The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-15 00:00:00

WRECK OF THE STEAMER "GAMBIA."

A correspondent of the Cape Standard and Mail
writes under date Port Elizabeth, May 29 :—" On last
Friday night the ship Marilona, bound from Bombay
for Liverpool with a cargo of cotton, when entering
Algot' Bay, very nearly went ashore at the Bight.
Fortunately the danger wa.s Hem in sufficient time to
enable her to anchor about half a mile from shore. In
consequence of severe weather encountered off the
coast the Maritnna was leaking so much that 25 men
were immediately sent off to assist in pumping. On
Saturday a light south-easterly wind was blowing.
and AS it seemed that the Narita na should be towed
to the anchorage, the steamer Gambia was engaged for
the purpose, and about one o'clock in the day slipped
anchor, and steamed towards the distressed vessel.
In an hour afterwards everybody was surprised to see
the Gruithirt return, and float in a purposeless manner
towards the New Jetty. Many people ran down
Jetty-street to see what was wrong, and there a most
extraordinary spectacle presented itself. There NVari
the firtrodda drifting exactly like a huge log towaris tlt
shore. Straw rushed out of the funnel, but the fan if the
screw was motionless,so it was evident that her machinery
was broken rue l useless. One anchor, apparently a kedge,
as it scarcely held her, hung over her bows, and there
was no signal iii, so far as I saw, either for anchors or
assistance. The wind and sea were both setting in
shore, and it was virry e*ident that unless help were
afforded she nmst infallibly strike on the rocks. The
Lizzy and John, anchor boat, had been promptly
applied to, but, alas! although there was an anchor
there was no warp. The Natal steamer had been gone
about half an hour, and was now out of sight ; the
Sailor's Friend, with anchors and warps, was down
at the Bight, and seemingly nothing could be done.
If ever there was an unlucky ship in the world it was
the b'ariddri. I hear that she was nearly wrecked
coming in during Friday night, and then lost an anchor,
and that when trying to assist the Marilana a rite got
foul if the fan of the screw and became the means of
stopping the machinery. Here she was, then, without
sufficient anchors, with broken machinery, an adverse
sea, and a rocky lee shore,- for she had the additional
luck of being opposite the very worst part of the beach.
What was to be lime? The Port-Captain WaS at his
post, and he, along with many others, went afloat.
Sot the stars in their courses fought against Sisera,'
mid the Gambia was doomed. The Radii's Friend,
with all canvas set, is coming up as quickly as possible,
lint she now must arrive b. late. The Gambia strikes
again and again, and a thrill of pain passes through the
thousands who line the Victoria Quay and crowd
the jetty. One or two passengers leave the doomed
ship, and every wave sends her farther on the reef.
The Sailor's Friend comes up, an anchor is put down,
and the rope passed on board in the vain hope
that at high tide she may be warped off. But no-
thing can move her, and there she lies close to the sea-
wall, in comparatively mild, calm weather, such an
extraordinary spectacle that many people cannot be-
lieve that she is ashore, and when they do actually see
her, can scarcely trust their eyes, and feel inclined to
nffi them and think what they behold is unreal, like
Aladdin's father, when he first harked at the wonderful
magic palace. On Sunday the cargo was taken out—
the donkey steam engine hard at work, and I am glad
to say that gorxls on board are not damaged. Of
course strenuous efforts will be made to get her off, and
there is a chance that at next spring tide they may be
successful. There are Wit. of water in the fore com-
partment, the others are free."