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Stranding
of The Surat
Otago Witness 10 Jan 1874, Pg 14
Stranding of The Surat.
The French Republic war steamer Vire render what assistance she could to the
ship Sirut stranded at Catlin's River. The intelligence of the catastrophe was
telegraphed to Captain Thomson, the harbour master by about 10 o'clock and he at
once place himself in communication with the Commander of the Vire,
with the view of rendering efficient assistance to the Surat and
her 270 passengers, all of whom, the telegram stated, were alive and safely
landed. Captain Jaquemart met Captain Thomson's advances in the mont benevolent
and liberal spirit - not only at once placing his ship at the disposal of the
Provincial Government, but offering to carry out the service free of cost. This
magnificent liberality was, however, declined by the Government, which, we
understand, promised to defray all expenses, and at the same time be under a
very sensible obligation to Captain Jaquemart for his kind action. Shortly after
one o'clock Captain Thomson, Harbour Master, Mr G W Eliott agent for the New
Zealand Shipping Company, by which the Surat was chartered, Mr Colin Allan,
Immigration Agent, Mr G W Eliott, afront for the New Zealand Insurance Company,
Mr Weldon, Commissioner of Police and a constable boarded the Vire The telegram
received by Captain Thomson from the Harbour Master of Port Molyneux and
Catlin's River gave no details of the wreck. It merely stated that the Surat was
ashore and that the passengers were all landed safely. It concluded with the
imperative order, "Send a steamer immediately." Shortly after the Vire left, our
shipping reporter was informed that the steamers Wallabi and Wanganui, both of
which happened to be at the Bluff, had received intimation of the catastrophe
and were to call at Catlin's on their return from the Bluff and bring on the
Surat's passengers.
The European Mail of October 3rd gives the following as a complete list of the
immigrants by the Surat - Families:
Barraclough - Thomas 32, Ann 30, Mary 2, George 1
Booth - Daniel 32, Rosalie 30, William 7, Margaret 5, Joseph 1
Booth - George 60, Sarah 55
Briley - Thomas 36, Anne 34, Calvert 9, Alice 7, Annie 5, Isabella 3
Broadley - George 43, Martha 40, Charles 9Manser - George 25, Sarah, 22, George
1
Brooks - Alonzo 27, Sarah 28, Frances 4, Florence 1
Brown - Thomas 33, Elizabeth 27, Joseph 4. William 3
Bryan - Thomas 26, Annie 27, David 10, Thomas 3, John 1
Calverley - Benjamin 40, Fanny 35
Corbin - Walter 26, Ellen 20
Dewhurst - Edward 30, Mary 26, Ellen 6, Mary 4
Ellis - Ephraim 38, Christiana 35, Sarah Ann 10, Florence 8, Chares 6, Arthur 5
Evans - Joseph 21, Anne 22, Thomas 1
Evans - Thomas 40, Matilda 41
Fountain - James 38, Hannah 36
Frapwell - Harrold 34, Barbara 32, Harriet 9, Helena 7, Mary 4, Henry 2, Louisa
1
Hargreaves -William 42, Hannah 40, Hannah 5, Ada 4
Horne - William 46, Amelia 45, Clara 11, Laura 9, Annie 7, Charles 5, Annie 1
Jones - William 23, Mary 21, John 1
Lawrence - George 23, Emily 22, Mary Anne 1
Le Gal - Julian 26, Maria 31, Maria 6, Julian 3
Le Gros - Victor 23, Marie 23
Morris - William 30, Mary 24, William 1
Mullinger - Elijah 39, Martha 33, James 9, Mary 8, Emily 4, Elijah 3, Molina 1
Nicholson - William 36, Dorothy 40, Sarah 5, Elizabeth 1
