The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-19 00:00:00

lARQUE HECTOR, ON THE

LOSS OF THE B.
C9ASI

Tho following narrative of this disastrous ship.
wreck is contained in a letter addressed to the editor of the
Islas to give
Nolat Times, and dated July 31, 18.52 :
"On Wedneeday last, July 27th, the barque Hector,
Captain Brooks, from Batavia, bound to Bremen, laden
with rice end sugar, ran ashore between the Ulll[lllllloll
anti I,7llllaimbi rivers, on the coast of Natal, it being nearly
calm at t:iesvetiraioled;a;however, a sea breeze sprung up soon
disc, which c,.:tsed theeseuvrofut rollein
crew s,
.ere sick. After th.'
in working the punt, barque y v. I had made much
eithausted, having been occu-
,-ster, all heads were z•• continually, and three of the
sent • boat ashore, contaic.
'barque had struck, and the
chain eab:e parted, the captsb. of whom belonged to Mr.
leg the mato and four hands, ono ' left his own boat and
John Bailie, of Durban (who Pew. Preceding,. this
rose am beard to add them on the Taft. e,.
and to
iaannformwautiodnesParegtchard"lintgo the
ee
P"conitlwitiitultualitia.:lse"ceoel,
solicit immediate assistance.
The boot then returned to the liectew, and soon after-
wards left again for the shore, having on board Late first cad
second mate, Samuel llarris, William Nicholson, Thorne(
Bowles, and 'ferment's Loho, seamen. On nearing the
shore, ;he boat was capaised in the surf, and rendered inca-
pable of again returning to the vessel ; with great difficalty,
and the aseistauce of some natives who were on the beach
at the time, all six acre lauded with little hurt. Between
3 and 4 o'clock p in., a coloured boy, one of the crew, reached
the shore on a "par, with • hue from the ship, having been
about an hour and a half in the water. As no one would
follow the boy, Captain Brooks swam on shore on a plank
attached to the line, which unfortunately became detached
through the carelessness of those on board, end thus cutting
off all hope of assistance from the shore. Shortly after,
four of the crew left the ship on a raft, but the receding of
the breakers was too powerlul to admit of their landing, and
they were hauled back to the barque by means of • rope
made last to the raft.
"After a night of most anxious suspense, early on Thurs-
day Captain brooks obtained a horse from a cadet in the
neighbour: ood, and rode to the Umtwalutni station, to soa-
Mt assistance from the Rev. H. A. Wilder, the r ,ident
missionary, which was most kiudly and promptly afforded.
Dr. Taylor (e to was providentially at the station, avend-
ing Mr. and Mrs. Wilder, who were sick) and myself, as
soon as the captain had received some food, which woe ne-
cessary from his exhausted state, hastened to the sad scene,
scsompaaied by Raffles laden with the necessary nourish-
ment., blankets' &c., (or the crew. Upon our arrival, we
found the Trawl firmly embedded in the sand, and shortly
afterwards her stern was swept away ; but, up to the even-
ing of that day, all her masts were 'wading, although the
crew had bees compelled to quit the decks. The vacl was
then about 200 yards from the shore. The individuals still
Mite berquearere Mr. John Bailie, of Durban, and Ben-
jamin Hoar, a West Indian, son of one of the owners of
the ship, and about 15 years of age ; these two were in the
mixer.-top. Ray, a coloured man, with one English sued
one coloured boy, were in the main top. Lamb, the
cook, and Jones, • Webhmaa, were in the galley. About
9, p.m., the misen-mast began to give way, when Mr.
Bailie and Mr. Benjamin Hoar abandoned it and reached
the main-top. About 11 p.m. it being perceived that the
main-mast would won fall, two shrouds only being lett
standing, all, except Jones, retrea'ed to the fore top.
" In a short time the main-mast went, carrying Junes
with it. About half-past 11, p.m. the foremast went also ;
in its fall the foretop was carried away, which compelled
the six who were in it to jela Jones is the main-top as it
lay in the breakers. The fall of the masts was distinctly
seen by those on the beach, who had kindled a fire opposite
the wreck, to encourage those who were on it with the as-
surance that their friends were et hand, to render assist-
. eine, as soon as it could be available.
" Between two and three o'clock, cm., Friday, Mr.
Bailie lost his hold, sunk, and was seen no more. Thi ough-
out he had evinetd the greatest coolne-s, firmness, and
presence of miud. About three o'clock, Lambm., Lab die-
appeared from the wreck. During the whole night t:.ere
was a heavy surf rolling in. Ray, the coloured man, left
the main top about eight, a.m., and took to a plank, with
the intention of swimming to the shore, but he soon disap-
' peered neer the wreck.
" The English boy Pearson quitted his hold on the main-
top about the same time, end took to a plank, but soon
went down. The coloured boy lost his hold from the elf cu
of cold, and stank soon after. None of those on the wreck
had tasted any food since Thursday morning, when it was
early, and then only • small quantify. Towards noon,
Jones, in attempting to reach the m'sen, lost his held anti
disappeared in the breakers.
" Six of the seven who had remained on the wreck had
now perished ; the youngest only was left, the West Indian
boy, holding on firmly to the maintop. which was now
about 140 yards from the shore, and still attached to the
foremast, and the remaining portion of the wreck in the
midst of the breakers. It would be difficult to describe the
feelings of those who beheld from the shore his most peri-
lous position, and who could render him no assistance. At
intervals through the past night heart-rending cries of dis-
trees had reached the share from some who were on the
wreck. Yet although this boy had seen most of his fellow
sufferers engulphed, one by one, in the foaming breakers,
and was now holding on alone to the only portion of the
wreck standing above the water, be uttered no cry, mani-
fested no dismay, but quietly held on. Hour after hour, he
was seen in the midst of the raging surf, nor was it until
the sun was fast declining, that he appeared to be sensibly
nearing the shore, and the point of greatest peril; fur in
the event of the wreck reaching the beach, it seemed almost
impossible he' could escape destruction. The main-mast
was coming in on end, and should he, by swimming, attempt
to reach the shore, or any plunge in to rescue bins, to all
appearance they would bo drawn into the ocean, and perish
in the attempt.
" About sunset the wreck drove closely in, the mainmast was
swung round by a breaker, several of the crew who through-
out the day had been most anxiously watching his position,
and waiting an opportunity to aid him, rushed into the sea,
with:Dr. Taylor; providentially they wire preserved from
destruction by the wreck, which for a few moments formed
• kind of breakwater; in a moment he was rescued, he was
borne towards a tent erected on the beach by those who had
escaped, and under the direction of the doctor he was
stripped of his wet garments, wrapped in warm blankets,
placed near • good fire, restoratives were administered, his
pulse throbbed, warmth gradually returned, the boy was
saved. It was a most happy circumstance that Dr. Taylor
was on the spot to render his valuable assistance.
" When the youth who had thus been so wonderfully
preserved was asked the same night whether, when he was
alone in the wreck, in the midst of the surf, he expeeted
to be saved, he gave in • =meet the noble reply, ' I trusted
in Providence.'

