THE WRECK OF THE MINERVA:
eye-witness accounts of the last moments of this ship
THOMAS OATES:
Is Captain of the ship Henrietta, of 500 tons, now at anchor off Natal. Has been in command one year and eight months. Arrived at Natal on the 4th July at four p.m. Was on board his ship on the night of the 4th of July. Wind, E.N.E. It was light during the morning, but freshened from noon. Picked out the best anchorage, as he thought, and on the ground laid down by the Admiralty chart - the Bluff bearing S.W. by S. The wreck Mary due W. by compass. The soundings were eleven fathoms. Was about half a cable length nearer the Bluff than the Minerva but about the same distance from the Breakers ... the wind freshened and at about half past nine to half past ten o'clock, it blew a fresh gale, about N.E. Where he is lying the holding ground is good.
He saw the Minerva at anchor at about eleven o'clock; it was starlight. At a quarter past or half past eleven came on deck and about half past eleven the watch informed that the vessel alongside was driving, and she passed within about forty yards of our stern; the current appeared setting a mile and half towards the bight. They did not hail our ship; she was broadside on to the wind, with her head to the northward. She appeared to have let go her second anchor, about a cable length our ship. After she appeared to have let go her second anchor, she got under loom of the land and he could see nothing of her. We burned signal lights, and she returned signals.
The first gun was fired from the Minerva at half past twelve o'clock. The wind fell soon after midnight, so that you might have burned a candle on deck.
He lowered the pinnace (8-oared boat), and sent her to assist, but the sea was too heavy for her to get alongside. My anchor which is down is 21 cwt.
Thinks moorings, laid down outside, would be of great assistance, for if a vessel lost her anchors, she would be obliged to go to the Mauritius or Cape to get them replaced, as there are none to be had here and if there were, the state of the Bar might be such that a boat could not get out with one. Thinks it is necessary for vessels in the outer roadstead to have a pilot on board - it is more necessary in this roadstead, than in most others he has visited.
At 1 a.m. went in the pinnace to the Minerva but found it impossible to get alongside and was requested not to do so, as a heavy sea was breaking over her; it being dark and not being able to render any assistance returned again at 5.30 and found the Captain had sent the life-boat; the gale moderating at 9 the Captain went ashore with Mr LAMPORT in the pinnace; the life-boat with the second mate and seven of the crew still onshore. Sent the top-gallant yards down from aloft, and unbent the sails, got the whole of the starboard chain on deck. At 8.30 let go the starboard anchor and set the watch, with some of the passengers in each watch. The outer extremity of the Bluff land bearing S.W. to S. and the flagstaff on the lowland towards the town bearing West half South.
CHARLES COCKBURN:
Is commander of the brig Conquering Hero, now anchored in the outer roadstead, in ten fathoms of water, with an anchor 18 cwt, and sixty fathoms of chain. Came to anchor on the 29th June, at midnight, wind being light off the land. Five or six days afterwards, the wind having freshened from the E, gave her 25 fathoms more chain. The Conquering Hero was in the same position on the night of the 4th July as when she first arrived. Was not on board his vessel on the afternoon of the 4th July but saw that she rode heavily, and the mate had since told him that she took the sea in over her top-gallant bulwarks. The Minerva lay a cable-length outside the Conquering Hero. The holding-ground is good, or his vessel could not have held, only having one anchor down. Has not let go a second anchor since he arrived, which is more than three weeks, during which time it has blown occasionally fresh from the East.
The Bluff bore S.W. where he anchored. The highest flagstaff and marks on the back beach were in one view, a little open to the North side. About three or four days after the wreck of the Minerva, saw two white buoys, supposed to belong to the Minerva; the outer one rather to the Northward of the Henrietta, and more to seaward, the other one was astern of her. The wind was Easterly when he saw them.
Thinks it desirable that a pilot should remain on board of ships while in the outer roadstead. Also that printed Port Regulations should be sent on board on arrival, pointing out the set of currents, and what signals should be made during the night; and that moorings should be laid down outside.
The Bar was smooth on the afternoon of the 4th July, and thinks there was not much sea on.
Extract from the Log of the Conquering Hero 4th July 1850:
Winds, N.E. Commenced with hard gales and dark gloomy weather. People employed repairing sails and sundry other jobs. Carpenter at several jobs about the decks; was running very high, and ship riding very hard. Put stoppers on the chain, and secured the windlass.
