The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-30 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE "MEG/ERA."

The following despatch from Acting Lieutenant
Lewis T. Jones, of her .Majesty.s ship MrArro, to the
Secretray to the Admiralty, explains the circumstances
under which her Majesty's troopship Mepecra was lost
on St. Paul's Island, and the measures already taken
for the succour and rescue of the crew awl passengers:• -

Batavia, 7.
Sir,--I have the honour to report to you that her Majesty's
ship Megwra was mm on shore on St. Paul's Island on Mon-
day, June 19, lu a sinking state, and that all hands are saved
and landed, with provisions and stores.
The eireumstane, el under which the Nerurra was run on
shore are an follows :—On June a, on the passage from the
('ape to Sydney, a leak was reported, but was for several
days kept under by hand-pumps and no or shout
the lith of June the leak became more serions, and the
water gained on the pumpi. Steam was then used, tool by
lite aid of the main steam pumps the water wan kept in
cheek.

It was determined to steer for St. Paul's Inland in order to
examine the ship, where she arrived and anchored on
Satnrday, June 17. A survey was theta held, and a diver
sent down to examine the leak. A hole was discovered worn
. .

thrmigh the centre of a plate, about lt!f t. abaft the wain-
isast and about aft, from the keel, port SW, besides other
serious injuries in the immediate vicinity of the leak.
On Suiclayn,or,ringiane I*,the report of survey was sent in.
It was considered image to leave the anchorage. Provisions
anti stores were then landed. on Monday forenoon, June
19, we dher being very stormv, mid Ilring unable to keen
the ship in position, having earitol sway 0.11,1 lost three
anchors since first anchoring, and being unable to carry on
the work of lauding provisions on account I.f the stormy
weather. it, Waii ileterillined to Iteach the ship. At about one
put the ship was run full speed on to the tr. and re
-
maned there. She soon afterwards filled up to the
wain deck aft at high water. The wolk of lauding
provi,ions out saving cargo was then rontinned, and a por-
tion of at torn and officers landed hi charge of the same.
The Ali], was not entirely abandoned fur about teu or twelve
days after she seas beacio.d. I WM ordered by 04,WD
Thrupp to hold myself it readiness to intercept any passing
vessel, awl communicate intelligence tu the senior naval
°Meer at any port at which l sholiht arrive. I left the island
on Sunday, the lidh of July, in the Dutch vessel Aurora,
Captain Piss,. owners Goedkoop and co_ Amsterdam, and
arrived at Souralsiya 1. the :hni of August, when I e 4 unmuni-
rated With the senior naval officer in China and Consul at
ilatavia.

l'p to the time I left the island shout eighty tons of cargo
for Sydney had boot saved, and divers were still employed
recovering it illou and officers were living under calivaS,
oil all ale well. They had provisions to last, on half-
allow an... till the bejuning November, with the excep-
Om of bread, flour, tea, and sugar, of which they were very
short, melt lu-lean Mz. of bread per day.
Water was obtained from summit of the LW during rain)
season, but ~oul,l bot he 4iepPlldeti 1111131. it lsei,nsiilcivtl
illlpOSSible to render the ship tlt for forth., sm.yiee,
oirived atol prove,: to Fq.
Paul's by th,41i,11 tile•bout ate/niter 0b.,,a, Captain Bur-
goyne, ehartered by Acting Omml, with neveasaraprovisiona
tor men.

captaiii Thrapp's letter repni I.lw tho loss of the ship was
neeiileat ally left wit of the Net eontuteilet ~thee
lett Will he Wilt:lilted to tleglend by the ship
have the honour, dx., LiAila T. JoNttzt, .teting liohtetnstt
.11,ja• ra.
-

We (Tines) have been favonred with the f4llowieg
copy of a letter written by one of the OilillTS lof the
to a relative in V.ngland. It supplenients
very wetully the despatches previously published :
est. Paul's Inland, south Indian Ocean,
July 1, 1571.

.• I am quite well and safe on shore, with all my fund- I
tore, clothes, and every thing. thanka to the mercy of my
Saviour. I trust mi telegrams have frightened you, but
fear they may have. Well, dear mother, a lieu halfway to
Australia, in mid-ocean, more than a thousand ndlea from
hind, anti it Mowing hard, the ship at midnight began to
leak They found holes in her bottom like a teakettle worn
f ace. Well, en then ran away for thin isitsn,l. i sea
miles MT. Mod, in Ills mercy, sent Ili a strong wind, and
away we went, leaking fearfully. The men conld not keep
It down, to we used steam pumps, and even these broke
down. At liast (ten days after) we reached this island. It
came on to blow hard tie lost all or anchors, and were
blown under a huge precipice and gave up all into. I
put on my lifebeh as a last 1101.0, hllt itod intervened
Jost as her bowsprit WM tonehing the rock, and took its
on clear. We then went to sea a little, and during a lull
ran the ship right on shore in the hest place we could, and
, here we me, thank Gtal, all safe anti atiiuiii, With every-
thing saved -allies, provisions, clothes, furniture, books,
I etc. We are all like so many Robinson trusties in huts and
tents all over the island. It Is pretty in some places, but
rather barren. There are fine fish, wild goats, and lobsters
ace caught hy dozens. We have emptied the ship of every-
thing in her. She was rotten throughout, and her hottom
WOlll into holes like a colander. Imagine MO men in such a
ship! The wear and tear, mentally and physically, for the
last two weeks has been very great. Merchant vessels sight
1 this island on their way to China, India, and Australia. We
1 now two yesterday, end nearly caught title hl a boat, but
it was late in the evening and too dark. We shall semi away
an t dikes and men with despatches in the 'rst one, and then
,ctm Wa ileves for men-of-war to come It, ua from the Cape
' Mauritius, or Australia. We have plenty .Of tied, AC., till
, that lime, even for three months, but we hope to stop leer.
eh:admen and to leave by lmtches of no or an in them, so
have no more anxiety Ms at the matter."