WRECK OF THE NETHERBY.

West Coast Times, Issue 278, 14 August 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

WRECK OF THE NETHERBY.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF CAPT. OWEN.

The following isjan official report by Captain Owen, late master of the Queensland Government immigrant ship Netherby, with the leading particulars of the recent loss of which, on King's Island, the public are already so familiar. The narrative, it will be seen, commences with the day of the casualty. 15th July (nautical time), lat. (noon) 40 deg. 5 mm. S. ; long. 14 deg. 32 tain. E. (This is by reckoning, as no observation could be obtained for some days previously.) At two p.m. in the afternoon of this day, the wind from S. to S.W., thick, with some small rain. Steered N.E. by E. till four p.m., when the course was altered to N.E.^E. ; slight 'passing showers. A little before sunset, the horizon was comparatively clear. No land appearing in view, it • was not anticipated that it was so near. At a quarter past seven p.m., the captain being at tea in the saloon, the chief officer, who was, in charge of the watch, was heaxdto say, " hard up." I immediately got up, and on my way to ascertain what was the matter, met the chief officer on the companion, calling out for me to get on deck, when it wa.ssoon discovered that the land was close to, a little on the starboard bow. Orders were immediately given to square the main and cross-jack yards. The courses had been ha,uled up, and staysails stowed at an earlier hour, and the ship paid off from N.E. |E. to N. by W.|W., when she took the ground on a bottom of rock, with about five feet more water under her bows than from the fore channels to the stern, and a high rocky sheld stretching out to the westward under her bows. The port lifeboat was immediately got out, under the command of Mr Jones, the chief officer, and four seamen, to ascertain if a place could be found to land the passengers. Three attempts were made to pass a rope and anchor to the shore, but owing to the darkness of the night and the high surf breaking over the rocks, this ■was found impracticable, and all had to be put off until diylight. I went myself in a boat a second time, with a rope from the ship, to ease the boat end-on through the surf, and got very close ; but as the breakers were v so very high, we could not effect a landing. Mr Jones, the chief officer, very gallantly offered to swim on shore, but was not permitted, as the hazard of being dashed against the rocks was too great, in the darkness of the night. The ship bilging heavily, and heeling to. pert — that is, to seaward — she continued about three quarters of an hour before making any water. During this time the purser aud a gang of men. were busily employed in getting up provisions from the lower hold, and succeeded in saving about ten bags of bread, and all that could be got at of flour, as well as several other articles, including medical comforts. In about three quarters of an hour after the ship grounded, she began rapidly to make water : the crew and passengers manning the pumps, which, however, were of no avail, as in another hour she was full of water up to the 'tween decks. We remained in this uncertain position until morning, the passengers sheltering themselves where they could. The women and children in the fore cabin and saloon behaved most patiently and enduringly during this long night of suspense. The sails were clewed up but not furled, but the topgallant sails mostly blew away with the wind, -which had by this time increased to a brisk gale. About ten p.m., the pinnace, in attempting to lower her over the side, was struck by a heavy sea against the main chains, and dashed to pieces, two sailors who were in her barely escaping with their lives. At daylight, the lifeboat was sent, under command of Mr Jones, the chief officer, to make another attempt to carry out a line to the shore. After experiencing great difficulty in landing, they were ultimately successful. A rope was fastened to the rocks, and hove taut on board, the sea breaking furiously on the shore, which was lined with rocks in all directions. About eight a.m. a commencement was made tto land passengers — the women and first, with sailors stationed on he ladder to pass them down the side n their arms. At nine a.m. the starboard lifeboat was lowered down and manned, under the command of Mr Parry, the second officer, the other being under the command of Mr Jones ; and the two boats kept busily passing and repassing along' the rope, with about fedozen passengers in each boat. The landing of all the passengers was completed by three p.m., without loss of a life or accident of any kind, which was almost a miracle, as the boats were frequently half full of water, and seve- . ral of the passengers had to be dragged on shore through the surf, almost in a state of insensibility. Both officers and men behaved gallantly throughout the day in managing the boats ; myself and the surgeon-superintendent assisting at the gangway, and preventing too many of the passengers from rushing to the boats. This was not at all times an easy matter, as all were so anxious to rush into the boats over the ship's side ; and. the boats were several times nearly swamped by over-crowdiug. On the whole, however, the passengers behaved very orderly, and awaited their turn with great patience, under the circum- . stances. The saloon passengers, ladies and gentlemen, refused to go until all the other passengers, were safely landed.