GEORGE ARCHER:
Is a pilot. Has been at sea twenty-six years. Was master of a vessel five years. Has been acting as pilot at this port about four years, and as such boarded the Minerva on the 3rd July, at the outer anchorage; the men got into the boat and pushed off immediately after she let go her anchor; the Bar being smooth, and the wind favourable, the boat reached her about half an hour after she had let go her anchor. On boarding her, he went to the captain, and said he was pilot of this Port, and was sent off by the Harbour Master, and that he was ordered ... to request him to remove the vessel further away from the Bar and Bluff to the North, and showed them the marks, and told him to bring them to one. He told him if he thought proper he would move the ship then for him. The captain and his men had been up all night, and were tired. Went forward, and stopped the mate from veering out more chain until he had seen the captain, to know if he was to move the vessel, as he did not say he would have the vessel removed then. Said, "If you are going ashore with me, you had better tell the mate to send down the top-gallant yards and house the top-gallant masts" to which he said he knew how to take care of his ship. Therefore, considered he did not require further instructions from him. Told the captain it was usual to give the vessel seventy five fathoms of chain, so that he would have sufficient chain left to veer upon, when he had occasion to let go the second anchor. Thinks that after anchoring, she had sixty fathoms out. Wind was from S.W. On the 4th, Captain BELL sent him off to remove the Minerva, but there being a light breeze from the N. and E., preventing him from shifting the vessel. He therefore came ashore again, but before leaving her, told the captain it was coming on to blow. It is good holding ground where the Minerva was anchored. He saw her buoy after she was wrecked, nearly in the same position as when she was at anchor.
WILLIAM GLENDINNING:
Is Captain and owner of the Gem, 102 tons, a vessel trading between this port and Cape Town; has been continually trading here since 1841, making four voyages a year; this is his fourteenth voyage; has frequently anchored in the outer roadstead, and lain there for three or four days together. Anchors in from nine to eleven fathoms; the Bluff bearing S.W., or S.W. by S. Rides with forty-five fathoms and when it blows veers to one hundred fathoms, has never parted a cable or dragged an anchor. Has been out there at anchor in the outer roadstead when it has blown moderate gales from the N.E. Saw the Minerva at anchor, and considered, looking from the shore, that she looked nearer than a ship of her tonnage ought to be, but finding she was in twelve fathoms, under those circumstances, considers she was in good anchorage.
On the 4th of July, it was blowing a moderate gale from E. or N.E. Could not say whether there was much swell. Considers the holding ground equal to any bay on the coast. The current generally sets round the Bluff to westward, at the rate of about half a knot or a knot. Does not recollect a vessel dragging from the same place as the Minerva was anchored in. Does not think that moorings laid down would be of any service. This it unnecessary for vessels to lie in outer roadsteads with a spring on the cable. When it comes on to blow fresh, this it necessary to veer out a whole cable - say 120 fathoms. Thinks it would be of service to have a pilot on those ships which cannot cross the bar, even supposing the officers are competent for the discharge of their duties.
WILLIAM HODGE:
Is a pilot. Has been at sea seventeen years, has been mate of a vessel twelve years, and as such was four years on board a vessel trading between this Port, Cape Town and the Mauritius. As mate was on board the Minerva at anchor in the outer roadstead on the 3rd July. She was, in his opinion, in a very good berth; she lay, if any thing, farther out than large vessels have usually lain. She had the marks on the Bluff open to southward. The only vessel he recollects driving at the outer anchorage with an easterly wind was the King William. Thinks she drove a little, but she was very badly found in anchors and cables, and this occurred in the season when strong easterly winds prevail here.
He considers the holding ground to be good. It was blowing fresh from the N.E. on the 4th July towards evening. It moderated towards seven and eight, and after that got squally between eight and ten. He thinks it was about two o'clock when he heard the second gun fired; thinks she was then ashore. The sound came from the point of the Bluff. Shortly after this saw she was ashore on the Bluff by her blue lights.
... Had the Minerva been got under weigh ... after parting from her first anchor, thinks she might have got out to sea. Should think that, before slipping from second anchor, she ought to have had a spring on her cable to cast her head to southward. She might even then have weathered the Bluff. There was not much sea on, on the night of the 4th.
