The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-08
Loss of Ship Napier Mt Bakers I.Innd.

loS W SnAP
We are indebted TO Capt. Williams, late Of the ship Napier,
of Liverpool, for the following full particulars respecting the
loss Of that vessel at Bakers Island, on the 2iHl Of April last.
The shipwrecked crews company, To the number Of thirty
arrived at this port in the schooner C. NJ. Hard on Friday
morning last.
The ship Napier, I4l5 tons register, vas built at Baltimore,
L. s, aid vas a strong, firm, clipper ship. She was sold to
England during the American war, aud belonged to the firm of
Messrs. John :. De Wolf & Co, Of Liverpool. She sailed
from Liverpool in April 1870 with a general cargo for Halifax,
\. :. thence TO Saguinay River, in the St. Lawrence, in bal
last. thence for Melbourne with a cargo of lumber, where she
arrived in November. She sailed again from Melbourne in
February. leaving Port Phillip Heads on the 2lst and arrived
at Bakers Island on the LIST of April, after 10 days passage,
but did not get fast to the moorings until next day. On the
10th, winds variable, had great difficulty in keeping the ship
clear of the rocks. and in the afternoon stood to sea and was
away two lays. After this everything went on agreeably un-
til the morning Of the 22d April, just as we were turing TO at
six O'Clock, the hrldle chain d the Hoofings carried away, ana
there being a fresh trade wind blowing at the time, the ship
drifted TO sea before any ropes could be made fast TO the buoy
Made sail and got back again, when the ship was ordered 10
= stand TO sea; and come back early Monday morning ms
was done, and when coming in on Monday morning, the cath,
when the ship was about one mile from the ". w. point of
the Island, the moOring buoys in sight open TO the westward
Of the point, Capt. Snow. the superintendent, met the ship in a
whale boat, when the ship was 4" hove tor with The main and
mizzen ropsail aback, 10 receive him on board, the wind being
about E. by n. and moderate. As soon as the superintendent
was over the rail, put the helm up to keep the ship away and
shivered the after yards (the ships head being TO the south
ward and towards the isiand) but the ship went off very
slowly, took in spanker and after staysails, but finding the
shio going of still very slowly and nearing The island and
finding also now that there was a southeTly current, braced
the fOre-tOpS3l a0ack 10 cant The snip Oh more, Dut before
anything more could be done. al A. NJ. the SHIN struck the
extreme end of ths coral reef of the n. w. end of Bakers
Island, aud Immediately canted round with her head TO the
eastward. and remained fast by her fore foot, and commenced
striking violently on the reef under her middle. Backed all
the sails, aud set the main-top-gallant-sail TO try and back
her off, but it was useless The ship remained immovahle
forward. Sounded the pump-weIl several times without find
ing any more water Sounded also round the ship. and found
Is faihoms water under the stern, 10 tathoms under the main
chains port side, and 3 fathoms on the starboard site. and only
Is feet on the stern. CThe ship was drawing 2Ot feet, having
about 1880 IONS guanO on bosrd) The ship continued striking
so violently ON the reef, that il was difficult 10 stand on ones
feet, and the masts going like whips. saw pieces OF her keel
floating alongside, aud suddenly found three feet water in the
we'll. Finding the ship could not he got of, and was filling
ship. By this time the lighters had come alongside (Which we
had signaiiZed for previously, and all the crews effects were
make tents on shore. The ship all this time was settling down
in the water gradually by the stern and bending in the middle.
the ship, after rendering valuable assistance Mr.. Wood, Ohe
carpenter and assistant at the island) also came TO the ship,
and took ashore in his charge the chronometers, barometers,
&C., and afterwards remained on the beach to take Charge Of
the effects and provisions as they were landed. At 81 p. NJ 4,
sounded the pumps and found III feet water in the hold the
ship striking violently, expected to see her breaking and the
masts TO 60 over the side every minute, and deeming il unsafe
ship in the Ife-bOat and gig, and landed on the beach near the
wharf, and were kindly welcomed and Hospitality entertained
by Capt. Snow and his assistants. The ship was seen for
three days before she finally disappeared, and we went on
board every day to procure all the provisions we could get, but
il was difficult work, the ship being full of water after the
second day, and listing or canting over to port more every day.
TN the morning Of the 9th, the ship gave over on her side,
nothing in view but the siarboard bow and side as far as the
main rigging. On the 2sth nothing of the ship in sight except
the mizzen-tnp and topmast, and before night that also disap-
other going away to sea So ends the fate of the fine clipper
ship Napier.
his ASSISTANTS, for their help and assistance, during the strand
ing of the ship, without shich we would have saved but little
thanks for their courtesy and kindness towards US during our
stay on the island. | have also to earnestly thank Capt. G.
here from Bakers Island) for his uniform courtesy, urbaniiy
and kindness towards Us during the passage up, d1ing all he
could to make Us comfortable, and with whom 1 felt quite at
home. THos- WILLIAMS,
Honolulu, July I, 1871. Master late ship Napier. =