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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Loch Liners

page 305

The Loch Liners.

In the New Zealand Trade—Seven Smart Ships.

Under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Co., a number of the smart ships of the famous Loch Line, owned by Messrs. D. and J. Sproat, of Liverpool, visited New Zealand ports, bringing immigrants and general cargo. The Loch ships were all well found, and for their size made the runs out and Home in less time than several ships of larger tonnage. The Loch ships chartered by the New Zealand Shipping Co. were the Loch Fleet, the Loch Urr, the Loch Dee, the Loch Fergus, the Loch Doon, the Loch Ken, the Loch Cree, and the Loch Trool.

The Loch Fleet.

The Fleet was a full-rigged iron ship of 713 tons, built at Glasgow in 1872. She began trading to New Zealand in 1877, and made her last voyage in 1886. This ship generally experienced unfavourable weather on the voyages out to New Zealand. She had a very rough time when bound for Auckland in 1878, and was carried of her course, sailing about 20,000 miles. The ship on that voyage left Gravesend on August 16, and passed Deal on the 19th. Variable winds detained her in the Channel until the 23rd, when she took her final departure from the Lizard. Two months later Captain Robertson had a most anxious time on the run from the Cape to Tasmania. The first storm started on October 14, and continued with unabated fury for two days. On the 15th a tremendous sea broke over the ship, smashing the captain's gig and doing other damage. The weather continued violent, and on the 20th heavy squalls came down, with snow and hail, and the vessel lost a stunsail boom and suffered other damage. The ship was driven before the wind, and travelled from 300 to 320 miles a day. Squally weather continued right along to the Leeuwin.

On November 6 the ship encountered another storm, which, said one of the passengers on arrival at Auckland, "will live in our memories for ever." The hurricane commenced at 4 p.m., reached its climax about midnight, and caused much damage to the ship. About 7 p.m. a tremendous sea struck the ship, and two hours later another wave, fully 40ft high, broke over the poop and washed the two men from the wheel. One man was carried the whole length of the ship. The other, coming in collision with one of the hatches, was severely knocked about, and sustained a nasty wound in the head. Fortunately the second mate, Mr. Montgomery, rushed to the wheel, otherwise the Loch Fleet might never have reached Auckland. The decks were completely filled with water, and the heavy seas broke the poop rails and carried everything movable overboard.

the Loch Fleet's passages to New Zealand were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Aug. 17, '77 Nov. 21, '78 Robertson 96
Sep. 6 Dec. 20, '80 Clachie 105
July 9 Nov. 8, '82 Cochrane 122
To Lyttelton.
Aug. 16 Nov. 24, '77 Robertson 100
To Dunedin.
Aug. 29 Dec. 22, '79 Robertson 115
Land to land 102
Sep. 1 Dec. 14, '81 Clachie 104
*Nov. 1 Feb. 28, '86 Jones 120
*

Loch Dee And Loch Fyne.

Lost On The Homeward Voyage.

Never Heard Of Again.

the Loch Dee was an iron barque of 700 tons, built in Glasgow in 1870. She had a rough experience on her passage to Auckland in 1879. The most severe gale was encountered on the 18th May when running down her easting. The ship had to lay-to for several hours, and one tremendous sea breaking over her washed overboard three able seamen, and nothing could be done to save them.

the Loch Dee completed her sixth voyage out when she arrived at Dunedinpage 306 on the 18th December, 1882. After discharging she proceeded to Lyttelton, and there took in wool and wheat, and sailed on the 3rd of March, 1883, lor Falmouth, in command of Captain Black, and with a crew of 16 men, and she waa never heard of again. The fate of Captain Black and his ship waa never known, but it was surmised that ale had either collided with an iceberg or been lost in one of the storms which were so frequently met with on the homeward run, when in the vicinity of Cape Horn.

Another of the "Lochs" named Loch Fyne, a full rigged ship of 1213 tons, built at Glasgow in 1876, belonging to the General Shipping Company of Glasgow, came over from one of the Australian
Loch Dee At Port Chalmers.

Loch Dee At Port Chalmers.

ports to load wool at Lyttelton, and sailed on May 14, 1883, from that port under Captain Thomas H. Martin, who had commanded the ship from the day she was launched. She carried a crew of thirty men and a few passengers. She was also bound for Falmouth and was never heard of after sailing.

