The
following is a transcript from The Star 20th
August 1878, page 2.
Reference online:
Papers
Past Images online.
Ship Bride of Lorne from Cardiff
The ship Bride of Lorne, which has been expected for some time past,
arrived yesterday from Cardiff after a long and remarkably bad-weather passage
of 185 days. Being laden entirely with railway iron of which she brings 1900
tons, she has had very trying times of it on the voyage. The Bride of Lorne is a
large North American built ship of 1332 tons register, nine years old, and owned
by Messrs W. and R. Wright, of Liverpool, and has not brought any passengers.
During some heavy weather the cargo started, and although it was at once secured
in the best possible manner it strained the ship so severely that she has been
making considerable water from her top sides, rendering constant attention to
the pumps necessary. One apprentice named John Henry Gardner fell from the
mizzen chains and was drowned. It was impossible to lower a boat. The weather at
the time was bad, and though the ship hove-to, and the life bouy thrown him,
nothing more was seen of him.
The Bride of Lorne is commanded by Capt. Richardson, who
furnished the following report of passage:-
Left Cardiff on April 6... Crossed the equator on May 14, 38 days out. On May 21
the south-east trades were lost in 14° 25'
south and the same day some terrific squalls from the south-west were
experienced and the upper and lower foretopsail and jib were lost. June 7 in 33°
10' south a perfect hurricane was encountered and some damage was done to the
maintopmast staysail stay, the chain foretack being carried away, an the ship
lying hove to. On June 12 another heavy gale that lasted two days, during which
the cargo started. It was secured with spars and fenders, but the ship rolled
frightfully and strained to a great extent. On June 17th another heavy gale was
met. A very large quantity of water found its way on board, and the cabin
flooded and everything moveable washed away from the decks. The meridian of the
Cape was passed in 40° south. At 11 pm on
June 30 John Henry Gardiner fell overboard. The easting was run down between 40°
and 50° south. Passed the Snares on August
9th. Arrived at Camp Bay yesterday (19 August 1878).
The following vessels were spoken:-
May 22 - Barque Edgar, Swansea to Valparaiso, 45 days out.
May 24 - Barque Virginia, Newport to Rio Janeiro, 50 days out.
May 25 - A German barque, shown J.H.N.W., Buenos Ayres to Falmouth, 13 days.
June 20 - Ship Invercauld, bound to Adelaide.
July 28 - Ship G.C. Russell, Cape Town to Medjiloneus, 20 days out.
Otago Witness, 4 September 1907, Page 70
First Passenger: "What do you suppose makes the ship roll so? It'll be the death
of me!"
Second Passenger (furiously) : "It's that imbecile of an officer up there! He
does nothing but walk from one side of the ship to the other. It's enough to
capsize the vessel."
"Home, home, home from the sea,
Angels of mercy, answer our plea.
And carry us home, home, home from the sea,
Carry us safely home, from the sea."