Outred - John 37, Emily 36, Alice 10, Edith 6
Page - Charles 36, Elizabeth 42
Paine - Henry 30, Mary Ann 29, Emma 10, Mary 9, Van 7, Bessey 4, William 1,
Maggie 1
Puddick - Mark 23, Elizabeth 23
Roberts - Peter 28, Guinifred 30, David 1
Roberts - John 27, Selina, 27, John 3, Florence 1
Robertson - James 24, Eliza 24
Robinson - John 26, Jane 26, Jessie 2
Russell - Richard aged 31, Mary 22
Sandford - Edward 28, Lucy 26, William 8, Annie 1
Sayers - Henry 43, Sarah 41
Slater - Benjamin 33, Maria 35, Thomas 11, Annie 5, Bertha 6, Emily 4
Smith - Charles 29, Elizabeth 28, Elizabeth 8
Stokes - George 29, Florence 21, Alfred 5
Underwood - Frederick 47, Martha 47, Herbert 10, Robert 6
Verchere - Remy 37, Pauline 29
Whitmore - Edward 31, Frances 31, Emma 9, Florence 6, John 3, Elizabeth 1
Woodcock - Thomas 42, Hannah 43
Single Men: Ashby Andrew 24 Bilbie Charles 21 Boosh George 24 Broadley Thomas 22, Walter 10, James 17, Alfred 13 Broadley Thomas 24 Buckland George 21 Calverley William 17 Davie Evan 34 Davis Charles 28 Ebbitt George I8 Farrell William 23 Franklin Michael 22 Freeland James 23 Gilby James 27 Hetherington John 26 Higgs David 16 Horne Fredk 14 Jones Charles 23 McGrath Patrick 23 Maguire Thomas 28 Newton James 32 O'Sullivan John 33 Parkes George 18 Prior Henry 62 Mullingham James 25 Richines Henry 29 Rickard Thomas 36, Michael 33 Rowen John 19 Samford William 26 Savill Ephraim 30 Sayres Henry 21 Skatill Martin 27 Taugney David 21 Taylor Martin 23 Tudor James 25 Underwood Arthur 14, Walter 12 Weller John 26 Williams Thomas 20 Woodcock Joseph 13 Woodnut David 39 Single Women: Booth Sarah 22 Broadley Sarah 15 Calverley Martha 18 Caydrgien Elizabeth 26 Horne Amelia 23, Alice 21, Emma 16 McGrath Annie 25 Mountain Mary 24 Mulligan Margaret 22 Mullins Elizabeth 15 Murphy Johanna 21 Nicholson Mary 15 Power Sarah 27 Pyle Sarah 32 Richards Rachel 28 Sayers Emily 15, Mary Ann 14 Stevens Henrietta 30 Andrews Louisa 21 Boland Bridget 19 Bourke Ellen 17 Carr Bridget 20 Cleary Bridget 18 Collins Mary Ann 20 Connor Catherine 27 Cowhey Anne 22 Cummings Catherine 17 Dalton Mary 19 Donlan Catherine 25 Dooley Honoria 35, Mary 4 Etherington Margaret 21 Framly Mary 25 Gleeson Margaret 21 Houlihan Bridget 49, Eliza 6. Jenkins Jane 20 Lamler Catherine 19 McMahon Mary 22 Masson Margaret 26 Middlemiss Jane 31 Mullinger Martha 13 Mulquern Mary O'Brien Ellen 18 O'Farrell Annie 17 Pratt Anna 21, Amelia 19 Prior Elizabeth 24 Rickard Catherine 26, Bridget 22 Simpson Mary 20 Sullivan Mary 19 Tangney Margaret 22, Mary 18 Underwood Clara 20, Florence 18, Frances 16
Otago Witness 10 Jan 1874, Pg 5
The Wreck of The Surat
The intelligence received in Dunedin on Friday morning of the stranding of the
ship Surat near Catlin's River, naturally caused a great deal of
excitement, although the telegrams received at that time stated that the
passengers had all been safely landed. As we before stated, Captain Thomson, the
Harbour Master at Port Chalmers, was put in possession of the news at about 10
o'clock on Friday morning, and with the concurrence of His Honour the
Superintendent, he at once placed himself in communication with Capt. Jacquemart
of the French man-of-war Vire, to endeavour to arrange for that vessel to
proceed at once to the scene of the disaster to render all possible assistance.
