The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-17 00:00:00

The Stranding of the Sydenham.
-610-

OFFICIAL REPORT.
To the Secretary to Government, Marine. Depart-

ment, dated Jan. 9, 1865.
Sir,—lt is with regret that I have to report, for
the information of Government, the stranding of the
ship Sydenham, under British colours, on the S.W. •
Prong, three-quarters of a mile S.W. from the
lighthouse, on the evening of the 7th inst. This
vessel quitted Kurrachee on the 4th for Bombay,
and was first seen from the lighthouse at 5 fon.
7th inst., bearing W.N.W. about 12 miles, standing
in for the land, the wind being fair at N.W. at 5 45.
The vessel was observed to keep away to the south-
ward—that is, more off the land—until she bore
from lighthouse 1V .S.W., when she hauled suddenly
upright in for the lighthouse. The necessary sig-
nals were immediately made from the lighthouse
by burning blue lights and firing guns (nine gulls
were fired). The first gun was fired at 6.55 p.m
The ship, however, still stood on, and shortly after
7 p.m. grounded on the prong as above stated. Im-
mediately on the signal being made from the light-
house of a ship being in sight to the northward, the
pilot proceeded out from the pilot bunder at Colaba,
standing in the usual way to round the edge of the
prong so as to meet the vessel. Boarded at 7.30
p.m. in the position before described. Sounded the
well-19 inches, which soon increased to five feet.
I received the report of the vessel being on shore
from the officer in charge of the lighthouse at 7.40
p.m., and immediately proceeded on, accompanied
by Mr. Cooke, second-assistant master-attendant
Reached the vessel shortly after 9 p.m. Found her
lying over on the starboard side, five feet water in
the hold, all her sails dewed up, but not furled. The
ship bumping so heavily the captain was afraid to
send the men aloft. The vessel grounded as near as
possible at top of the S. S.W. side, rapidly filling. No
chance of getting her off. Leaving Mr. Cooke in
charge, I returned to the shore. Mr. Pryce, first-
assistant, and Mr. Waco, pilot, also proceeded out
in one of the small tugs. Finding the vessel
movably fixed, the former proceeded with a note
from the master of the vessel to her Majesty's ship
Princess Royal for assistance, which was readily
granted. No chance of getting the vessel off ; the
men of the Princess Royal are dismantling her, with
the view of saving as much of the property as pos-
sible, as I fear on the approaching spring tides, shod"
it blow fresh from the northward, the vessel will
become a total wreck. I again went out to the vessel
at 2 p.m. of Bth, so as to see what state she was in.
It being low water, found her lying on her starboard
bilge, a rock nearly dry between main and raiz
_ell
chains, and many detached rocks out of watet
in close proximity. The men of the Princess Royal
were proceeding rapidly with the dismantling. The
sails were sent on shore in one of the pilot boatB'
Lighters are being sent off by the agents, Messrs'
Stevens, Roberts, and Co., so that lam in hopes that
all the stores, masts, yards, &c., will be saved.
board
Cooke's services being no longer required on board
he returned with me to the shore at 4 p.m. on the
Bth.—l have, &c., W. C. BARKER,
- Retired Captain Indian Navy, Master Aden-
dant and Conservator of the Port.
Office of the Master Attendant and Conservator
of the Port of Bombay, Jan 9, 1865.
P.S.—The Sydenham is a British registered ves"
sel. Her Master, Mr. D. J. Harding, holds a cer-
tificate of competency as master foreign-going elliP
No. 100, granted by Board of Examiners, Bombay'
having passed the required examination on June 29,
1864, countersigned by Secretary to Government'
Marine Department. W. C. BARBER'