WILLIAM MILLS:
Was chief officer. This is his first voyage in Minerva. Has been twenty-three years at sea, fourteen years a chief officer, and frequently commander, and has commanded his own vessel, the Goderich, of 650 tons. Has saved the ship's (i.e. the Minerva's) log book. Came to anchor in the Natal Roads on the 3rd July, in twelve fathoms of water, with hard ground. The captain was on duty and brought the ship to anchor. Let go port anchor and veered to fifty fathoms. The Bluff bore S.W. On the evening of the 4th, veered out twenty fathoms of chain before dark. It blew fresh but not very hard on the night of the 4th, but there was a heavy swell from seaward. About five o'clock in the afternoon, when the wind freshened from eastward, got more of the starboard chain up - forty-five fathoms in all - that was the whole of the starboard chain which was got up. On veering out fifty to seventy fathoms on port anchor, the shackle hooked on the bit-bolt and opened. It was replaced by a new one in proportion to the cable. At half-past eleven was called by Mr TUCKER, the officer of the watch; he reported that the ship had parted her anchor. Went immediately forward and told the boatswain to let go the starboard anchor and bade every one then to veer away. This was done, and all went clear to forty-five fathoms. It stopped her for a minute or so.The commander was in charge on the poop and ordered the sails to be loosed and prepared to cant her head seaward. The forty-five fathom shackle was just before the windlass. We hoisted head-sail and let fall top-sail, the yards being canted for seaward. Had no spring on when they slipped the chain. It was flood tide after the sails were set. They took the wrong way; did not sound when she slipped; were hauling more chain up, but the captain stopped them. The wind was from N.N.E. Mr TUCKER was officer of the watch. Had three anchors on board, each about 50 cwt, and two chains of 120 fathoms each. They were according to the scale. Thinks the chain must have parted, and that every precaution was taken to save the vessel.
Extract from the log of the Minerva (what follows was written by the First Officer):
Tuesday 2nd July 1850
Wind West. Variable breeze N.W. with fine weather. Watch employed getting ready for harbour. Bent the chains and unstowed the anchors, ranged the chains sixty-two fathoms on port anchor, and thirty on the starboard anchor. At six land in sight to N.N.E. Heavy appearance over the land. Cloudy.
Wind West. Moderate breeze, with cloudy weather. Light breeze and fine. Washed decks and us most in preparing the ship for harbour. At eight, land bore N.E. to E.
West. At ten anchored in Natal Roads with the small bower and chain twelve fathoms water, and veered 65. Hard land. Moderate breeze, with heavy swell in the Bay.
Wednesday 3rd. Wind N.W. At anchor off Natal. Moderate breeze, with a swell from seaward. Sent top gallant yards down and housed the masts, double reefed the top sails, and furled them. Otherwise employed getting the ship ready for sea. Moderate breeze and fine.
The following extract from the log was written by the Captain:
At one o'clock the port boat came alongside with Mr MORELAND. The coxswain of the boat was brought to my cabin, and I asked him about the position of the ship. He told me she was very well, but that there was better holding ground further in. I asked him if he had any instructions from the Port Captain. He told me, "No." I then said I thought it would be better for me to see the Port Captain; he said he thought so too. I asked, also, what quantity of cable it was usual to have out? He said sixty-five fathoms.
About 3 p.m. I went on shore with the mails in the port boat and saw Port Captain BELL, who also told me my ship's position was very well, but it would be better to move her a little further in, and he would have her moored in the morning. I said I would go off in the morning with the pilot and see her moved. I asked Captain BELL what quantity of cable ships usually had out; he told me sixty-five fathoms. I went off next morning with the pilot, Mr MACLEROY, and Superintendant Surgeon, in the port boat, with the intention of having the ship shifted, but the wind shifted to S.E. and the pilot said she could not be shifted that day.
The First Officer continues the log:
Thursday 4th July 1850 At 7.30 called the hands out and gave the ship twenty fathoms more cable, and hauled up thirty fathoms more of the starboard chain, and got the starboard chain clear for letting go.
A quarter watch was set, and sea watches kept by the officers. At 11.30, Mr TUCKER, 3rd officer, called me, and said the ship had parted. I immediately ran forward, Mr TUCKER calling the commander, and ordered the boatswain to let go the starboard anchor, and veered away the chain. The chain anchor checked her for a minute. The commander, observing the ship driving very fast, the flood tide having set in, and fearful of getting too near the bar, ordered the head sails to be loosed as well as the top sails and stand by to slip both chains. Set the head sails and slipped the chains, the wind suddenly shifting to N.N.E. The head sails took the wrong way, and the ship canted with her head on shore. Hauled the starboard head sheets aft, and attempted to wear ship short round, which she would have done, but the tide making so strong, forced her on a sharp reef off the Bluff Point. She struck abaft, forcing the rudder up on the gun deck. The wheel flying round, I ordered the man to cut the wheel ropes as it was dangerous to people standing round. I ordered the carpenter to sound the well. He reported three feet. He again sounded fifteen minutes afterwards and found eight feet. I took all the ship's company down to the chain pumps, which were all ready, and tried to keep the water down, but it was of no use.