After all the passengers were landed attempts were made to save provision but out of six bags of bread put into the boat only one was landed, and that in a damaged state, and three casks of flour out of six, as the starboard lifeboat containing them got swamped and smashed against the rocks, some of the crew barely escaping with their lives. Mr Jones, the chief officer, remained in the ship at this time in order to get out the longboat; and the port lifeboat was placed under the command of the carpenter, but all the crew in her jumped on shore through the surf, declaring that they would risk their lives no longer. Two sailors, however, Demetrius Gardi, A.8., a Greek, and George Adams, A.8., an Englishman, volunteered to swim to the boat,^ which was hanging to the surf -rope with only the carpenter in her. These men came and took off some of the men still onboard; but the boat got swamped in an attempt at landing, and was pulled up on the rocks in a shattered condition. The chief officer, and some of the crew that remained in the ship, next got into the captain's gig, the only boat now remaining ; and. after cutting down the three masts to relieve the vessel as much as possible, as she appeared fast breaking up and heeling over much to port, we all left in the gig and landed about five p.m., and each had to shift for himself as best he could. The passengers already had temporary huts, made of tae brushwood, to shelter them from the inclemency of the weather, and fires were kindled here and there to warm them after they had been drenching wet. No provision was served out this day, but to our great joy, a spring of fresh water was discoverod a mile and a half from the camp, snfficient to supply all abundantly. When the gig was being launched up over the rocks to a place of safety, the longboat was seem floating from the ship, having tumbled out of the skids, and driving in shore before the breakers ; but, before reaching the beach she was dashed into fragments. Throughout this day a strong wind from S.W.

16th — After having held a consultation with the surgeon superintendent, and several of the leading gentlemen of the saloon and second cabin, it was considered advisable to despatch a party overland to the lighthouse on the north part of the island, to ascertain if communication could be effected with the main land by telegraph, which was known to exist some few years previously- Consequently, Mr Parry, the second officer, -with a party of volunteers, gentlemen of the second cabin, weve sent off, about seven a.m., with .a fistful of small bread each, as the only scanty supply of provisions which could be spared, bearing three letters— one from the surgeon superintendent to the colonial office in Melbourne, and two from myself; one to Bright Brothers, of Melbourne, requesting immediate assistance ; and another to the superintendent of the lighthouse, asking what supply of provisions he could spare in case of urgent need. When this party went away, we directed our attention to the landing of- provisions, landing as much as possible for the famishing passengers. We succeeded in saving, this day, eighteen casks of flour, six bags bread, and a quantity of passengers' luggage. Rations, half-pound flour and biscuit given in addition to the women and children. On landing the provisions eight constables were appointed to keep watch throughout the night, to guard them from pillage ; the saloon passengers keeping watch likewise and striking a bell every half hour, which was answered by another bell at the provision depot; the constables having orders to toll back in case of any rowdies attempting to force past during the night. During this day the passengers were formed into messes, and each mess erected a temporary hut for itself, consisting of a framework of boughs, covered with sails, table cloths, or anything that could be got, so that they enjoyed comfort as compared with the previous day, and the greatest order prevailed until night fell. 17th. — As soon as the lifeboat was temporarily repaired, as was required after her having been knocked about .amongst the rocks, the officers and men exerted themselves to save more provisions, and a quantity of passengers' luggage, the passengers greatly needing it, as many were in a state of great destitution, especially the women and children, who had come ashore as they stood, without any change of raiment or a blanket to give them at night. Those J who had anything to spare distributed it freely to the most destitute. Rations : £lb_. flour, a little oatmeal, and £lb. salt meat, which had been saved, to each adult daily. [The records of the 1 8th and 1 9th are, in a great measure, similar to those of the previous day, though -not destitute of features of interest.] 20th. — Being in great suspense as to the arrival of the expedition at the light-house, it was decided that I should leave in the life^boat for the lighthouse. The sailmaker and four sailors volunteered to accompany me. We started about ten a.m., and arrived at the lighthouse at six p.m., when we found that Mr Parry and his expedition had arrived on the previous day about noon, and Parry and three of the party had already left for Melbourne in a life-boat belonging to the lighthouse, kindly lent them by Mr Spong, the superintendent. A messenger was accordingly despatched about ten p.m., bearing a letter to the camp, informing them that suc-

