The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-26 00:00:00

SHIPWRECK AND LOSS OF LIFE.

The recent advices brought by the Harbinger
furnish melancholy details of a shipwreck—that of the
British ship Sea, belonging to Liverpool, off Port Phillip
Heads, and the loss of many valuable lives, including the
commander, through whose intemperance the catastrophe
is alleged to have occurred.

The Sea was a vessel some GOO tons burthen, and appears
to have sailed from Liverpool on a three years' voyage on
the 10th of last February, under the charge of Captain
M'Kay and a crew (with officers, &c.) of twenty-six hands;
the wife of the muter accompanied her husband. Freighted
with a general cargo, she reached the shores of Australia
on the 14th of May, and in the evening of that day brought
to anchor in Hobson's Bay. On the following morning,
she was got under weigh, land proceeded to Shortland
Pluffr, in the vicinity of Port Philip Heads, where i-he
anchored and there remained till the 31st, when—through
the conduct of the captain (who, it is alleged by the sur-
vivors, came on board intoxicated and very much excited)
—the ship got ashore, when she went to pieces and most of
the crew were drowned.

Capt. Taylor, Commander of her Majesty's ship Boome
rang, moored off Shnrtland's Light, says—About 4 o'clock
on the afternoon of the 31st of May, in passing the ship
Sea, of Liverpool, anchored near the harbour, I was hailed
to go on board of her by the chief mate, who wished me
to see the captain to prevail on him not to get under
weigh. I observed that the topsail was se. I went up to
Captain McKay and advised him not to do so ; he made
me no reply, but turning to the chief mate ordered him to
heave short, arid followed up his orders by a remark,
" That he would show them what the Sea could do." The
mate answered, " The three topsails are set and hove
in thirty fathoms; if we heave any more she
will start her anchor." Having no charge on board
I told the mate I moat leave, which I did.
Shortly after they got, under weigh, and fearing some acci-
dent would take place, I caused a watch to be placed on
her movements. About seven o'clock in the evening I was
aroused by the watch, who reported that they suspected the
Sea was in some danger, as lights were exhibited from her.
I then started with six men in the whale boat in the direc-
tion of the ship, and on arriving off the reef discovered she
was ashore. To get at her amidst the heavy breakers
which surrounded her was impossible, and I landed as
quickly as possible further up the shore, and made all huts
to the spot off where she was lying to see what could be
done. It was raining very heavily and exceedingly dark,
and we had much difficulty M making our way through
the bush. However, we succeeded in reaching the
tents that are erected close to a wreck of another
vessel, and then made our way to the reef, and
about midnight got sufficiently close to hail her;
they showed a light and answered us. We then went to
the point and made a fire by which we remained. At day
light my boat's crew came round, but we could render them
no assistance, it being nearly high water, and the sea run-
ning very heavily and breaking right over the vessel.
About 11 o'clock we got as close as possible to the reef %nit
lines, and one of my men volunteered to swim out with a
line to the wreck. He started and nearly reached the
vessel when one of the crew jumped overboard. apparettly
for the purpose of assisting my man (William Owen), who
seemed exhausted. Both of them sunk and perished, the
body of Owen was washed ashore some two hours after-
wards. About three o'clock in the afternoon 1 saw the
the vessel was breaking up, mad in a quarter of an hour
was all in pieces, the stern going first, and
afterwards splitting fore and aft. All that Mere
on board, about six er seven, were swept off;
and, from not seeing them more, no doubt all perished.
Two we got ashore, sad, although very much exhausted,
after a short time they recovered. In the courts of the
afternoon several persons living about the point came down
and rendered all the aid they could. I have been informed
that twenty-six persons were on board, and, so far at I can
ascertain, seven men were saved in the boat. two by our-
selves, and one, the carpenter, picked up by the captain of
the Cygnet, floating by on a spar. My chief mate viol:.
M
him on board the Boomerang, where he at present remains,
Mr. Thos. Campbell. the second mate of her ojesty s
ship Boomerang, and others of the crew, confirm the state-
ment made by their commander.
The number of unfortunate creatures who perished ap-
pear by the return to be seventeen. The verdict rear:led
by the coroner's jury was " Found drowned."

FATAL 1.0,za OF AN EMIGRANT SlllP.—yesterday
intelligence was received at Lloyd's of the total loss of the
emigrant ship Charles Clarke (Timid, master), bound from
Holyhead to Quebec with 100 passengers. On the Irth
July last, the ship being off the coast of Newfoundlaud, a
dense fog came on, in the midst of which she struck on a
reel of rocks off Freshwater Point, Trespassy Bay, a heavy
sea breaking over the vessel and passengers who crowded
the decks. An attempt was made to launch the boats, but
they were stove. Signal guns were fired, which brought
assistance, and a line having been got out to the shore, the
passengers, with the exception of five, who were swei t off
the deck by a heavy sea en t drowned, were all saved. The
poor creatures lost all their baggage and effects. The vessel
became a total wreck.
BIDEFORD EXTENSION R kILWIY.—The first turf
for the construction of this line to connect Uideford with
the North Devon line, has just been turned.