The commander ordered us up to set the top sails, which we did, to hinder the ship falling over into deep water. Saved the life boat and brought her over to leeward; also lowered the starboard cutter. Employed from daylight in the morning till 4 o'clock in getting the passengers out of the ship. At four all passengers landed. At 4.20 received a note from the Port Captain, giving orders for every one to leave the ship, as she would most likely break up during the night. At 4.20 the crew left the ship. At 4.25 the commander and officers left, having examined the ship to see that no one was on board.
JAMES MOIR:
Was Commander of the Minerva. Anchored at ten o'clock on the 3rd of July. ... On being boarded the same day the pilot told him the ship was in a good position, but she would be better farther in, as it was better holding ground.
She anchored with port bower anchor, with 55 fathoms of chain when he brought up, and in the afternoon she had 65 fathoms. About 5 o'clock on the 4th an unaccountable swell commenced and continued till about 11, when she parted.
He was not on deck at the time she parted. Mr TUCKER, the third officer, was on deck, and he called him, immediately went on deck, and found her driving fast broadside to the sea. Let go starboard anchor with 30 fathoms of chain on deck. This checked her for a second. Ordered head sails to be cleared away and stand by to slip cables. Was no spring on the cables. Thinks she was about a quarter of a mile from the Bluff when they slipt. Got into 5 fathoms when we slipt. The ship drew about 20 ft 6 inches.
All his officers and crew did their best on the occasion.
It was flood tide, and with the wind she was driving about 2 and a half knots an hour.
If any one had been on board at the time who had told him it was flood tide, thinks he should have held on and not slipt his cables. In veering away the port cable, one of the pins of the shackles started. He went and saw it repaired by a new one. This took about a quarter of an hour.
He is of opinion that moorings laid down outside would be a great benefit to shipping, as in the event of losing both anchors time would be lost in reshackling their chain to spare anchors.
His anchors and chains were larger than the scale for the vessel. The port anchor was 43 and a half cwt. She had it last voyage in Bombay, and every port on the coast of Malabar, Madras and Calcutta, and afterwards at the Cape of Good Hope.
He asked the pilot when he boarded if he was authorised to give instructions concerning the vessel; he said he was not but that vessels usually rode there with 65 fathoms of chain. Did not consider himself justified in giving up the ship to anchor to the pilot, he not having brought instructions.
He went ashore and saw the Port Captain, who told him he was in a good berth, but might shift a little further in. Was in 12 fathoms. Bluff S.W. Understood the shifting in to mean to go closer to the brig Conquering Hero, towards the Umgeni, and into smaller water.
Thinks that all vessels riding at single anchor should have a spring anchor cable. Strangers should have printed instructions sent on board.
He fancies the reason of the vessel driving was on account of the fluke of the anchor having given way.
WILLIAM BELL:
Is Port Captain. On the 3rd July, at about 10 a.m., the Minerva came in close round the Bluff, fired a gun and then anchored. Being very unwell at the time, he immediately sent the coxswain (ARCHER) off to her in the Port boat, and desired him to shift her a little more to the northward, and after shifting her to give the Captain a passage ashore, and bring the Captain to him in order that he might him in the way of getting his passengers landed. About 2 o'clock the boat returned and brought the Captain ... who was fatigued, having been up the night before and wished to be excused from moving her that day. Told him the vessel was in a very fair berth and it was not particularly necessary to remove her that evening. She was lying in 12 fathoms water, and about 60 fathoms of chain out. Told him that was sufficient, as the vessel would be clear of her anchors with that scope out. He said he had double reefed his top sails ready for going to sea in case the vessel should part. Told him that vessels did not make a practice of slipping and going to sea, as they had rode it out in all weathers and at all seasons of the year, many of them not having to let go the second anchor. Then asked him who his agent was, he replied Mr. MORELAND. Told him he had better see him and make arrangements about landing passengers the next morning, and that he could go off with the pilot and get the vessel moved.
