Wreck Report for 'Amity', 1881

(No. 1011.)

"AMITY."

AT a Court of Inquiry held at Nassau, in the Island of New Providence, on the 11th April 1881, before THOMAS AUGUSTUS THOMPSON, Esquire, Police Magistrate in and for the said Island, and one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Bahama Islands, and FREDERICK A. MOYSEY, Lieutenant-Commander, H.M.S. "Contest," sitting as Nautical Assessor, in the matter of the stranding and total loss of the British barque "AMITY," Alexander McGonnell, master, on the 29th March 1881, north of the east point of Little Inagua.

Report.

The barque "Amity," of St. John, New Brunswick, sailed in ballast from Savannah on the 20th day of March last under the command of Alexander McGonnell on a voyage to Pensacola.

On the 22nd a heavy gale was encountered, but the barque sustained no damage; and nothing else of importance occurred until the 28th, when Mariguana Island was sighted. At between 5 and 6 p.m. of this day, the barque was about 12 miles to the S.E. of the island, and a S.S.W. course was then shaped, on which she was continued until 9 o'clock, when she was put on a S. by W. 1/2 W. course, her rate of speed, as shewn by patent log, having been seven knots an hour.

The wind was blowing freshly from the east, and the barque had all plain sails set, and this state of circumstances continued until the stranding. At between 1 and 2 a.m., breakers on the lee bow were reported by the look-out to James McAulay, the chief mate, whose watch it was, and who was going forward at the time to ascertain the cause of a noise he had heard as to the sea breaking. The mate at once called all hands, and ordered the barque to be put about. Captain McGonnell was in his cabin at the time, but at once rushed out; and as the barque would not go about, attempted to wear her, but she struck almost immediately after the order was given. The yards were at once backed, and the barque's head canted off a little, but she remained fast astern. A heavy sea was running, and consequently nothing could be done in the way of taking out anchors and kedges to move the ship, but every other possible effort appears to have been made to extricate her.

In the afternoon she had bilged, and as the sea was exceedingly heavy, and there was a chance of the barque going to pieces during the night, Captain McGonnell thought it advisable to get his crew safely ashore on Little Inagua. After great difficulty this was accomplished, and he and they remained in the island during the night.

The next day a Bahama wrecking schooner arrived at the wreck, and her crew assisted in saving the materials and every other article of value.

The barque struck about three-quarters of a mile off the eastern point of Little Inagua. She was 14 years old, and a vessel of 535 tons burthen.

Opinion.

We are of opinion that the loss of the "Amity" is attributable to a westerly current, occasioned by the strong easterly wind shewn to have been prevalent in the locality prior to the disaster.

We certainly think, however, that had a careful look out been kept, the breakers would have been seen earlier, and the loss of the "Amity" probably prevented.

 

(Signed)

T. A. THOMPSON, Police Magistrate.

 

 

FRED. A. MOYSEY, Lieut.-Com. H.M.S. "Contest."

L 367. 781. 70.—5/81. Wt. 203. E. & S.