It is remarkable that more ships leaving Lyttelton for the homeward voyage went "missing" than from any other port in the Dominion.

Mr: Thomas J. Nott, now residing at Whangarei, referring to the loss of the Loch Fyne writes:—" I was at Lyttelton at the same time as the Loch Fyne. I had shipped on the full-rigged ship Inch Murran in 1882, and sailed for Lyttelton. The two ships were in port at the same time, and the Inch Murran sailed from Lyttelton in June, about two months after the Loch Fyne. The second mate of the Loch Fyne was transferred to the Inch Murran and soon after our arrival in London the Loeh Fyne was posted as missing—a lucky escape for the second mate. Our passage Home occupied 94 days to the docks.

Washed Overboard.

"When off the Falkland Islands we encountered a heavy gale. The heavy sea carried the second officer overboard at the fore-rigging and in the roll of the ship to leeward she "scooped" him in abaft the mizzen rigging with a broken arm.

"We lost an apprentice overboard, a Glasgow boy. During the storm we had lost a jib and between five and six p.m. when we went to bend on the new jib, the boy, who was 17 years of age, desired to go with the four able seamen. We endeavoured to dissuade him as it was dangerous work, but he pleaded so hard that his request was grunted. The five went out on to the jib-boom, the boypage 307 being in the centre. We had scarcely got on the jib-boom when the ship dived into a head sea, and when she came up the boy was missing."

The passages made by the Loch Dee were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Feb. 27 June 11,' 79 Black 104
Feb. 10 May 16, '80 Black 96
Dec. 31, '80 Apr. 25, '81 Black 114
To Lyttelton.
Jan. 8, '82 Black 94
To Port Chalmers.
Nov. 20, '76 Feb. 21, '77 Black 93
Sep. 13 Dec. 18,' 82 Black 96

The Loch Cree.

A Handsome Craft.

the Loch Cree (a sister ship to the Loch Fleet) was a vessel of 791 tons, built at Glasgow in 1874. She, like her sister, was a handsome vessel, and on all occasions made good passages. She was specially free in many of her outward runs from the usual gales often encountered. On the voyage out to Lyttelton in 1880 the Loch Cree was in charge of Captain John Jones, this being his first command. He reported that with the exception of two heavy blows the passage had been a pleasant one of 82 days from the Lizard, and 98 from port to port. When off Tasmania on March 5, a fierce gale was experienced with a heavy sea, during which big seas broke on board, but very little damage resulted. The day before making the land the vessel experienced a terrific storm of thunder and lightning. The mastheads and all the yard-arms were illuminated for a long time by electricity and presented a splendid spectacle.

On the voyage out to Auckland in 1881 the Loch Cree encountered one terrific gale. It occurred on September 2, during whioli Captain Jones found it necessary to heave-to for twelve hours. Heavy seas broke on board over the forward part of the vessel, carrying away the stanchions of the fo'castle, starting the head rail of the topgallant fo'castle and figurehead, and causing other serious damage.

On August 10 the vessel was in company with the ship Wairoa, and at the same time a dozen other ships, mostly bound for Australia and New Zealand, were in sight. the Wairoa was bound for Wellington and arrived there on September 24. Considering that the Loch Cree had to sail further north it was a very even race. the Wairoa sailed from Graveaend on June 25 and the Loch Cree on the following day.

The passages made by the Loch Cree were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 26 Sep. 29, '81 Jones 95
Sep. 2 Dec. 20, '84 Jones 109
To Wellington.
Apr. 26 Aug. 9, '79 Jones 105
Nov. 3, '900 Feb. 7, '01 Rice 96
To Lyttelton.
Dec. 11, '77 Mar. 12, '78 Jones 92
June 3 Sep. 9, '80 Jones 98

The Loch Urr.

