The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

The following are the fullest particulars which have
been yet gathered with respect to the melancholy loss
of the magnificent new iron emigrant ship Tayleur. The
Freeman's Journal says :
" Our city was startled yesterday by the intelligence
of one of the most lamentable shipwrecks which we have
ever had to record. The vessel sto which this awful
calamity occurred was the Tayleur, or John Tayleur,
Captain Noble, bound to Melbourne with emigrants.
Owing to the severe weather which has prevailed for
some days, intimation of this sad event did not reach
the city until an advanced hour yesterday, so that we
have been able to obtain but few particulars of it. But,
from all we can learn, it appears that the ill-fated vessel
left Liverpool on Thursday, having on board 460 pas-
sengers, besides the officers and crew. Having been
driven by stress of weather out of her course, she was
on Saturday night on a long tack for the purpose of
avoiding the land, when it was discovered that she was
close upon it. This alarm proved to be too true, for in
a few moments she struck with frightful force upon the
shore of Lambay Island. It is impossible to describe
the dreadful scene of terror, confusion, and despair that
ensued. The passengers rushed on deck, and, as it
was evident that the vessel must soon go to pieces,
desperate efforts were made to reach the land. We are
are unable to say whether the boats were used for the
purpose, or with what effect ; but it is stated that a
rope was run from the vessel to the shore, and made
fast there. To this a large number of the unfortunate
passengers clung with the hope of reaching land,, but
while they were endeavouring to do so the vessel gave
a sudden lurch, by which they were almost every one
precipitated into the sea, then fearfully beating upon
the rocks, and deprived of the means and the hope
of escape. The greater part of them thus perished.
Out of the entire number on board it is stated that about
250 succeeded in making the island ; so that, according
to this estimate, more than 200 of the wretched sufferers
perished within sight, and almost within reach, of land.
Intelligence of the dreadful calamity having been con-
veyed to Mr. Walsh, the agent for Lloyd's here, he com-
municated with Mr. Howell, secretary to the City of
Dublin Steam-packet Company, who immediately
ordered the Prince steamer, Captai❑ Dearl, to be got
ready as quickly as possible and proceed to Lambay, to
take off the survivors, who were without food, and ex-
posed to the danger of perishing from cold, hunger, and
exhaustion. The Prince proceeded from the quay shortly
after 4 o'clock, and it was expected that she would be
able to take off the unfortunate passengers and land them
at Kingstown at 10 or 11 last night ; but, owing to the
severe gale blowing, it must have been impossible to
effect this humane task within that time. A reporter
from this office, who went in the Prince to the scene of
the wreck, has not yet returned, that vessel having
doubtless encountered the difficulties and delay alluded
to. We are, consequently, left without the details of
this most deplorable occurrence. We may indulge the
hope that the loss of life has not been so great as is re-
ported, but, to judge from what we have heard, we fear
the sad reality will prove fearful indeed. We may add
that the vessel has become a total wreck and gone to
pieces."

The Express report of the disaster adds some addi-
tional information :

"At noon on Thursday the Tayleur, Capt. Noble, &mag-
nificent vessel, of the White Star line of Pilkington and
Wilson, left the Mersey for Melbourne, without a solitary
berth disengaged. Her adult passengers numbered 496,
and her crew, it is stated, 80 men. Including children,
there were probably 620 souls on board. On Saturday
morning she approached the Irish coast, and was off
Lambay, a few miles to the northward of Malahide, at
half-past 11 o'clock. At 12 o'clock, just 48 hours after
leaving the Mersey, she struck, and commenced rapidly
to fill—so rapidly that, melancholy to relate, in half an
hour she went completely down, in seven fathoms of
water, only a few feet of her upper spars appearing above
the surface. Fortunately the disaster occurred at only a
short distance from the shore, and lines were heaved and
fastened to the rocks, and by these many escaped. So
far as can be ascertained, the number saved is about
250. Among them are included the captain, the first
and third mates, and, it is said, 10 of the crew ; but,
even taking this as the aggregate of the saved, the fearful
number of 400 persons have met an untimely and me-
lancholy doom. At least 100 of these would, in all
human probability, have escaped, as they were on the
lines in the act of going ashore, when the vessel gave a
sudden lurch, and they were every soul shaken into the
surge. Yesterday forenoon three of the passengers who
were conveyed to the mainland in a fishing boat arrived
in town by the Drogheda Railway, and gave information
to the proper parties. Steps were immediately taken to
have assistance rendered to those who fortunately got
to land, and the Prince steamer, Captain Dearl, had
steam immediately put up, and left her moorings for
the scene of the disaster shortly after 3 o'clock, having
Mr. Allen, the Dublin agent of the ill-fated vessel,
Mr. Walsh, the humane and active agent of
Lloyd's, and other gentlemen on board. The news
began rapidly to spread in town, and those who had
friends in the Tayleur, and whom the intelligence
reached, were in a state of anxiety not easily to be de-
picted. Mr. Allen had preparations made both at Dublin
and Kingstown for the accommodation of the passen-
gers who were saved. The Prince was expected at about
11 o'clock, and many persons crowded the quay, awaiting
her arrival, eager to know the fate of those of their circle
who were on board. Up to five o'clock this morning the
steamer had not returned, nor was she visible at Kings-
town when our last accounts left there, at half-past two
o'clock. We are, therefore, without any list of the
saved, or even a reliable estimate of their number. The
vessel went down stern foremost, it is said ; and, by an-
other account, only two ladies have been saved. The
wretched plight of the passengers at Lambay is described
as truly distressing. The coast-guard men were unceas-
ing in their exertions to alleviate as much as possible
the misery of the situation of those who most needed
their good offices. One man, we understand, when the
vessel struck, mounted to the topmast for security, and
lashed himself there in a sail, where he was some hours
afterwards picked off, being at the moment, strange to
say, asleep. Further intelligence of this deplorable acci-
dent will be awaited with anxiety."