The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

DISASTROUS COLLISION IN TriE
CHANNEL.

A collision between two largo sailing vessels, both
belonging to Glasgow i bOdutred in the. Channel on
Fri.lay night lo lain 'week, about 25 miles west-
son'h•weat of the 'Matta They were the Aug-
tral.su clipper ship et* of Luck, ow, Captain Jamas
tifacdona'd, bound from Posii Adaaide kr London,
with a cargo of wool, and the four-masted Iron ship
Shah, Captain Malcolm Nicholson, outward bound
from London too Sydney, willa a general cargo.
The former yesesl had screw of 231 n all, and the latter
had about 50 parsons on board all, told including two
passenger; The Simla was formerly a steamer
in the P. and 0. Company's fleet, and, after
changing owners, was converted into a sailing
ship. About eight o'clock on Friday night, the
weather at the time being very thick and
squally with heavy seas running, the two vessels, one
on her course up Channel and the other down, were
sighted, and before they could steer clear of each
other, they came in collision, the Simla being struck
amidships, and some of her boats stove in. She re.
bounded, but struck a second time, carrying away the
two main masts of the Simla, her mizen and foretop
masts, and her jibboom, the wreckage smashing her
boats. A general rush was made by the crew of the
Sim/aito board the City of Lucknow, and many MCA
cseded in their efforts. The people on board the City
of Lucknow worked most manfully to save the crew of
the sinking vessel, but the work of rescue was unfortu.
tunately interrupted by the separation of the vessels,
and although boats ware immediately launched from
the City of Lucknow they were unable to get near the
owing to the rough sea. There is little doubt
that not one person left on board the sinking ship at
this moment would have been saved but
for the opportune arrival on the scene of the
South - Western Railway Company's steamer
Guernsey, Captain Gregory. The Guernsey
being unable, owing to the tempestuous sea, to get
near enough to the Simla to rescue any of those on
board, a boat coataining ten men and the fourth officer
was launched from the latter vessel, and with greaL
difficulty succeeded in getting alongside the Guernsey,
the deck of which they had scarcely reached when
their boat was smashed to pieces. The fourth
officer informed Captain Gregory that most of his
men had got cn board the City of Lucknow whiLt
the two ships were in collision. They were for
some time locked the one in the other, and the
Simla crew managed to get on to the City of Lucknow
over the bows. The captain of the Guern ey then
steamed to the City of Lucknow and hailed her, He
received an answer to the effect that the ship was all
right The Sunla was, however, fast sinking, and the
Guernsey then made for her, and got as near as poseible,
but owirg to the heavy sea and the wreckage around
the vessel it was impossible to get close enough to her
to be of any service. Her mainmast was than gone,
having fallen upon the deck. Another boat soon after
succzeded in getting alongside the Guernsey, and con.
tamed the chief officer of the Simla. He was rescued,
four men were also taken from a lifeboat which appa.
rently had been launched by the City of Lucknow,
The chief officer of this ship said he had tried
to get alongside the Simla, but found it impossible
owing to the wreckage and the Leavy sea. The Cap.
tam n of the Simla was saved with his wife and children,
and they were all put on board the City of Lucknow.
The Guernsey remained as close as possibly to the
wrecked vessel until nearly midnight. The weather
was then increasing in severity, and there was a terrl6c
gala which continued until about half-pa=t one in the
morning when a tremendous squall occurred and there
were vivid flashes of lightning and loud peals of
thunder. The atmosphere got very thick, and Captain
Gregory lost sight of both ships. He searched about
in vain, and found no further traces of them. He
accordingly steamed towards the Needles, and put in
at Yarmouth to report the collision. Having done
this, he proceeded on to Southampton, where he landed
the officers and men who had taken refuge on the
Guernsey.