The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-20 00:00:00

FOUNDERING OF THE LORD GEORGE BENTINCK.

LOSS OF CAFT. IRVING LINDSAY AND THREE OF THE CREW.

This ill fated vessel foundered at sea on the 22nd
N'overnber last, off the Falkland Islands. The following
particulars are taken from Mr. Williams, first mate:—
At 2 a.m, cm the above morning blowing hard, found
the ship making heavy list. Mr. Whiteman, second mate,
eh,,;, watch it was on deck, went down and called the
captain, a,O gave him to understand that it was blowing
hard, and loo;.-e'l very heavy to windward ; took in
sail, and, finding
tii; ship sinking rapidly, endeavoured
to cut away the masts-,
but in consequence of
ho carpenter's tools Me,: under water, could
not effect that objeet. Mr. Williams and Mr.
fourteen of the
Whiteman (first and second mates), wIt:: ne captain
crew took to the boat, and were ordered by
.
to go round the stern, but the plug being out of tn.: .b". 4,
and having no oars, could not obey his orders. At 2
a.m. left the wreck, and, by means of the midship thwart,
or inlandh phrase the middle seat of the boat, kept hef
before.the wind, andsby means of every available article;
namely, boots, sou'wester's, and oilskin coats. In about
three or four minutes the ship, with those on board, went
down. Continued our course, running before the wind,'
until the 24th, when about 9 a.m. the weather moderated.
EV means of the bottom boards of the boat we con-
structed small paddles, and made for the north west, con-
sidering that we were making for the nearest land, which
as near its we could guess bore distant about
four liundrCil miles, steering by stars by night, and
the sun by day'. On the third day fell in with part
of the poop of our own vessel; found a piece of lead
m`
piping
M five inches
long, which was shared in sixteen
parts for our mutual sunpultt• .nmediately turned Discoveredour a piece of pork
about four inches square. n
d
an hook, we
attention to contriving a fishing tine d
a.
*small coppe whichr
nail,
executed from a few spurt yarns an:'
we took nothing.
and though several birds neared the bai
hands
On the proposition of Mr. Williams (first ,713.te),
to. befrie.nd
tell on their knees, and implored their Make:
them in their need. and save them from the c.
which
which
position, and the pangs of hunger and thirst with
they were inflicted. .This injunction was promptly k24d
faithfully attended to every watch during the remainder
of their suffering and privations. On the fifth day we were
all too much exhausted to paddle. Endeavoured to make
sail with the oilskin coats, still keeping watch and watch,
and bailing and steering continually. The first mate
resigned himself to the care of his companions, feeling
himself dying (as he supposed) from the effects of drink-
ing a quantity of salt water, and fearing he might
fall overboard. On the sixth day it was proposed that
lots should be drawn to sacrifice one of their number, in
order to save the rest, which was strongly objected to
by Mr. Williams, who still entertained strong hopes for
the morrow, which hopes were realised in the appearance
of a vessel bearing down towards them, on the morning of
the seventh day, having descried their signal of distress,
an old red flannel shirt attached to their paddles. The
vessel proved to be the brig Cuba, of London, Captain
Gray—she immediately (about 9 a.m.) rescued them from
their perilous situation—and whose kindness and
generosity they feel anxious to acknowledge, for
the prompt attention received at his
.hands, its
nroviding them with food and clothing, and
dressing their wounds, but owing to his vessel
diem
each small, water was served out to two quarts per
each man. Captain Grey kindly bore up, and put then!
ashore in Stanley harbour, Falkland Island, where they'
were received by the English Governor, who suppllo
them with clothing, and provided them with food, until
the man of war corvette Electra put in, by which vessel
they left for England, on the 10th of January, 1857, and
arrived in Portsmouth on the 15th of this month, and
forwarded from the Sailors' Home there to the Sister
Establishment, Well street, London.