The Loch. Urr was a fine roomy iron barque of 716 tons, built at Glasgow in 1870 by Paterson, McCullum, and Co. Captain S. Murdoek was given command when the barque was launched, and remained in that position until 1881, when he was relieved by his brother, Captain J. Murdock. Nothing of an out of the way kind happened on any of the out ward runs of the Loch Urr to New Zealand.

the Loch Urr, prior to her arrival at Auckland in 1874, had made three trips to Sydney, two of which were fast passages of 83 and 86 days. On the run out to Auckland in 1874 she did remarkably well until off the Crozet Islands, where owing to a succession of light breezes from the eastward very little headway was made for a week. On reaching the Three Kings on September 7 heavy fogs delayed her progress, the vessel being hove-to for twenty-four hours, and when of the Poor Knights a heavy gale was encountered, again delaying her progress.

On the voyage out to Auckland in 1881 the Loch Urr left London on August 19 and on the 23rd encountered a heavy gale which continued until September 2,page 308 when she got clear of the Lizard. Off the North Cape of New Zealand on December 13 the vessel was in company with the May Queen bound for Tauranga with some of Vesey Stewart's settlers. The two vessels sailed from Gravesend Within twelve hours of each other.

the Loch Urr had a delightful passage out in 1877, fine weather all the way. Her external appearance was then altered, the barque having a white topside instead of black.

With the exception of a heavy south easterly gale off the Three Kings, which lasted for three days, the barque had another remarkably tine passage in 1880.

On the run out in 1882, after crossing the Equator, a heavy south-easterly gale was experienced and continued for six day—from September 18 to 24—thence fine weather to the North Cape.

the Loch Urr's passages to New Zealand were:-

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 7 Sep. 11, '74 S. Murdock 96
Jan. 20, '77 S. Murdock 95
Oct. 25, '79 Feb. 4, '80 S. Murdock 102
Sep. 25, '80 Jan. 14, '81 S. Murdock 112
Aug. 23 Dec. 15, '81 J. Murdock 115
Land to land 99
July 26 Nov. 8, '82 J. Murdock 105
To Lyttelton.
Apr. 16 July 27, '87 J. Murdock 102

The Loch Ken.

Astray In Hadraki Gulf.

Aground Off Thames.

the Loch Ken, a fine little barque of 590 tons, built in 1869, made some very excellent runs for so small a vessel. On one occasion in 1882 she ran out to Lyttelton in 77 days from the Lizard and 80 days port to port. The barque was not so fortunate on the voyage to Auckland in 1883. She left London on the 7th February, but was compelled to anchor at the Downs until the 16th. She had moderate winds to the Equator, which was crossed on the 24th March, and the Cape rounded on the 60th day out. Tasmania was passed on May 17, and thence to the Three Kings very dirty weather and two exceptionally heavy S.E. gales were met with. Not withstanding the barque reached Auckland 99 days out from Gravesend.

the Loch Ken loaded at Auckland and sailed for London on the 19th July. An astounding mishap occurred a few hour after leaving port. The barque was under the command of Captain Wilson, who was familiar with the port. The pilot took her outside of Rangitoto Reef, and a course was shaped for Cape Colville. The following day the Thames steamer Rotomahana (Captain Farquhar) brought up the barque's chief officer, who reported that the vessel was on the mud at the head of the Thames Gulf, and that he had tome up to town to see about getting her off. When the Rotomahana returned to the Thames on the 21st those on board, Mr. Williamson (chief officer of the barque), Mr. Clayton (Lloyd's agent), and Captain H. F. Anderson (representing the insurance companies), were rather surprised to find the barque riding safely at anchor off Tararu.

The story of the Loch Ken's skipper (Captain Wilson) was an astounding one. At two o'clock in the afternoon of the day he left port he was off Kawau. He then ordered the course to be E.N.E to take the ship out through the channel between Cape Colville and tile Great Barrier. That night the weather was thick, and at 8.20 p.m. the ship ran aground at the mouth of the Piako River, about six miles off Graharnstown. The captain explained his position by saying that he mistook Waiheke for Channel Island, off Colville, and said that when he had passed it he bore away south. The explanation is incomprehensible. Waiheke, is no more like Channel Island than Queen Street is like a blind alley. What he probably said was that he mistook Gannet Island, off the end of Waiheke, for Channel Island. That would be quite understandable. As the night was thick he would probably not be able to ace the Coromandel coast, and naturally, thinking himself outside the peninsula, he would head off south.

