Barque HELENA

Calamitous Shipwreck. 

It is with drep regret we have to state that the barque Helena, belonging to Mr. Macnamara, of Sydney, was totally 
wrecked in Waitakare Bay, between Manukau and Kaipara, on the night of Friday, the 16th inst.; on which disastrous
occasion her commander, Capt. John Brown, — well known to many of our fellow-citizens whilst in command of the 
brig Nina, — his chief officer, and five of his ship's company, unfortunately perished. The following particulars have 
been furnished us by George Gordon, an intelligent young seaman, one of the four survivors; — 

The Helena, a fine, smart barque of 265 tons, sailed from Melbourne, bound for Hokianga, on the 23rd August, under 
the command of Captain John Brown, formerly of the brig Nina, of Bristol, which vessel was lost, off the island of St. 
Paul, on her passage from Bristol to Melbourne. 

The Helena experienced pleasant weather from the time of leaving Melbourne until the evening before she made the 
coast of New Zealand, which was on the eighth or ninth day. At that time, the westerly gales, which have blown so 
long and fiercely, set in, and the ship was in consequence, hove to under a close-reefed main - topsail and spinaker, 
a heavy sea running, and driving her badily inshore. Captain Brown, of whom the survivors speak with the utmost 
affection and respect, took every precaution a skilful mariner could take to reach offshore, prefitting by every possible
opportunity to make sail and stand out to sea; but the gale continued with. unabated fury; and although top-gallant
masts, mizzen top-mast, and all top-hamper had been sent down to stiffen her; although even her topmast back-stays
had started the dead eyes under the pressure of her canvas, yet, beng but in ballast trim, and making so much leeway,
it was only by means of the most untiring energy and skill that the ship was enabled so long to maintain her seaward
position. 

During eleven days of weary anxiety, Capt. Brown and his crew were thus occupied, vainly endeavouring to gain an
offing; and tossed about, up and down the West Coast, from Hokianga to Manukau. Three several ports were 
successively sought to be entered v.z, Hokianga, Kaipara, and Manakau. The attempt, however, was found to be
altogether impracticable. So close was the Helena, at one time, to the former port, that a ship was seen at anchor
inside. Not knowing the bar, and the sea breaking right across, Captain Brown was afraid to venture. An attempt 
was then made to enter the harbour of Manukau. This was on Friday last, and between 3 and 4, p.m. The ship was, 
unfortunately, dtiven too far to leeward, fetching to leeward of the reef. In this melancholy position, there was no 
alternative but to wear the ship; in doing so, she was driven still further to leeward and, in fact became hopelessly
embayed. Night being now fast approaching, as the last remaining chance of escape, the ship was beached, taking
the flat sandy shore nearly at low water. She struck heavily several times, when the mainmast was cut away to 
lighten her. At this moment, she broke right across in two pieces, all hands being left on the after part. A boat was
then lowered, but, the moment it touched the water, the sea swept it clear of the tackles. Two of the crew next 
endeavoured to swim ashore with a line fastened to them. Neither of them could succeed, the sea and tide utterly
overpowering them. They with difficulty got back to the wreck. The only alternative was thus to remain by the ship
until she broke up, an event which took place almost immediately after the tide began to flow. At this appalling 
juncture, all hands, except the chief officer (Mr. James Hutton, of Aberdeen) and one seaman (Edward Davis, of 
Bristol, late of the Nina), who were on deck, from whence they were swept by a heavy sea, — were in the cabin, 
where Captain Brown was reading prayers to them. The cabin was a deck house; and was continually filled with 
the sea that burst in from seaward, and the back wash that poured in from a-lee. Whilst the Captain was reading,
the mizzen mast fell, killing, at is supposed, a boy of fifteen years of age. named Thomas Harrold, a native of Bristol.
The ship at the same time parted in pieces, and all hands were swept away. The survivors can give no account of 
the manner in which those who perished met their fate; but as Captain Brown's head was frightfully lacerated, when
his body was found, it is supposed he must have been killed by some portion of the wreck. The names and 
occupations of the others who perished were, Mr. William Farthing of Bristol, second officer; John Hutchins, of 
Torquay, Devon; George Smith of Tenby, seamen; these last being the two poor fellows who vainly endeavoured
to carry a line ashore. 

The names of the survivors (who, of course, have lost their all) are George Gordon, London; John Coleman, Armagh,
late of the Nina ; Thomas Pettit, Leven ; and Robert Williamson, Sunderland, seamen. These four were washed ashore
on a part of the stern frame which split in two the moment it struck the ground. They were sadly buffetted, being 
sucked back by the under-tow. Gordon was dragged ashore in a state of insensibility by his shipmates and Williamson
had the cap of his knee badly wounded. 

The survivors were discovered by the natives the next day, about 3 o'clock; and, we rejoice to state, experienced the
utmost kindness and humanity at their hands. Capt. Brown's body having been cast ashore, the natives dug a grave, 
and interred it, his late shipmates reading the funeral service over his remains. The seamen were conveyed to the 
dwellings of the natives, when having been hospitably entertained for tbe next three days, they were conveyed to Mr.
Henderson's Mill, at the head of the Waitemata. 

There was no other body but that of the captain cast ashore. Two boats, some stores, together with several spars, 
rigging, sails, and a considerable portion of tbe vessel, have been saved. These have been taken charge of by the natives.

The barque Posthumous was to have sailed from Melbourne, for Kaipara, on the 24th ult., the day after the Helena.

Transcribed from the Daily Southern Cross, of 23 September 1853, Page 2