A barque, Brierholme, at Port Chalmers (Dunedin), 1880
Description:
Barque; sheathed in yellow metal
Owner:
Charles Clark, ship chandler of Port Chalmers, New Zealand
Construction:
Wood; deck was kauri (presumably fitted in New Zealand after Clark bought the barque)
Sunk:
10 March 1872
Size:
Length: 39.20 m Beam: 9.10 m Draft: 6.10 m Tonnage: 555.00
Underwater:
A substantial portion of the Midas remained visible for many years until either natural sea bed movement or port developments covered it. A report dated 17 May 1875 stated: “ … nothing remains now but certain parts which stand from 12 to 18 inches above the sandy bottom, though the bottom of the wreck is presumably 6 feet below. About one-third of the starboard side remains and about two-thirds of the port side.”
Built:
Duncan of Farmingdale, USA (1865) or Prince Edward Island, Canada (1847)
Location:
A few hundred metres south-east of the bend in the Bunbury jetty
Sinking:
On 10 March 1872 a storm hit the Bunbury anchorage; sudden shifts in wind direction were experienced. The crew of the Midas dropped a second anchor, but this proved insufficient to hold the barque. The Midas was blown some 450 m into shallow water and began striking heavily. The rudder and the mainmast at deck level were carried away. The mizzenmast was chopped down to lessen the strain on the barque, but the port side had been bilged and the vessel quickly filled with water. The Midas was later condemned as a wreck. The Court of Inquiry held on 17 March 1872 found “no blame whatsoever attaches to Captain Cumming and the officers of the ship”. The wreck and cargo were sold at auction for £255. The standing rigging and anchors and chains were removed. By March 1874 the wreck had became a hazard to navigation. A tender was called to remove the wreck. It was awarded to WF Stevens who blew the wreck open and salvaged the remaining cargo and much of the iron and copper.
Longitude:
115.644054
Latitude:
-33.316548
Gallery
A barque, Brierholme, at Port Chalmers (Dunedin), 1880
