The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-11 00:00:00

ACCIDENT TO THE STEAM-SHIP MENAI.

CALAIS, Feb. 10. A very serious accident occurred off
this port last night, about nine o'clock, to the General
Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship Menai, Captain
Pashley, plying between London and Calais. It had been
blowing a gale all the evening, and a very heavy sea was
running near the mouth of the harbour when the Menai ap-
proached. The vessel's stem had just been pointed to enter
the harbour when a tremendous sea struck her with terrific
violence, causing the ship to deviate from her course, and in-
juring the rudder to such an extent as to render the vessel alto-
gether unmanageable. The captain at once endeavoured to
bring up, but before he could do so the ship was unfortunately
driven ashore, immediately at the back of the west pier, and
close to Fort Rouge, the scene of Stanfield's celebrated pic-
ture of " The Wreckers." The disaster was observed by
several persons who had been watching the approach of the
ship from the shore, and when the vessel struck the ground
the greatest alarm prevailed for the safety of the passengers
and crew, every sea making a clean breach over her as she
lay embedded in the sand. Bluelights having been fired from
the ship, and other signals of distress exhibited, every exer-
tion was immediately made by the harbour authorities and
others, under the superintendence of M. le Capitaine
Follett, to get the lifeboats afloat, but, owing to the violence
of the gale, and the heavy surf running, this was a work of
great difficulty. Among the earliest at the scene of danger
were the officers and crew of her Majesty's mail-packet
Vivid, Captain Smithett, with a supply of life lines and
buoys. One of the lifeboats, having been at length
launched, pulled towards the stranded vessel, but, owing
to the heavy sea, it was found impossible to attempt to land
the passengers. Fortunately, it was nearly high water when
the accident occurred, and after due consideration it
was deemed more prudent to leave every one on board
until the tide ebbed. About one o'clock this morning the
ship was left high and dry on the beach, and the passengers,
21 in number, were safely landed and conveyed into the town.
At the same time, preparations were made for unshipping the
cargo, and it is hoped, if the weather moderates, the vessel
may yet be got off without much damage. At present it is
blowing a strong gale from the north, with a heavy sea in
shore, aud, as little progress has been made in lightening the
ship, nothing has yet been done towards floating her. Had
the accident happened at low water instead of at flood tide,
there can be very little doubt the ship would have gone to
pieces in the course of the night. No blame whatever is at-
tached to Captain Pashley, who exhibited great presence of
mind, and did everything in his power under the trying cir-
cumstances in which he was placed. Among the passengers
on board the Menai were several young ladies returning from
England to school in France. The gale blew with such vio-
lence throughout the night that the Vivid mail-packet did
not leave the harbour until 8 o'clock this morning, instead of
at midnight.