BY THE irony of fate the end of the long voyage of the barque Garthsnaid was almost in sight when she was struck by a storm which lasted for three terrible days, and threatened her destruction.
Good seamanship, combined with good luck and the timely arrival of the White Star steamer Zealandic, saved her.
Coastal reports on April 1 stated that the Garthsnaid was in tow of the Zealandic and at 11 o’clock on Tuesday morning the barque passed through Port Phillip Heads, in appearance more like a dismantled hulk than the trim barque which was a familiar sight at Melbourne in September.
For three days the crew, numbering 21, had nothing to eat except weevilly biscuits and tinned beef, and were without sleep.
The Garthsnaid left Iquique on December 23, and on March 30 was booming along about 100 miles east of Gabo, approaching Bass Straits, with lower topsails set before a freshening easterly breeze.
Before nightfall, however, the breeze had freshened into a gale, which, veering suddenly to the southward, caught the barque.
All hands were called on deck, but the master (Captain J. Roberts) realising that to send a man aloft was to throw away his life, did what he could by skilful navigation to avert impending disaster.
With a loud report the main topmast carried away, bringing with it lines and sheets, which lay in a tangled mass over the port side, tearing the royal topgallant yards and mizzen topmast down. The crew cast the damaged rigging overboard.
Half-an-hour afterwards the main lower mast snapped three feet from the deck, and lay straggling over the starboard side.
Rolling and pitching helplessly, the Garthsnaid shipped heavy seas, and movement on deck was hazardous. All movable deck gear was swept overboard. Large quantities of oil were released, but still the Garthsnaid lay awash.
With great difficulty, and running under scant canvas, a course was steered for Gabo, when the long list of mishaps was added to by the snapping of the fore topgallant mast, which hung down, with its canvas flapping noisily in the wind. All night the crew worked to clear the wreckage away. An inspection was made of the holds, which were found to be undamaged and making no water. Two of the life-boats were smashed beyond repair, and the third was severely damaged.
With unabated vigour the storm continued all next day; but the wind began to ease as night came on, and with sighs of relief Gabo light was sighted at 2 o’clock in the morning. A little later the lights of a steamer were sighted, and in half an hour the Zealandic was alongside. She waited until daylight, and then passed a 5-inch wire hawser to the barque. It broke and four more attempts were made, and at last the Garthsnaid was secured.
After a three-hour struggle, the line was made fast and the Zealandic set out for Melbourne with the barque in tow.
Zealandic has claimed £20,000 for having salved the British barque Garthsnaid. The latter vessel was laden with nitrates from Iquique for Melbourne, valued at £60.000.
The cargo would probably have been a total loss but for the timely rescue of the steamer, so badly was the barque battered.
The Zealandic’s crew will probably receive substantial rewards for their part in the salvage.
This article appeared in the April 2023 edition of DCN Magazine
