The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE "WINDSOR CASTLE."

The Tinvs' Correspondent at Cape Town • gives the fol-
lowirg particulara respecting the loss of IdPear4. Donald
Currie and Company's Cape mail steamship Windsor Casee,
which was wreeked on Oct. 19, on her outward pass Age to
the Cape, on Dasaen Island, 40 miles from Ospe Town :

"The wreck of the Windsor Castle—one of the
splendid boats of the Donald Currie Line of mall
steamers—startled the Cape community last week.
Happily there was no loss alife attending the disaster.
All the passengers and crew, over 200 in number,
escaped without any hardships 'or exposure, and are
at present comfortably quartered in-Crape Town. A
great portiou of the cargo will to recovered, but in a
damaged state.
- "The spot where the wreck occurred is known as
Dassen Island—esituated half way between Salclanha
Eay and Table Bay, ou the we.t coast of the Cape of
Good Hope. It is a small guano islet, lying a mile or
two off the mainland, and about 50 miles-north from
Table Bay. The Windsor Castle which during her
voyage ofit 'appears to hare encountered heavy -con-
trary winds, u:ade land on the night of Wednesday,
the 18th inst., in 25 days from Dartmouth. The
weather was then tine, and the passengers were in ex-
pectation of being berthed in the Cape Town docks
early next day. About two o'clock in the morning
every one on board was awoke by an unusual sound,
followed by a cessation of the ship's motion. Some
thought that the vessel had anchored sooner than was
expected, and turned round to go to sleep again, well
pleased that the voyage was ended. They were soon
warned, however, that the vessel had struck and was
fast impaled upon a reef of racks, one of which was
found to have per etreed some 71t. between the fore
and midships. Within a quarter of an hour the
engine-room was filled with water up to the water-
line. Fortunately there Warg no sea running, and the
steamer lay as quietly in her position as if she was at
anchor. During the two hours which elapsed .before
daybreak alarm guns and rockets were fired, and the
captain, offiers, and crew lowered the boats and mach
preparations for the debarcation of the passengers.
When there was light to dhcaver the neighhoarhood,
it was seen that the steamer had struck on a
sunken rock at the side of the Dassen Island, and
there wai no p.oseibitity of her being got (ff.
Captain Howatt then appointed passengers and crew
to the several boats, and landed the whole of the
women, children, and men without any mishap.
Provisions were sent ashore, and every effort male to
render their poeition as comfortable as could be
expected under the circumstances. Two of the
passengers volunteered to reach the mainland by a
boat and to•endeavour to communicate the news of the
wreck to Cape Town. They started on the morning
of the 19.11, and, after some difficulty in getting riding
horses from the farmere, succeeded in reaching Cape
Town the same evening. Messrs. Donald Currie and
Co's agents, Messrs. Anderson and Munson, at once
promptly sent relief to the scene of the wreck. Their
coasting steamer, the Florence, was despatched to
Dassen Island, where the passengers sprint the night
of the 19th, and - next day all who desired to
leave were brought to Cape Town. Some, however, pre-
ferred to remain until all their baggage was landed.
A mere unromantic shipwreck, say those passengers,
could scarcely be imagined. The debarcation was
effected as quietly and orderly as if the ship was in
Table Bay, instead of being spiked on a sunken rock
like a beelle on an entomologist's card. Captain
Hevvatt, the commander, and his cffieers did all that
could be done for the safety and comfort of the pas-
sengers after the wreck, and when the latter left the
island they gave the captain and his men three hearty
cheers.

" There is no likelihood of the steamer being got off,
but she is being lightened of Inr cargo as fast as pos-
sible. The loss to the colonial underwriters will he
corAderable. Local officts are interested to the amount
of £30,C00. An inquiry into the cause of the wreck
will be held shortly. It is generally supposed that the
captain on making land was mistaken as to his
lion, and hence the catastrophe, which has resulttd in
the lots of a magnificent sttamer and a large amount
of property. The snails were safely delivertd, and the
passengers for the eastern ports van be forwarded by
the coasting steamers. Among the passengers is the
Secrel:ary for Native Affairs for Natal, Sir 'Theophilus
Shepstone, who has returned to the colony in conse-
quence of .the disturbed state of border affairs."

[Frcm Punch]
A PLAINTIVE APPEAL.

---
To Blisucit PUNCH DiAR AND ONERD SIR,
Seeing as you R. the frit:id of the Pore man I hope as
you'll take pitty upon im as now addresses you which
a hiejured indiwidual and so is my pal Charley.
We are both of Us Pore fellers wot tries to urn a °nest-
living by our Hindastry leastways the French Parisians
they calls us &ova Leers of Hindustry cause we lives
by picking pockets and suchlike sorts of andicraft.
Dear Sr 'cis well beknown as ho'w the Lor don't
reckerniss such indtutry as ourn cause the Krushera
are employed to clap us into Quod wenever they can
.ketch us. Dear Sir we dont keer for the Krualieril
leastways we dent so much complane of em for they
slut mostly oversharp not even the Detectives which
they make a pritty and of tinting up a case and only
seems to Hact when Hinfermation's guy them.
Onerd Sir I dent mind telLn.g you as its them
skientific coves as we are most afeurd of—them chaps
as keep hinventing of the blessed Lectruck Telegrafs
and other bloomingttinstruments for bringing Justice
down on Us. Dear Sir just you look at this ere wet
Id sitd about Fartoggruphy as Cnarley showed me
tother evening in a book which he diekivered in a
covey's carpet•bag as he bad collared at a railway
station—
In some countries every person connoted of any crime is
photographed, and the record of his features becomes part of
the archives of eyery prison. Of course a hardened criminal,
knowing the purpose for xhich his likeness is being taken, is
not a very manageable sitter."
Hi should think not indeed! Ardened criminal or
not, a kiddy would be precious soft to let em take his ,
Foto agin his hinc:lination. I know I'd see cm bowed
fust—but. see dear Sir what appens—
" However no choice is given him * * While he is
being proltssedly examined, the concealed photographer tiers
his work.

Dear Sir that 's jest what you'd expeek from thin
bloominK boring sneaks. Tie a part of their Spy syatem
to steal sly looks at a Cove and they ought to he bad
up for it and indited for obtaining of his Portrait
under f4se purtencea. Next see dear Sir 'what
f.llers : •
"The system has been introduced into England, but only
Very partially. It Is to be regretted that the adoption of it
has not been more general."
Dear Sir me and my pal Charley we call it most:
Huneuglish to use [such gartful dodges for to assist

the Krushers. Hit aint fair play we sea that they
should take our Fotos while they wont let us take
theirs and even if we ad em they woulciot be much

good to us cause them there low and Lartful Detectives
so dhiguises of theireelved that tiljr faces is as wariZle
as the colours of Cornelia* Live and let live is our
Mottor and we ope- dear °nerd Sir as yonll say some-
thing to the Pint for to purtect True Britthh Hindus-
try each as mine and Charley Clyfaker's r.nd to defend
our \Vested rights in other people's proppaty.. Which
I remane dear °nerd Sir ycur truly umbel and obedient
serrall to comria:vri PETER PEIGOINS.
The Three Piyeons, Dark Ifan's Alley, Salm Dials.