The Commander of the Vire at once placed his ship at the disposal of the
Provincial Government, offering to carry out the service asked of him free of
cost. The local Government, however, promised to pay all attendant expenses, and
the Vire, which was in dock at the time, Was speedily hauled out, and steam got
up with as little delay as possible. The vire started from the Port for Catlin's
River at about one o'clock on Friday afternoon, with the following gentlemen on
board: - Captain Thomson, Harbour Master, Mr G. F. Reid, agent for the New
Zealand Shipping Company, by which the Surat were chartered, Mr Colin Allan,
Immigration Agent, Mr G. W. Eliott, agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company,
with which policies of insurance had been effected over a quantity of goods on
board the Surat, and Mr Weldon, Commissioner of Police. The Vire cleared the
Heads at about two o'clock on Friday afternoon, and proceeded on her journey
under half steam, in order to arrive at the entrance to Catlin's River at about
daylight on the following morning. The ship arrived at the scene of the wreck at
about half-past three o'clock on Saturday morning, and found the Surat on the
beach stem on, with all her masts standing, and some of her sails flying loosely
in the wind. Approaching from the southward were the steamers Wanganui
and Wallabi. The last mentioned boat soon after crossed the bar at the
entrance to the river at high water. Owing to the surf it would have taken quite
a couple of days to have transferred the passengers from the shore to the Vire
by the use of boats, -and Captain Thomson, the Harbour Master, suggested that
the work could be done much quicker by having the passengers first taken by
boats to the Wallabi, and then transferred by her to the Vire. This appeared to
be the best course that could be adopted, and it was decided to act upon Captain
Thomson's suggestion. At about four o'clock in the morning, or about
half-an-hour after the arrival of the man-of-war, one of her boats was sent off
to the shore, with Captain Thomson, Mr Allan, Mr Reid, and Mr Eliott. The bar at
the mouth of Catlin's River was crossed in safety, although not without the
apprehension of danger on the part of some of the passengers, who were somewhat
alarmed at the surf, which broke with considerable force about them. Lieutenant
Brushet, of the Vire, had charge of the boat, and soon after the passengers were
landed at the Pilot Station. After getting some information with reference to
the disaster here, those who had come from the Vire then went on board the
Wallabi, which was lying in the River. There they had breakfast, and at about
halfpast 9 o'clock the Wallabi steamed up towards Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's
mill, where the larger portion of the Surat's passengers were under shelter.
From this place Captain Thomson and Mr G. F. Reid proceeded to the Owake saw
mills, owned by the last named gentleman, and situated in a branch of Catlin's
River. There they found about fifty of the shipwrecked immigrants. The whole of
the passengers spoke in terms of gratitude of the treatment they had received at
the hands of those at the mills and the other residents in the locality, who in
a most generous manner had given up many of their cottages and huts, for the
sole use of the unfortunates. The Surat's and other boats available were at once
used to convey the Surat's passengers, numbering three hundred and seven souls,
to the Wallabi, by which they were taken to the Vire. All the immigrants
appeared to be in good health, with the exception of one poor woman, who had
been confined on Christmas Day. She was in a weak state when first the Surat
struck, and the fatigue and exposure she had undergone in getting ashore, and
then to the mill where she found shelter, had had the effect of completely
prostrating her. Another woman was suffering from a rather severe sprain of the
ankle, which she received in getting into one of the boats from the Surat. Mr
Tighe, the Surgeon-Superintendent of the Surat, thought it would be dangerous to
move the first-mentioned woman, who has accordingly been left at one of the
mills, where she will be well cared for until she gets stronger. When the
Wallabi had her load of passengers on board, she had to anchor for some time to
wait for high water in order to get over the bar, and during the delay, Captain
Thomson, Captain Johnson of the Surat, Mr G. W. Eliott, Mr G. F. Reid, and some
others, landed at a place called the Sandspit, so as to get as near to the Surat
as possible and examine her. The position of the Surat was quite even, and she
was apparently slightly imbedded in the sand, lying about two cables lengths
from the shore. The masts and rigging appeared to be uninjured. Her lower
topsails were set, and her foresail was also set, her main-topgallant-sail and
