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

*lllt

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1852.

Scarcely have the more poignant regrets excited
by the loss of the Amazon become mitigated in some
measure by the lapse of time, when the public mind
is again horrified by the intelligence of the total de-
struction of the Birkenhead. Unhappily, in the in-
stance of the Amazon, the anguish caused by that
very dreadful calamity was considerably enhanced
by the uncertainty as to whether there might not
possibly be yet more survivors, by that hardly less
terrible as to origin of the entire disaster, and by the '
frightful testimony afforded on all hands of the want
of discipline displayed by the crew, leading to a most
unnecessary destruction of life among themselves
and among the passengers. Fortunately—if such a
word can be regarded as applicable to any circum-
stance connected with so melancholy a catastrophe—
in the instance of the Birkenhead, no doubt whatever
is entertained as to
the cause of the calamity, while
accurate information has already been received as to
those who have been saved from the disaster, the most
reliable and well corroborated testimony, evidencing,
moreover, on the part of the ill-fated
the noblest self-possession, and the len destroyed
most magnani-
mous self-forgetfulness.
The incidents connected with this calamitous
occurrence may be, alas! only too brieflyrecounted.
which
took
disaster
For the rapidity with which the whole
place is not the least startling feet by
characterised. Within an interval of twentychreliteuwtaess
from its commencement, the whole spectacle of the
wreck had terminated. The luckless vessel, the
Birkenhead (one of her MAJESTY'S steamers), had
only a few hours before going to pieces left Simon's
Bay, on the southern coast of Africa, with 638 souls
on board. With the intention of abbre-
viating as much as was practicable the passage
of his ship to Algos Bay, the officer in
command, Captain SALMOND, appears to have resolved
rather rashly, at the moment of starting, to keep as
near the shore es possible—and hence the whole
catastrophe. For, early in the morning, namely,
about 2 o'clock, ,on the 26th of February, the
Birkenhead struck upon a sunken reef of rocks off
Point Danger—name of evil omen enough, it must
be acknowledged ! At the moment of striking the
vessel was going through smooth water, and under a
tranquil sky, at the rate of 8 knots—a speed sufficient,
of course, under the circumstance:;, not only to make
her destruction inevitable, but to render it in a dreadful

manner expeditious. After little more than a quarter Then, indeed, his prospects a
s-favourable than he could have pneared far more
of an hour had elapsed the Birkenhead had di
appeared, with the exception of a few scattered spars that there
were no less than 649 lie found
and fragments—her bow breaking short off at the equivocal promises in his favour,distinct and
un -
against 435 l
foremast, her bowsprit flying up in the air towards to his opponent, while 461 edged
were " doubtful ~P
the forceopmast, the hull parting next abaft the a most suspicious character. Of el and of
engine-room, and the seem going down almost im- minded electors many h these latter Nee
mediately afterwards. It will be remembered that would stick to had
declared that they
their colours, and rote
the Birkenhead was proceeding to the Cape with accordance with their consciences in
draughts from the regiments, numbering up a o'clock, unless they let at l (!) after two
got
east 201. per head
dozen officers and 472 privates. From the from the Protectionisttherefore, sp.
first instant the brave fellows revealed peered couleur de rose, andsan' Everything,
gume expectations were
a courage, a coolness, and a discipline most honour- entertained as to the result. Meanwhile the town
able to them as soldiers and as Englishmen. Those I (Newport) was in a state
of intense excitement, and
who were not drowned in their hammocks, by the rush all b • usiness was suspended for several days.
of •
idle
water into the lower troop deck, were promptly Protectionist, however, was not in The
the interim.
tnuiteriA by their offi:..ers cn the after-deck, when, All the solicitors in the
district, save the faithful few,
according to the evidence volunteered by Captain who gave their gratuitous •
services to the Free. trader,
WEIGUT o?: the D ' '.fell into
Regimen!-, they
oh-
with a coolness such as tta they might have displayed if, served until the evening before the election,
" instead of :going
to
the
bottom," they were when it was found that many of the Libe-
merely undergoing the Precess of embarkation ! ral voters could not be found—that they were
Several of t'ne:n wen?
thereupon sent in I either out of the way or stowed in mysterious
relief parties to the
tbai
11..."-Pntelps, and others pps,
laces that could not be discovered, notwithstanding
to the paddlebcx-boats.
exertion, how- the most scrutinizing search.
ever, proved ineffectual. Those vcryat
the
chair.-pumps Ac length the important morning arrived. The
on the lower after-deck speedily found the . at eight A.M and ele •
impossi- polling commenced ~ within two
bility of k,;eping the ship above water, •
seewiihi'le these hours "a whole etreet of small voter?, who had un-
at the tacklese of the paddlebox-'oor.ts
to have conditionally pledged themselves to the Reds (the
been crushed by the falling funnel. After the
horse Free-traders),Blues (the Pro-
bai been ni6bed out of the port gangway, provi_. a voted for the
tectionists), while those who could only afford to
was made forlitie safety cif the twenty-five wo‘l°ll
mien
vote in accordance with their consciences (after two
and thirty-one children, who had been collected to.
wninee From their 1,84
o'clock) in the event of their not receiving 201. each,
gether under the poop a -
recorded their suffrages in favour of the Con-
perilous situation they were all conveyed away 1 lervati„ There was, however,
before half-past nine.
in the cutter under the charge of Mr. RICHARD S) AO co
talletiti°ll in the purchase, and contrary to the