The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

LETTER FROM AN OFFICER ON BOARD•

The following letter has been received from an officer
of the 6th Dragoons, saved from the wreck of the trans-
port ship Europa :

Her Majesty's ship Tribune, June 8, 1854.
Sir, —I have the honour to report, for the information of his
lordship the Commander-in-Chief, the loss of the troop-ship
Europa, No. 92, by fire, on the night of the 31st of May, 1854,
about 200 miles from Plymouth, having on board the head-
quarters of the 6th Dragoons, bound for the East, under the
command of Lieut.-Colouel W. Moore. The strength was as
follows :—One field officer, one subaltern, throe staff—five ;
five sergeants, 54 rank and file, two women, one private ser-
vant-62. Horses-13 officers', 44 troop-57.
In stating the circumstances of the case, I regret to record
the loss of Lieut.-ColonslW. Moose, Veterinary Surgeon Kelly,
4 sergeants, 12 rank and file, and one woman, with the whole
of the horses, accoutrements, baggage, &c. We weighed an-
chor about 11 a.m. in Plymouth Sound, on Tuesday, the 30th
May, 1854, and after being towed by a steamer a few miles,
made sail, every arrangement having been made for the com-
fort of both men and horses, and precaution taken to guard
against accident by fire. We continued our way until about
10 p.m. of the 31st, when the alarm was given that the ship
was en fire in the fore hatchway. The ammunition was im-
meditately thrown overboard, and the crew and 'nen tried to
extinguish the fire, but without success. In less than half
an hour the flames were coming up the main hatch-
way, and the whole rigging forward ; indeed, iu a few
minutes, the whole ship, from the poop forward, was
in flames. The men then rushed to the boats, but
were restrained by Lieutenant-Colonel Moore and the officers
under his command, lA boat was filled with men and lowered
by some of the crew, and I regret much to say that a num-
ber of them perished at this time. The life-boat was then
loTiered by the men, with 25 in it, and was taken up during
the night by the barque Maranon, of Dundee, who approached
the burning ship. We had still two boats on board, but were
unable to launch the larger one (horse-boat). The lashings
of the other boat wore cut (Mr. Black, agent, and Cornet
Thuson being in it), and was immediately filled with men,
Dr. Macgregor and myself having to swim to the boat, as I
was run off by a rope by one of the crew who trying to get on
board. We drifted by the ship, and were made fast by a rope
until we had 26 on board, when one of the crew cut us adrift
to prevent the boat from swamping. We were carried cut to
sea, leaving the captain and some men still on board. After
about an hour's suffering from cold and rain (the sea running
very high at the time), we were taken in tow by the mate and
four of the crew, who had left the vessel in the Government
gig, and then made for a light, which proved to be the Prus-
sian schooner Kennett Kinsford, bound for Port-au-Prince,
and which was then about three miles distant, as I was in-
formed by the captain. We mustered on board this vessel 3
officers, 16 men, one woman, and about 26 of the crew; and
reoeived every comfort and attention it was in their power
to give until Sunday, the 4th of June, when we were taken
on beard her Majesty's ship Tribune. The eight men who
were picked up by the brig Clementhe were transferred to
the troop ship Sir Robert Sale, on her way to the East with
a division of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and are to be landed
at Gibraltar. The men who were saved by the barque Mara-
non are also on board the Tribune, having lost all their regi-
mental necessaries except canvas trousers and frocks.
I cannot conclude this letter without observing that the con-
duct of bcfli officers And men under these trying circum-
stances was most exemplary, and doubtless prevented a much
greater loss of life. All others ou board the Europa were
saved.
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble
servant, - •
A. WEIR, Lieutenant and Adjutant, 6th Dragoons.