jibs flying loose in the wind. It would have been impossible to get near the
Surat in a boat on account of the heavy surf. The vessel was to all appearance
but little injured, and the sea was only breaking over her slightly, although
the waves were running rather high at the time. The following is the report of
the official survey made at the time - "Survey held this third day of January,
1874, at the request of Captain Thomson, on the ship Surat as she now lies
beached in Catlin's Bay, by the undersigned. We report as follows - that the
vessel is waterlogged and the seas breaking over her. That the Captain reports
having struck upon a reef on the coast, and finding his vessel in a sinking
condition, beached her to save the lives of the passengers and crew. As the
vessel now lies on an exposed part of the coast and is liable to break up at any
moment, we recommend that she be abandoned and sold for the benefit of whom it
may concern. - (Signed) G. F. Reid, master mariner ; Wm Thomson, Harbour Master;
James Leys, s.s. Wallabi; Robert Mills, shipwright." We may add that there is
some difference of opinion with reference to the probable breaking-up of the
Surat. At the time the party inspected her from the Sandspit, the wind was
blowing moderately from the westward, and should this wind continue, the vessel
is likely to hold together for a considerable time. Some of those who inspected
her position are of opinion that with a tug and proper appliances, the stranded
ship might be got off, after she has been lightened by the removal of her cargo,
which is rather a heavy one. She had on board five hundred tons of railway iron,
valued at £15 per ton, and insured up to the full value, making the total of the
insurance upon it £7500. This portion of the loss will fall upon London offices.
She also had on board the plant and machinery for the establishment of a woollen
manufactory by Mr Booth, one of the cabin passengers, who had also a number of
men on board engaged as skilled workmen for the manufactory. We were given to
understand that the machinery was insured, but for what amount we could not
ascertain. The loading of the vessel was made up with a valuable general cargo,
including a large consignment of drapery for Messrs Ross and Glendining, which
was insured for £7890 in the New Zealand Insurance Company. The Surat was a
comparatively new iron ship, close upon 1000 tons register, and was chartered by
the New Zealand Shipping Company from her owners, Messrs Shalcross and Higham,
of No. 5, New Quay, Liverpool, and was the second vessel despatched to this
Colony by the Company. We have not been able to ascertain whether the vessel was
insured or not. Captain Johnson is reported to have stated, in answer to
questions put to him, that she was not insured, but considering her value this
seems highly improbable. The vessel has been valued at about £25,000, and it is
rumoured that an insurance had been effected over her for £15,000 before she
left London, but in what office or offices we could not hear. It is also stated
by some of the passengers that the New Zealand Shipping Company were in treaty
with the owners for the purchase of the Surat, but that the negotiations fell
through. From Captain Thomson, the Harbour Master, we obtained the following
statement of Captain Johnson, of the Surat: - "On Wednesday night at about 10
o'clock, the ship Surat Btruck the rocks, by Chasland's Mistake, and after a
severe bumping, got off. She was very leaky after this, and was hove-to all
night, all hands being kept at the pumps. On Thursday morning the vessel was
anchored in a little bay near Catlin's River, and some of the passengers were
landed. Soon after it was found that the vessel was sinking, and the cables were
slipped, and the ship run ashore in Catlin's Bay. This was at about 10 or 11
o'clock on Thursday morning. The remainder of the passengers were landed, and
all the crew, with the exception of the first mate and two men, also went
ashore. Nothing was saved except a little bedding. On Friday morning, the mate
and the two men who had been left on the vessel made signals of distress, and
were taken off by a boat sent by the Port Molyneux and Catlin's River Harbour
Master. The Harbour Master and Captain Johnson of the Surat went to the place
where most of the passengers had been landed, and brought a number of women
round to Catlin's River by boat. About a hundred of the passengers were landed
first from the Surat, and among them were six or seven women, who were weak and
not able to travel. These were brought round to the river in the boat, the
others being strong enough to go across the bush. The passengers were then
distributed amongst the sawmills, and some of them were lodged at the Harbour
Master's quarters. On Thursday morning, before the anchor was let go, the
captain sent a boat to the steamer Wanganui, which was in sight, but the persons
