt attention at tho hands of those who are appointed to watch over tho shipping interest, and that an act will bo passed which will render those guilty of such folly liable to a heavy penalty.