Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

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

Nearly Ashore

Nearly Ashore.

And the end of the passage was apparently very nearly a tragedy. "On August 31," says the diary, "we struck another very severe gale. At the time we were in sight of a lighthouse, and suddenly heard the call ''Bout ship!' All hands assisted, and we were soon going in the opposite direction. Lookouts were now placed all about the ship, and presently we heard above the wind the call, 'Land on the weather bow; let her fall off a couple of points!' Immediately on top of this the boatswain cried out, 'Land close on our lee bow!' All knew there was danger. Quickly we heard the captain's hoarse ''Bout ship!' The ship came to the wind, but there was so little sail on her, owing to our crippled foretopmast, and the wind being so heavy, we did not come round, and rapidly the ship fell to leeward, just grazing the rocks that had first been seen on the lee bow. Passengers and crew all worked hard, and happily we soon had the ship out of all danger. An hour later the gale had spent itself, and pleasantly we made our way among the numerous islands which dot the Gulf, and were soon in sight of Auckland."

the John Temperley sailed from Auckland for London on October 25th. 1865, taking Colonel Wyatt and the second half of the 65th Regiment—about 267 rank and file. The ship also took Home £68,000 worth of gold.

The following year the John Temperley came out to Lyttelton, leaving London on March 13th and arriving at Lyttelton on June 21, a passage of 100 days. The ship had another rough experience when in the Southern Ocean. She encountered a terrific gale, which carried away many sails. Heavy seas swept the decks, carrying away a large portion of her bulwarks, smashing up two boats and doing other damage.