on the steamer did not appear to see the boat." This completes the Captain's
statement of the circumstances attending the stranding of the vessel. The
accounts of how the Surat struck, how she came to be so close in shore, and the
subsequent events on board, are most conflicting. It is said that the wind was
moderate at the time, and blowing off the land, and that only half an hour
before the vessel bumped on the rocks, the captain and one of the cabin
passengers - Mr Booth - had ascertained what was supposed to be the ship's exact
position, and marked it off on the chart. At noon on the 3lst ins. the ship was
in lat 47.34 south, lon 167.27 east. Dog Island was sighted at 2 pm; at 8 pm the
course steered by standard compass was NE by E half E, Dog Island bearing W by N
20 miles. The ship was under plain sail and the yards checked about a point and
a-half or two points. At 9.15 the ship struck on the Brothers, and got off. The
pumps were sounded, and it was found that the vessel had only made four inches
of water for the first hour. At 11.30 it was found that the water had suddenly
increased to 20 inches; at midnight there was four feet of water in the hold,
and the ship was run for Bloody Jack's Island. The starboard anchor was let go
in seven fathoms; but it was observed that the ship was settling down, and
nothing was left to be done but to land the passengers. From what we have been
able to learn, and from the appearance of some of the women especially, the
passengers appear to have suffered a great deal of hardship. Very few of them
managed to get ashore with more than the clothes they had on, and the majority
of them were in bed when the vessel struck, and when the confusion began, a few
had barely clothes to cover them. In landing, some of them ran a great risk of
losing their lives, and most of them reached the shore cold, wet, and miserable.
Of course, when the Surat first struck, there was the most intense excitement on
board ; and with reference to what afterwards occurred, it is impossible to get
two statements that do not differ in a good many material points. One of the
passengers says that when the vessel bumped on the rocks a considerable shock
was felt, and as the ship went over the rock a noise was heard resembling the
rumbling of a lot of iron tanks being moved about. Some of the passengers state
that the pumps were never sounded, in order to ascertain whether the ship was
making any water or not, until long after she passed over the rocks. The little
bay in which the vessel anchored on the following morning is called Bloody
Jack's Bay. Nearly all the passengers' statements are to the effect that, after
the Surat struck, and before she was beached, there was considerable confusion
and disorder on board. Attempts on the part of the passengers to signal the
passing steamer Wanganui were stopped, revolvers were produced, and violence
threatened. The water gained, notwithstanding the working of the pumps
incessantly by the crew and passengers, including the married women and girls,
all of whom took their turn at the work. When it was determined to beach the
vessel, and the boats were lowered, the men behaved most creditably, according
to the accounts we have heard. The women and children and the old men were all
put in the boats before the other men followed, and except in the case of one
woman, mentioned above, there were no accidents. Pilot Heyward, who is also
Harbour Master at Port Molyneux and Catlin's River, was of great assistance in
pointing out the best place to beach the ship, and in landing the passengers and
getting them together. The passengers also speak well of the carpenter, whose
name is Lodge, the sailmaker, familiarly known as "Old Sails," but whose proper
name we did not hear, and a seaman named Donovan. Dr Tighe also made himself
most useful, both on board, during the time when great confusion and excitement
prevailed, and after the passengers were landed. At one time some of the women
are said to have been almost frantic with excitement, waving their shawls and
handkerchiefs, and making all the efforts in their power to attract the
attention of those on board the Wanganui; and a few of the male passengers had a
great deal of trouble to endeavour to calm them and get them below. The
excitement did not last long, and when it was over all the passengers are
reported to have become remarkably calm. There was no moonlight, and rain was
falling nearly all the time. At the time the vessel struck the second mate,
whose name is Hasaltine, was in charge of the deck, and the captain was below
with a few other passengers. We have avoided giving any of the passengers'
statements of what occurred on board the Surat after she struck the rocks, as
they are contradictory, and as the true version of the whole matter will shortly
be laid before the public, when an official inquiry into the loss of the vessel
is held.