cour was soon to be expected. On th following day, at eight a.m., after slopping the leaks in the boat, which kept two men baling, she was so shattered 6y rough usage, we started and arrived at the ship at ten p.m., wheie we were received by the passengers with three hearty cheers. I found that Mr Hickmott had arrived there about — p.m., bearing the good news, and the joy of the camp was not to be described, tears of gratitude being shed in abundance. 22nd (Sunday). — At nine a.m., the boat was sent to run out a rope and kedge to seaward, in anticipation of the arrival of the steamer, to enable the boats to clear the breakers. After this, prayers were appointed to be read, and a general thanksgiving rendered to the Father of all mercies for our very providential delivery ; but so many destitute women and children came into our little hut for articles of clothing and some small shoes, which had been washed on shore from the wreck, that the doctor was fully occupied in clothing in the forenoon. We then intendpd to have a meeting in the evening, but heavy rain prevented us from having a public service, though, no doubt, many returned thanks privately for our miraculous preservation, as the coast was strewn in all directions with sunken rocks to a great distance off; and had the ship struck on one of these rocks, not a soul- would have been saved to tell the tale.

23rd. — A party of 117 single men were despatched to-day to the lighthouse with Mr Hickmott, as a scarcity of provisions was anticipated if succor should not soon be forthcoming. At nine a.m., to the joy of all in the camp, a steamer was seen approaching from the southward. The lifeboat was sent to meet her, and she proved to be H.M.O.S.S. Victoria, Commander Norman, who brought us beef, mutton, biscuits, and soft bread for our support, and her kind commander offered to supply us with everything we required. About eleven a.m. the women' 1 and children were sent off first, passing over the longboat as a bridge between the steamer's boat and the rocks. It was amusing to see how careful the sailors were in carrying the ladies through the surf, and especially one woman with a young baby in her arms. At three p.m. another steamer appeared in sight, coming from the northward. She proved to be the Pharos, and took off a few boats full. About five p.m. the saloon passengers were ready to start off, but there were none to be found who would take down their luggage. The lifeboat was almost full of water, and tnany of the men were exhausted. Orders were given to haul the boat up on the rocks, which was done by all on the island, but the boat was in a very shattered condition. The steamers th^n got under weigh, and started to the northward. - At six p.m. mustered all hands, and found still remaining in the camp 23, viz., 1 1 ship's crew, master, officers, and men, and 12 passengers, 7 males and 5 females. Provisions this night in abundance.

24th. — Wind west to north. Very heavy surf breaking heavily on the rocks, and heavy breakers over the reefs in the offing. At daybreak the ship was observed bilging and twisting ■with the force of the heavy breakers, and giving evident signs that she could not hold out much longer, as with every surge she appeared to heel more and more, until nearly on her beam ends. About one p m., with the force of a heavy breaker, she was burst apart amidships, the fore part falling over to' seaward, and soon disappearing. By five p.m. nothing of her after part appeared but a few bare timbers. The contents of the hold, together with the planks, booms, timbers, &c, were soon floating towards the shore. The crew were in attendance to save as much property as possible, but the cases of merchandise snd passengers' luggage were dashed to pieces against the rocks before they came within reach to save them. It was observed that all the debris from the wreck was carried to the south, along the coast, and none at any time to the north ; proving that there is a yery strong southerly current prevailing along the west side of the island, which undoubtedly contributed much to carry the ship out of her course. 26th. — On this day the Victoria and Pharos returned, and took away the remainder of the passengers, calling first at Franklin Harbor, and arriving at the light-house before noon. They then sailed for Hobson's Bay, where the Victia arrived about midnight, and the Pharos a couple of hourg later. (Signed) Owen Owens.

A return has been issued, from which it appears that in the year 1865 there were 185,520 marriages, 747,870 births, and 491,360 deaths in England. Of those born, 381,426 weve males, and 366,444 females. Within the year there were 252,625 doaths of males, and 238,735 of females: Another return shows that in the fourth week in February of the present year, the number of paupers, in-door and out, in England and Wales, was 904.793, against 995,488 in the corresponding period of 1864.

The other morning, a goods train from Colno to Manchester, came in contact with a flock of sheep which had wandered from a field a short distance from the spot. The flock numbered 164 head, of .which 21 were killed instantly, and 12 so badly injured that they had to be at once despatched. The engine was brought to a standstill, portions of the carcases of the animals having become fixed in the working parts. The sheep belonged to a butohor, who had bought them the day preyioui,