The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-07 00:00:00

THE SUN,

TOTAL WRECK OF HER
MAJESTY'S STEAME
BIRKENHEAD.

FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-
FOUR LIVES LOST.
The following particulars relating to this fearful
disaster, which has thrown a gloom over the whole
community at the Cape, have been collected from
various sources :
Her Majesty's splendid steamer Birkenhead, Cap-
tain Salmund, arrived in Simon's Bay on the 24th of
February, with reinforcements of troops for the Cape,
consisting of the following draughts for the different
regiments on the frontier:—
" 2d (Queen's) Foot—Ensign Bayland and 51 privates.
"6th Regiment—Euign Mitfotel and 61 privates.
" 12th Lancers—Cornets Bond end Itat and 6 pri-
vates.
"12th Regiment—Lieutenant S. vairclough and 71
privates.
" 43d Light lufantry—Lieutenant Girardot and 41
privates.
" 45th, attached to 12th Foot-4 privates.
" 60th Rifles, 2d Battaiion-41 privates, attached to
91st regiment.
" 733 Wgiment—Lieutenants Robinson and Boot, and
Ensign Lucas, ,:ad 71 privtles
74th Regiment—Nitljur Seaton end Ensign Russell,
66 privates.
91st Foot—Captain Wright and 61 privates.
Staff-2 surgeons and 1 assistant-surgeon.
Total-12 otii&qs, 472 rank and fi'e, 2 surgeons, 1
assistant-surgeon, 25 women, and 31 children; 3 women
had died in childbirth and 1 of consumption on the pas-
sage, and 3 births had taken place.
"The women and children were landed forthwith,
with the exception of those who were afterwards saved
from the wreck.
" Lieutenant Fairclough, of the 12th, and Mr. Fresh-
field, clerk of the veraJJ, were also landed, and left be-
hind skit at Simon's Town.
" The stcamr prcetdA on her way to Algot,. Bay
and the Butfllo, at six o'ctcck on the evening of the
25th.
" Besides those of the original roll left on board, Mrs.
Nisbett, wife of Quartermaster Nisbett, who is in ser-
vice on the frontier, and a pi:ron named Andrew White,
a servant of Colonel Cloete, went as passengers in the
vessel. The total number of souls on boarewas, as ac-
curately as we can ascertain, 638."
The first intelligence of the wreck reached Cape
Town on Friday morning, the 27th inst,, at half-past
nine, A.M., Dr. Culhaue, of the ill-fated vessel, having
ridden up from the place at which he landed for as-
sistance. Shortly after a statement made by him
was published. It is, however, considered to be so
inaccurate that very little faith can be placed in it.
Next morning the following official documents were
published :

ill
and

" Castor, Simon's Bay, Feb. 27.
" To his Excellency Lieutenant General Si: iHarry G.

W. Smith, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, &c.
" Sir,—lt is with much pain I have to inform your
Excellency of the total loss of her Majesty's steam-ship
Birkenhead, at two o'clock on the morning of the 26th
inst., near to Point Danger; and I regret to add that
from the statement given by Dr. Culhane, assistant-
surgeon of the ship, it would appear that only about 70
persons are savt:d out of about 630 souls, nine of whom
have landed, but the others are in two boats, and had
proceeded seaward, to be picked up by a sailing vese;l.
" I have di,,pateed the Rhadamaothus to ►he scene of
this fearful disaster to afford all possible relief, and to
search for the missing boats.

" As it is possible they may be compelled to effect a
landing, I would be glad if your Excellency gave in-
structions to the resident magistrates and field-cornets on
the coast to keep a lookout for them, and render every
necessary assisLancP.
"I beg to incloe Dr. Culhane's statemv.nt, and have
the honour to be, your Excellency's most obedient
servant,

" C. WYVILL, Commodore."
" Since writing the above, tho Rhadamathus has
towed in the schooner Lionesv, which vessel picked up
the two boats mentioned. The sufferers, 116 in number,
are at present on board the Castor, and the Rhadaman-
thus has again proceeded to the scene of the wreck. I
annex a list of persons saved. Dr. Buwen, staff-sur-
geon, reports that several of the soldiers reached the
land on rafts.