The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-09-30 00:00:00

DISASTROUS COLLISION BETWEEN

STEAMSHIPS.

One of the most disastrous occurrences that have
ever taken place in the southern hemisphere (writes
the Melblurne correspondent of the Globe, dating the
fith of August), has been the talk of the whole colony
fer tbe last three days. The two splendid steamers, the
Barrabool and the Queensland, both of them well known
to Australians, came into collision two days ago off
Wilson's Promontory, and the Queensland sank on
the spot, though fortunately there was just time
for the crew and passengers to escape. The Argus
states that the steamer was going at full speed
through the water, and was making good way.
The water was smooth, and there was a light wind
from the eastward. At this time there were two look-
out men who saw a ship's lights on the starboard
bow, and reported this to the chief officer. He then
saw the bright light and also the starboard light of an
approaching steamer. As her red or port light could
not be seen, the chief officer concluded that the two
vessels were clear of each other, and, therefore, did not
alter the Queensland's course. A few minutes after this
he noticed that the other steamer had suddenly altered
her course, as her red light became visible. Thinking
that she was trying to go across his bows he jumped
to the telegraph on the bridge to give the engineer
orders to stop the engines, but before he could signal
to the engine-room the collision occurred, the
Barrabool striking the Queensland fairly amidships on
her starboard side. The crash was terrific, and for a
few moments it was thought that both vessels would go
to the bottom. An enormous rent was made in the
Queeneand, and the water tu4hing in barely gave the
firemen time to rush up on the deck when it was found
that the vessel was settling down. There was just
time to get the lifeboats out and to pack the crew and
passengers into them when this fine ship sank. Her
captain, Captain Craig, was the last to leave the ship,
sliding down a rope at her stern and getting the life-
boat out of the way just in time to avoid being sacked
down by the vortex of the sinking vessel. She was in-
sured for £lOO,OOO, so that you may imagine that her
loss has made a profound sensation here. It is most
marvellous that none of the crew of the Barrabool who
were in the forecastle, were not killed. A few con-
tusions are all the damage which appears to have been
suffered by any one on board. An inquiry is being
made into the plattm

CARMNAL MANNING ON EUROPEAN
POLITICS.
Speaking on Tuesday, at Leeds], at a luncheon which
followed tile laying of the foundation stone of a new
seminary of priests for the diocese of Beverley, Car-
dinal Manning said he did not believe that the tem-
poral power of the Pope had ceased to be. (Cheers.)
He believed that so long as there was a Christian
world the head of the Onristian Chttrch couid neVer be
a subject, and if he were not a subject he must be a
sovereign. (Cheers) We were witnesses of a great
excitement which was affecting the whole civilised
world. There was a time when the supreme pastoral
rule of the Holy Father sufficed to maintain the moral
order, when, in spite of all conflicts and all awls'.
tions, it was sufficient at least to govern and pacify
the world. That period has long passed. S?ringing
from it and Ettrviving it was a period of what men called
the law of nations, international jttstice, Mutual re-
sponsibility between the peoples of the Christian
world, and a respect for treaties, engagements, and
pledges. For a long time diplomacy was found to be
enough to preserve the peace of Europe, and to ter-
minate its conflicts. He was afraid we had survived
that period also, for it appeared as though the obliga-
tions of diplomacy had at this time very little influence
in binding the consciences of governments and as for
treaties written upon parchment we had seen the
sword put through them in our time and in recent
years. What remained? There remained the iron
age in which some eight or nine millions of men are
under arms, and the promise is made to us that
when the governments of Europe shall have carried
out the provisions they are making, there would be
some eleven or twelve millions of men ready to cat
each other's throats. It seemed to him that the ex-
periment of dissolving the temporal power, as far as
man could do it, had already produced ominous and
menacing consequences which darkened the horizon of
Christian Europe. He, therefore, believed that the
Divine Providence that had governed us so long hid
not yet departed from the Christian world. He
earnestly hoped that a European conflict might not
come again, but of this he was conflient that the only
issue from It would Le the restoration of the moral
order to the Christian world, in which alone was the
perpetuity of peace. There were great things yet to be
done, and yet to be seen, and he hoped that Pius the
Ninth would still live to see at least the commence-
ment of these things. (Applause.)

n a subsequent speech the Cardinal said t—No
abhorrence had been conceived by any one through-
out the length and breadth of our country which
exceeded in intensity the profound horror with
which every Catholic had regarded wh%t are called the
atrocities of Bulgaria. (Cheers.) They bad been
tannted in the public prints with their passive atti-
tude. They had been passive because they believed
that it was easier to light fires tbau to quench them
and when fires were once lighted they exhaled
smoke, and when smoke was thick men could not
see their way, and they did the very, things that
they had desired not to do. (Cheers.) They believed
that in the present crisis there were perils to the whole
European civilisation and to the whole Christian
world; and they could not be so light either in heart, cr
head, or tongue as to give expression to anything but the
most measured language on the right occasion, and al.
most in silent council among those with whom council
was to be taken. (Cheers.) He believed that the duty
of every loyal Englishman, every wise and patriot:c
subject at the preeent time, was to lend the whole of
his support in heart, and will, and speech to her
Majesty's government, be the government what it
might. (Cheers). They conceived that the duty of
every Englishman was to forget hinSaelf in the great
crisis in which this country might be compromised
Into one of the most terrible European conflicts with
which we had ever been scourged. (Cheers.)