The “ANN GAMBLES” 1878, Barque

The vessel sailed from Gravesend on January 26, 1878, and the South West Cape was sighted on the May 15, the wind then blowing with hurricane force. The weather was very thick and the barque was close inshore. Great difficulty was experienced in clawing offshore, and one time it was feared that the vessel would strand. The Ann Gambles escaped, however, and she passed the Solanders at noon on May 16. As she drew up with the Bluff, sail was shortened, and the night was bright with moonlight, and quite clear between squalls, the master decided to enter Bluff Harbour.

As the Ann Gambles rounded Stirling Point, the foresail was taken in and both anchors let go, the foretopsail being still set. A heavy squall then struck the vessel, and before the anchors could bite, she was driven onto the rocks at Tiwai Point, the tide swinging her broadside on. Although no signal had been made for him, the port pilot had observed the barque, and putting off to her, found her hard and fast on the rocks. When the Ann Gambles was boarded it was high tide, and the water was flowing into her. The vessel was full from aft to the forepeak bulkhead. She was fitted with two bulkheads, but the after one gave way under pressure. The weather at Invercargill on the night of the wreck was described as dreadful, and was stated to be even worse at Bluff, but no lives were lost. After much preparation, several attempts were made about the middle of August to refloat the Ann Gambles, and were rewarded with some success, but all the work was nullified on November 23, when, as the result of a heavy southerly sea, the barque broke up. The following day she had almost entirely disappeared, a centrifugal pump, valued at Five Hundred Pounds Sterling, also being lost.

The Ann Gambles, No. 28,813, was an iron barque of 424 tons register, built in Harrington, Cumberland, in 1862, and her dimensions were : length 149 ft, beam 26.6 ft, depth 17.1 ft. She was owned by Mr John Gambles, of Worthington, commanded by Captain R. Morgan, and carried a crew of fourteen all told, including four apprentices. Her cargo was valued at Ten Thousand Pound, Sterling.

The Court of Inquiry found that the master was guilty of rashness in attempting to enter port at night without a pilot, and suspended his certificate for six months.

The Southland Times, May 30 1878

No alteration in the position of the Ann Gambles has taken place. She is lying almost stern on the rock with her head about S.S.W. and is steady as can be, not the slightest movement being perceptible. The tide flows in and out of her, and at low water is a little below her beams. Above board she is in tact forwards, all the yards being up, and jibboom and flying jibboom out. Amidships, however she looks naked enough, her main topgallant mast being gone, and both the topsail yards, whilst the main yard is in place. Her mizzen mast and mizzen topmast are standing all right. At low water there is a sufficient depth as far aft as the mizzen rigging, to allow a hundred ton vessel to lie alongside and load, and should the weather prove favourable no doubt the greater part of the cargo will be saved, more or less damaged of course. The chief officer remains on board, in charge. On Saturday morning the barque was surveyed in due form, and as far as practicable thoroughly examined.

The following is in the surveyors report.

Bluff, May 18 1878 We, the undersigned, at the request of Captain Morgan and the agents of the barque Ann Gambles, held a survey upon her as she lies on the inside of Tiwai Point, at the entrance of the harbour, this day, and have to report that a great deal of her cargo may be saved, and that it is advisable to postpone the sale of the ship and cargo as advertised to take place at 2 o’clock today.

We further recommend the Captain and Agent to make immediate arrangements for the discharge of the cargo, as we believe there were plenty of appliances to be had, such as small vessels and coasting steamers.

The depth of the water, taken alongside, shows from 9 feet aft and 16 feet forward, at the first quarter, flood tide. The vessel is lying on an even bottom and likely to remain without much movement for a length of time, the only wind which would effect her would be a south-east gale, when a heavy sea would be brought in, but from all other winds the vessel will remain perfectly quiet.

From the examination of the hull there is no appearance of any straining, the fastenings above the water being perfectly secure. The tide flows in and out and has been over the upper deck. At the time we were on board it was first quarter flood tide and the water was up to the lower beams, consequently the bottom of the vessel must have sustained considerable damage, but this we could not ascertain.

The greater part of the ships stores, sails, anchors, rigging and spars could be saved at once, but we again recommend that no time should be lost before commencing to get the goods out of the vessel.

N.B. OLEARY, Master, barque, Wild Wave.

R. LAMONT, Master, barque, Glen Caladh.

THos BRODRICK, Lloyds Agent.

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