We have already stated what took place after the arrival of the French
man-of-war at the scene of the wreck. The Vire and the Wallabi both left
Catlin's River at about the same time - 4 p.m. - on Saturday. The Vire came up
under half steam, and the Wallabi arrived at the Port some time before her with
a few of the more delicate of the passengers on board, and brought them right up
to Dunedin. The Vire anchored at the Port at about four o'clock on Sunday
morning, and was immediately boarded by Captain Paterson of the Golden Age, with
whom arrangements were made to land the Surat's passengers, who were to be
conveyed to town by train. The scene on board was a curious one. The decks were
crowded with men, women, and children, who all bore some evidences of the
hardships they had lately gone through. The women and children were dressed in
anything that could keep them warm, and most of the youngsters had pieces of
grey blanket wrapped about them. Some of the girls had no covering for their
heads, and a few of the men appeared to be wearing nothing but oilskins. On the
passage up every attention was shown to the passengers by the officers and men
of the Vire. The women and children were all accommodated below, but the men had
to remain on deck during the night. They were all well fed with ship's biscuit,
mutton, and soup, and were regaled with claret, the ordinary drink on board. The
passengers did not appear so downhearted as one might have expected, although
not one of them had saved anything of value. The children all looked well and
jolly, and were intensely amused with the antics of "Roberte" the pet of the
sailors and officers. "Roberte" is a fine sheep, who was originally taken on
board for the purpose of being duly converted into mutton. He showed himself so
intelligent, however, that he escaped the butcher's knife, and is now an
established favourite. He drinks brandy and curacoa before breakfast, and smacks
his lips over it, and is fast learning to chew tobacco. The sailors were
very kind to the children, and attentive to all the passengers, who speak in the
highest terms of their kindness. The Vire was not expected in so early in
the morning, and no provision had been made for a train before eight o'clock.
Before seven, however, the Surat's passengers had been transferred from the Vire
to the Golden Age, and landed at the wharf. As they left the man-of-war
they gave three hearty cheers for the officers and crew, who waved their hats in
return. Arrived at the railway station there was still an hour to wait, and as
the morning was damp and cold, and the passengers mostly ill clothed, this was
rather hard upon them. They all appeared to make the best of it, however, and it
was pleasant to see the many little acts of kindness done by some of the
residents of the Port. Some brought fruit and others biscuits for the children,
a few of the women were taken to houses, where hot tea and coffee were given
them, whilst most of the men received friendly invitations to "have a drink."
When the train arrived it waa soon filled, and started almost immediately for
Dunedin.
Amongst those who came by the Wallabi was a Mrs Mancie, who was in a very
weak state, and near confinement, and a subscription was at once raised on her
behalf at the railway station, towards which £2 was subscribed in a few minutes.
She was carried to the Hospital on a stretcher, but before night was so far
recovered as to be able to walk about the ward. The immigrants and crew of the
Surat proceeded to the Immigration Barracks by the Clutha line, where they were
at once provided with breakfast. His Honour the Superintendent afterwards
visited the Barracks, and expressed himself as satisfied with the preparatory
arrangements, and gave instructions for all of them to be provided with
clothing. The following articles were forwarded to the Institution by the orders
of the Superintendent, on Saturday: - 50 pairs blankets, 2 dozen bed-covers, 4
pieces calico, 3 do. linen, 3 do. flannel, 12 dozen socks, 12 doz. shirts, 10
dozen hose, and 1 parcel haberdashery. There were a few Shetland families in the
Barracks, who assisted in cooking, and the single girls by the Surat, of whom
there are about forty, made up the clothing. Ample supplies of provisions were
got in, 3001bs of meat being sent besides what was in, and 75 loaves of bread
were delivered yesterday. The immigrants express themselves generally as well
pleased with the treatment they received since their arrival.
His Excellency the Governor paid an official visit to Captain Jacquemart of the
Vire yesterday afternoon, to thank him for the assistance he had rendered to the
passengers and crew of the Surat.
An advertisement in another column announces that this day, at 2 pm., Messrs
M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co. will sell the ship Surat and her cargo, for the
benefit of whom it may concern. [We have received from a correspondent a very
interesting account of the doings of the Wallabi, and of what took place on
board the Surat, but we are unable to find room for it in our present issue.]
Otago Witness 17 Jan 1874
The official enquiry re the Wreck of the Surat Pages 7 & 8 and also the
next papers 24 Jan and 31st.