"The Rev. H.A. Wilder, of the American mission, evinced
the deepest sympathy, and rendarrd all the aid he could
give. He received the survivors at his station on Saturday,
where they remained till Monday morning. They were
supplied with food and clothing. A few provisions only.
with the captain's ripen, were saved from the wreck; all
else was lad.
" The poor sufferers were sent on in Mr. Wilder's wagon
on Monday morning on their way to Durban. Messrs.
Stone and M'Kenney, the missionary brethren of Mr.
Wilder in the same direction, united with him in the good
work. To Dr. Taylor (who, as already stated, happened to
be at the Umtwalumi station when the event occurred, and
hastened to the beach, remaining there from Thursday
afternoon until Saturday morning, when his presence was
no longer required) too much praise cannot be given for
his tied and unwearied ezertiona.
" List of persons saved from the wreck °like Hector :
" Captain Brooks, Edward Hedger, mate ; George Buck,
second mate ; William Nicholson and Samuel Harris, sea.
men ' • Benjamin Hoar, apprentice ; Frederick Veldbuysen
sad llemsays Lobe, ordinary seamen. Also, Thomas
Bowls sad John Gillett, from Kr. Bailie's beat.

" Peetseript.—Thundav, 4 p.m.
" The different pages who proceeded to the week lest
Saturday have now all returned. They report that whast
the greatest praise is due to the hospitable missionaries,
the conduct of the Kann was disgracehd, even to bat-
bariaos."

ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOClETY.—YeiVerdny
the ordinary quarterly meeting of this institution was held
at Willie's Rooms, St. James's—Rear-Admiral Sir Wedeln
Owen Pell in the chair. The quarterly statement of ac-
counts was produced, from which it appeared that the re-
ceipts for the quarter amounted to 1.2541.95. 9d., including
subscriptions to the amount of 1181. 7s. 6d., and donations
to the amount of 1601.2 x. bd., which latter sum included
1451. received from the exertions of the late Captain Shaw.
The disbursements amounted to 753.. 9s. 10d., leaving a
balance of 5001. 19e. 11d. The accounts having been con-
firmed, a letter was read from Mr. Kirkman, accepting the
office of honorary secretary at Portsmouth. A letter was
also read from Admiral Parker, thanking the society for
appointing him to the office of vice-resident, and increas-
ing his &nasal subscription to 31. 35., besides giving a dona-
tion of 51. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceeding,.
COMMON LAW RErollts.—On Monday next an
important act, passed in the last session (15 & 16 %'ict. c. 73)
to abolish certain offices and fees in the Common Law
Courts, will come into force. By this act the office of mar-
shal in the Common Law Courts in Leaden is abolished,
and the duties are to be performed by the mem-bites, who
are in future to be appointed by the chiefs of the three
courts. The office of marshal is to be continued on circuit,
and to be paid by salary instead of fees. Clerks are to be
appointed, and the present officers are to hold office during
good behaviour. The lees charged at the judges' cham-
bers are to undergo revision—they have yielded large
amounts to the clerks, whose incomes were solely derived
from the same. The clerks are to be paid by salary. Fur-
ther, it is provided by the act, that the fee of 6e. dd. paid
on circuit is to be abolished, and also all fees to the mar-
share men, the judge's bailiff, and to any sernnt attending
the circuit. The duties of each of these are to be performed
in person. The accounts under this act are to be laid before
parliament.
DEPEAUDINO THE REVENUE,—A system of illicit
transfer of Irish-made spirits to England, it appears, has
been carried to such an extent that the Board of Inland
Re bare determined to adopt the most stringent
, measures in order to sheet it. Pumpers then would do
well to sokratate the chances of detection before they put
their Inventive faculties to work to " bilk the gauger" at
i the Other die of the channel. One of the fairer sex was, not
10:01 AM% deprived of a bustle in which some quarts of the
praises SIM contributed to give the desired embonpoint;
milt men aply a few days sines one of the sterner sex was
Mkt 101., in Uverpsol, for haying seven quarts of spirits
' in his box, coamaled among his children's clothee.—
Northene WAG.