Anyhow the mishap had a tame conclusion. After the chief officer left the Loch Ken to come up to town by the Rotomahana for help the Thames harbourmaster (Captain Bayldon) went aboard, and the wind coming out of the south he was able to drive her off the mud into deep water, and eventually he came to an anchor off Tararu. No damage was done, the barque sailed away from the gulf without coming to town for a survey, and made a very good passage Home of 83 days. The old hands said her grounding "must have scraped some of the barnacles off."

page 309

Captain Gibbons, now harbourmaster at Onehunga, was one of the crew of the Loch Ken when Captain Farquhar went to her assistance in the Rotoma-hana, a steamer that Captain Gibbons afterwards commanded for a number of years.

The passages made by the Loch Ken outwards were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Feb. 16 May 27, '83 Wilson 107
To Wellington.
Mar. 1 June 4, '79 Cummins 95
Dec. 1 Mar. 7, '84 Wilson 96
To Lyttelton.
Dec. 2 Feb. 20, '82 Wilson 80

Another amazing error in the gulf was the escapade of the Italian ship Eurasia, which brought a cargo of tiles to Auckland from Marseilles in the year war broke out. She lay in the harbour for a very long time, but no outward cargo offered. At last she got a charter from Monte Video to load wheat, and left Auckland in ballast. She was towed out on the morning of February 4, 1915, and when the tug dropped her she went off with a fresh westerly behind her. The last seen of her was the same afternoon, when with most of her sails set, she was bowling along for Cape Colville. It was thought she was not heading quite high enough to clear Colville, but no one dreamt for a moment that this indicated anything wrong.

The next heard of the big foreigner was a message from Thames to say that she was aground on the mud, about six miles from the township. The master came up to Auckland by the Thames boat and arranged for the Auckland Harbour Board to send, down the tug To Awhina. This was done, and after about three-quarters of an hour's work the ship slid off the mud and was towed to Auckland.

A survey of her hull was made and it was found that she had not sustained the slightest damage, the ground on the top end of the Gulf being all soft mud. Being a foreign ship and being undamaged the New Zealand authorities had no authority to order an inquiry. The captain's explanation of the ship finding herself in such a queer position was that Ms compasses were defective. He said he steered N.N.E., and did not discover until too late that he was too far to the south.

The Loch Fergus.

This was another handsome barque of 845 tons, built at Glasgow by Henderson in 1875. She, like the other Lochs, brought out many of our early settlers between 1876 and 1887.

On her first voyage to Auckland, in 1875, she made the run from Gravesend to the Line in 31 days. She passed the meridian of the Cape on August 7, Tasmania on August 28, and sighted, the Three Kings on September 4. She averaged 245 miles a day across the Southern Ocean.

Her passages to New Zealand were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 4 Sep. 6, '76 Cann 94
Aug. 6 Dec. 4, '83 Jones 120
To Wellington.
Dec. 5 Mar. 2, '79 Cann 87
To Port Chalmers.
May 1 July 29, '81 Cumming 89
Sep. 19,'83 Jan. 1, '84 Jones 104
To Nelson.
Feb. 18, '87 Chachrie 89

The Loch Doon.

the Loch Doon, an iron ship of 786 tons, made only three voyages to New Zealand, and on two of these exceptionally stormy weather was met with. She was one of the fastest sailers of the fleet owned by D. and J. Sproat. She came first to Auckland in 1880. Leaving Gravesend on April 22, she passed the Downs on the following day, and took her final departure from the Lizard on the 27th. She crossed the Equator on May 16, making a splendid run of 19 days to the Equator. The meridian of the Cape was passed on June 15, Capepage 310 Leeuwin on July 4, and Tasmania on July 11, only 74 days from the Lizard. On July 10 the ship encountered a terrific gale from the west, and a fearful mountainous sea, which by the force of the gale was driven into a complete mass of spindrift, and at Mines almost, burying the ship while she was scudding before it. The storm lasted in full fury for fifteen hours. Captain Cummings stated he had been at sea over thirsty-one years but that this gale eclipsed any he had ever seen.

