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

The Cossipore

The Cossipore.

400 Days' Passage.

It is probable that the 400 days which the barque Cossipore, 763 tons, took to come from London to Auckland, established a record which has not been beaten. Of course she was not at sea all the time. She left London on October 15, 1865, and her troubles began in the Channel. With a sprung mast and leaking, she put into Plymouth, and an examination revealed that a very thorough overhaul was necessary before she could put to sea again. The immigrants transferred to another vessel, the Liverpool, which was coming out to New Zealand, but the cargo was unloaded and stored at Plymouth pending the carrying out of the repairs. On July 12, 1866, she made another start on her long journey to the other side of the globe, and did not cross the Equator until the 28th August. Prior to this, on the 8th August, water was discovered rushing into the vessel between the transverse beams in the storeroom, and the cargo and stores were saturated with water.

On the 27th October a gale from the south-west commenced, which lasted until 3rd November, and did some damage to the vessel. On the 30th, when the gale was at its height and a heavy cross sea running, portions of the bulwarks and ringbolts were carried away, and the ship laboured heavily, taking in large quantities of water. The pumps were sounded, and the vessel found to be making 2½in of water per hour. On the 31st October the crew informed the captain they were unable to pump so frequently and perform the ordinary work of the ship, a watch having to spend one hour out of every four at the pumps. It was cruel hard work for the crew, but Captain Wilson said that, situated as he was, with no extra hands to summon to their assistance, it was necessary for them to work or sink. At the same time he diplomatically said he would consider the matter of putting into one of the Australian ports. On the 30th October a fresh gale from north-west to north prevailed, with a heavy sea running, and the Cossipore was put under lower topsails and foresail. During its continuance the vessel shipped a heavy sea over the port side amidships, which stove in the bulwarks and long-boat, and at the same time three carboys of acid were stove in by the sea, which it became necessary to throw overboard without delay for the safety of the ship's decks. A mass of smoke arose from the decks immediately after the carboys were struck by the sea. The gale continued with more or less violence until 3rd November, when the wind veered round from north-west to south-west. On the 5th, however, the wind again increased to a gale, accompanied by a heavy, confused sea. The course was made round Tasmania, and the New Zealand coast was sighted on the 18th November. Three days previously the ship encountered another strong gale. the Cossipore, in spite of allpage 183 her troubles, at last made port, 130 days out from Plymouth and 400 from Gravesend. the Cossipore on this occasion brought material for a new sawmill for the Kaipara, and also had on board 108 kegs and 12 cases gunpowder, and 60 cases petroleum oil, besides general cargo, which was landed in a shocking condition.

the Cossipore had made two voyages prior to 1866. She left London on March 11, 1857, and arrived at Wellington on July 19, 1857, making another long passage of 130 days. In 1864 the Cossipore sailed from London for Lyttelton, sailing on April 19, and arriving at her destination on August 11 after another long passage. She was then in command of Captain Hulbert, who was chief officer of the ship Hanover, which arrived at Auckland in 1862.

the Cossipore, two years prior to her arrival at Auckland, had made a voyage to Lyttelton, bringing about 50 passengers. She did not fare much better on this occasion. She sailed from the Downs on April 10, 1864, and had a favourable run down Channel, passing Start Point the following day. Nothing particular happened until early in June, when she met with heavy gales and squalls, which continued for several days, during which she lost a whole set of sails. Soon after passing the Cape further heavy gales were experienced, and continued without intermission for several days. On July 5 the violence of the sea knocked in the dead lights of the after cabin and flooded the whole of the compartments. The same conditions continued for five weeks until sighting the Snares on August 3. Lyttelton was reached on August 8, the passage having occupied 114 days.

the Cossipore also visited Wellington in 1856, making another long passage of 130 days. She sailed from Gravesend on March 11, and arrived on July 19.

the Cossipore was built in the year 1857, and owned by Mr. W. R. Powell, of Cornhill, London, and chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co.