The PACIFIC 1864
Pacific, ship: On February 1, 1864, the Pacific was totally wrecked at
Patterson Inlet, Stewart Island. The ship in company with the brig Cosmopolite, was
lying at anchor at Patterson Inlet on January 31. During the day a heavy westerly gale
set in, which increased in violence during the night, and on the morning of February 1
it blew a perfect hurricane. The ship at this time was riding with both anchors ahead.
The Pacific dragged and went astern on to the rocks, the concussion crushing her
stern. The sae rushed in through the breach, and in half an hour the ship was full of
water, and in an hour’s time sank in three and a half fathoms of water. On the water
rushing into the ship the Captain and crew, numbering 26 all told, took to the boats as
the only means of saving their lives, the water coming in so rapidly that scarcely
anything was saved from the wreck.
The crew landed on the island, but doing so three of the boats were stove in. Captain
James, of the Cosmopolite, rendered what assistance he could, but the gale was so
terrific that he had as much as he could do to provide for the safety of his own
vessel.
The Pacific, No. 32,012, was a full rigged ship of 347 tons register, owned by Messrs
Seal, of Hobart, and commanded by Captain Sherburd. She had been out for fifteen
months on a whaling cruise, and had eight tons of sperm oil on board when
wrecked.
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Email: blufforn@actrix.co.nz