The following year, 1881, the ship was brought to Auckland by Captain Main land. Leaving Gravesend on March 15, the Loch Doon was delayed by calms and light winds for several days in the Channel, and light variable winds continued until crossing the Equator on
The Loch Trool.

The Loch Trool.

April 21, 36 days out. On May 28, when running before a hard westerly gale with a high topping sea, a tremendous wave broke over the ship, completely filling her decks fore and aft. Some time later it was discovered that an apprentice boy of 16 who had been on watch below was missing; he had evidently been washed overboard. the Loch Doon made the Three Kings on June 14, 54 days from the Equator and 86 from the Channel. On May 14 the ship Waitangi, bound for Otago, was in company. This vessel sailed from Gravesend a few hours after the Loeh Doon, and arrived at Port Chalmers on June 13, 82 days land to land.

Captain Robert Mainland was subsequently transferred to the Loch Trool, and made a voyage to Dunedin and Wellington in 1902. He was for many years the commodore skipper of D. and E. Sprout's fleet, and held an interest in the company. When a boy Captain Main land sailed in the Orkney coasting vessels. On obtaining a master's certificate he entered the employ of James Sprout and Co, as master of the Loch Doon, holding this command until 1884, when he was transferred to the Loch Trool, a position he held until his death, which occurred when taking the ship Home from Bunbury, West Australia, on January 4, 1906. Captain Mainland made some remarkable passages to Melbourne and other Australian ports. He was a member of the Mercantile Marine Service Association from 1879, and was well known and highly respected in Liverpool shipping circles. Mr. S. Mainland, a son of Captain Mainland, who sailed with his father for several years in the Loch Trool, left the ship in 1905 and settled in Auckland. He is now residing at Stanley Bay, Devonport.

the Loch Doon's passages to New Zealand were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Apr. 23 July 28, '80 Cummings 96
Mar. 15 June 17, '81 Mainland 94
To Wellington.
Mar. 31 July 6, '82 Mainland 97
page 311

Other Loch Ships.

Several other Loch vessels made one or two voyages to New Zealand. the Loch Esk, a large ship of 1641 tons, owned by J. and R. Wilson, arrived at Dunedin on the 10th January, 1882, having made the run in 82 days, port to port, or 77 land to land.

Another powerful vessel, a ship of 1382 tons, built at Glasgow, and owned by W. and R. Wilson, was the Loch Linnhe. She made a remarkable passage to Port Chalmers, under Captain Pittenreigh, in 1882. She left London on the 14th November, and did not, owing to adverse weather, clear Ushant until the 28th. The Line was crossed on the 21st December, the Cape rounded on the 14th January, Tasmania on the 7th February. and the Snares on the 10th of February. Two days later she anchored at Port Chalmers, having made the run in 74 days from Ushant. the Loch Linnhe also made one voyage to Auckland, arriving there in command of Captain Vaughan on April 15, 1885. The passage occupied 96 days port to port.

the Loch Bredan in 1886 arrived at Wellington on January 11, under Captain Cumming, 108 days from the docks. She was at Port Chalmers in 1899 (Captain
French Pass Lighthouse.

French Pass Lighthouse.

Williams), arriving on the 23rd June, 103 days' passage.

the Loch Bredan in 1882 sailed from Glasgow for Sydney, and after discharging her cargo proceeded to Lyttelton and loaded wool and wheat. She made a good run Home, and called at Queenstown for orders, with Captain Cumming in command. The ship proceeded to London, and made another trip to Sydney; thence she came over to Auckland and loaded general cargo for London. At this time Captain J. T. Rolls, well known as commander for a number of years of the Union Company's Niagara, was chief officer of the ship. Mr. John Cumming, now in business at Te Aroha, was an apprentice on the Loch Bredan when she arrived at Auckland.

the Loch Awe, which made the record passage to Auckland, is dealt with in a separate article; also the Lochnagar, which made many voyages to the Dominion.

Another small vessel of 248 tons was the Lochlee, which was built at Inverness in 1865 for Mr. J. B. Stevenson, shipping agent at Auckland. When completed she sailed for Melbourne. I have no record of her visiting Auckland, but she arrived at Wellington on the 12th May, 1871, after a lengthy passage of 131 days.

* Via Hamburg.