ABANDONMENT OF THE A. H. BADGER.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 888, 16 November 1871, Page 3

ABANDONMENT OF THE A. H. BADGER.

The " Sydney Morning Herald " of Oct. 24th says i —" The Alice Cameron barque, from Auckland, came into port yesterday morning, and by her have arrived the crew and passengers of the barque A. H. Badger, who were picked up from their ship, which was in a sinking condition, in latitude 34*5 S., longitude 16530 E., she having been in contact with a steamer. The following are the particulars of the disaster, as related by Capt. Leddra, late master and owner: —"The A. H. Badger, barque, 337 tons, sailed from Newcastle on the 7th Oct. with a cargo of ■coal, 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 Oct. On that date at 10.30 p.m., a steamer was seen ahead steering direct for thebarque,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 stem on, striking us in the port-mizzen chains, carrying away the main topmast, and all upper spars attached, tearing the belts and mizzen channels bodily from the ship's side, leaving a iarge 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 hailed and told them to atop her, as we were sinking, but she never even eased. A new tarpaulin, previously made for the after-hatch, was got 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 make froea port side, so as to list the vessel to starboard. On the 16th at 6.30 am., 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 Capt. Carter, to come on board, which be did at once, and as soon as he ascertained the condition he sent for five of his crew to assist in lightening the ship of cargo. He 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 the planks damaged, more or less, from the afterpart of the main chains to the quarterpiece, and he finally came to the conclusion that nothing could be done to save the vessel. Capt. Carter thou 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, their being then five feet of water in the 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 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 had 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 Capt. Carter, we should have all been drowned ; and my crew, together with myself and family, sincerely thank him, his officers, and crew, for their timely aid and exertions in our behalf, and hospitable treatment while on board his Bhip."