Captain MOIR went off the next morning in the port boat with the pilot for that purpose but in consequence of light airs from the northward it was not advisable to attempt moving the vessel. About noon the wind freshened and drew more to the eastward and about half-past four the Henrietta came to anchor. About sunset the wind was fresh, but the three vessels appeared to ride easily. At nine the wind abated and drew more to the northward. At about 12 o'clock heard a gun and by the blue lights saw Minerva ashore on the Bluff ... went over to the Bluff but nothing could be done until daylight.
Had he (Captain MOIR) been on board the Minerva when the wind freshened at ten and the vessel rode heavy, he should have let go the second anchor and veered out the whole cable on the port anchor. His motive for wishing to move the Minerva from the position she first occupied was to get her into a more convenient berth for landing her passengers and cargo, and not on account of her being in a bad anchoring ground.
HENRY RATSEY:
Was intermediate passenger per Minerva. Was on board at the time she was wrecked. Had been at sea about 15 years in almost every capacity, from boy up to master. Has been eight voyages to the Mauritius as master, in vessels of 250 to 330 tons. Thinks the Minerva was well found with chains and anchors.
Cannot say with what quantity of chain she brought up. Heard that sixty-five fathoms had been given her, and on the 4th July that 20 fathoms more were given. It was not blowing very fresh and it did not blow very fresh when she went on shore; did not think that there was much sea on at 10 p.m. When he went to bed he thought she rode very easy.
Cannot say how many men were on watch on the night of the wreck. Cannot say whether a harbour or sea watch was kept after the Minerva anchored; thinks a quarter of the crew would have been sufficient to form a watch; knows that the top sails were double reefed and the yards braced to cant her head off shore, in case she parted; and thinks every precaution was taken for the safety of the vessel; thinks that with 12 fathoms water and 85 fathoms chain, she ought to have ridden well with the wind we had. The ship got ashore before he went on deck, having been down to close the ports. It blew harder when she went ashore than at 10 o'clock; does not know that the crew made any threats of destroying the vessel. Being only a passenger did not trouble himself about the working of the ship.
Others who submitted statements for the enquiry into the Minerva wreck included:
Fishburn SHAW, boatswain of the Minerva
William COOPER, carpenter of the Minerva
John Edward FILTOCK, 2nd officer of the Minerva
John North TUCKER, 3rd officer of the Minerva
George BISHOP, naval lieutenant who arrived on the Herald in May 1850
Hugh M'DONALD, previously master of the brig Pilot
A letter dated 16th August 1850 from the Custom House, Port Natal, to the Acting Secretary to Government, Walter HARDING reads as follows:
"In compliance with the request ... that we should institute an enquiry into the causes which led to the loss of the Minerva at this Port, we beg to inform you that we have questioned the Commander and Officers of said ship and others who are acquainted with the circumstances ... and it would appear:
That she brought up in the proper depth of water, and in a good berth for vessels of her tonnage.
That the evidence generally goes to prove that she was well found in anchors and cables, but the cable of the port anchor, having been composed partly of new and partly of old chain, and there being a swivel in it, we conceived it possible that the shackle which joined them, or the swivel, had given way. Attempts have been made to weight the anchor and chain, to determine this point, which up to the present time have been unsuccessful.
There appears a good deal of discrepancy between the statements of the Captain and Officers of the Minerva respecting the length of cable veered out on the port anchor - the statements varying from 70 to 85 fathoms; and likewise as to the quantity of starboard cable on deck at the time the second anchor was let go, which varies from 20 to 45 fathoms; however the she slipt from 45 fathoms; but even this was too small a quantity to have had on deck. In fact the whole cable should have been on deck before she parted, as hauling up of chains from the locker necessarily occupies a considerable time. In this opinion we are also borne out by the fact of the Henrietta lying at single anchor nearer to the Bluff, and closer on shore than the Minerva, having parted in a gale of wind from the Eastward on the night of 23rd July last, bringing up within two cables' length of her former position, which may be attributed to her having the whole of her cable on deck, and which was immediately given out. On the same day a similar circumstance occurred to the Conquering Hero.
We are of opinion, and which we think is confirmed by the evidence adduced, that when it blows stronger than usual on shore it is necessary, for the safety of vessels riding at anchor in the roadstead at the Port, or in any open roadstead, either to veer out to a whole cable on the one anchor, or let go a second anchor at short service, and then veer out to a whole cable.
In conclusion, we cannot help remarking that if due precaution had been taken, by having sufficient quantity of both cables on deck on the evening of the 4th of July, the vessel would probably have been saved.
We are, Sir,
Your most obedient servants,
W S FIELD, Collector of Customs
WM BELL, Port Captain
GEORGE MACLEROY, Immigration Agent"