The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-07 00:00:00

PRICE sd.

LOSS OF THE BARQUE CITY OF
EDINBURGH.

(From the Sydney Monitor, of Aug. 13.)
Mr. Donaldson, agent for Lloyd's in Sydney, has
received the subjoined account of the loss of the barque
City of Edinburgh, in Bass' Straits :
FSir I itnadkeer'st
the
Island,
earliest
iJt
yu ltyo2iOn ,FolrBm4o.
you
of the melancholy wreck of the barque City of Edin-
burgh, Edward Fearon, Commander, bound from Lon-
don to Sydney, with a general cargo, and passengers,
on the reefs of this island, but, at the same time, am
happy to say no lives are lost. It appeared that the
vessel passed King's Island on the evening of Wednes-
day the Bth instant, and on the following morning sighted
Wilson's promontory, where she was overtaken by a
terrific gale and driven considerably to leeward. During
the whole of Thursday night it blew a complete hurri-
cane, and morning came without any abatement of the
storm. At the usual time for taking an observation,
in order to find the ship's true position, the weather
being too thick for that purpose, the captain determined to
shape his course through Banks's Straits, concluding from
the drift of the vessel that we were in the meridian of
latitude 40. By this time the gale had considerably
increased, and at about" half-past two o'clock it was
found, on the clouds clearing away for a short time, we
were on a dead lee shore, within five miles of the
breakers. At this time we were under close-reefed
topsails. The vessel was then tacked, and the foretop-
sail was immediately carried away, and it was impos-
sible, owing to the violence of the weather, to get an.
other on the ship, and when within two miles, or there-
about, of weathering the point, the bowsprit was
blown out of her, with the jib and staysail, and at
the same moment the mainyard was broken completely
in two at the centre, making complete ribbons of the
maintopsail and every other stitch of canvas on the vessel.
The ship was now quite disabled, and the major part
of the crew had given up all hopes of saving their lives.
The captain ordered her to be run on shore, but having
got some more canvas on the vessel, it was found on
turning the ship's head the other way that she stood up '
at least three points. The men cheered, and considered
the ship would be still saved, and all hands were im-
mediately employed in setting such sail on the ship as
remained.

Our relief from anxiety was of short duration. Night
came on, and with it an increase of wind, and on the
moon rising we found ourselves drifting so near the
shore that we could hear the breakers. All hope of
rescuing the vessel was now at an end, and the only
thing was to endeavour to save the lives of those on
board,which, thanks to Providence, we succeeded in. It
was then determined to look out for some place to
anchor the vessel, and if possible to save her from the
destruction that threatened her. Her course was shaped
to the land for that purpose, about ten o'clock. After
about four hours of indescribable suspense, we found
ourselves in tolerably smooth water, and bottom at
seventeen fathoms ; the anchor was ordered to be let
go, but, after about fifteen fathoms were run out, it
was discovered that the chain was foul in the locker, and
consequently the anchor would not reach the ground.
We continued drifting towards the land, until crossing
a red which divides Flinder's Island from a small rocky
island called Rabbit's Island, the anchor having
caught the ground, and all the chain run out, the vessel
brought up in seven fathoms water, right between
two reefs ; the vessel was now considered safe, at least
until daylight, and we all went to rest, being com-
pletely fatigued with our prolonged exertions to pre-
serve the ship, with the exception of an anchor
watch. About half-past two o'clock I was awoke
by a sudden increase of the wind, which had for
a short time abated, and before I could get out
of my cabin she had driven with her anchor on the reef,
and her sternpost and rudder, which broke immediately,
struck with a most horrible crash, shivered my cabin to
pieces, it being a stern cabin, and continued in the most
alarming manner to beat on the rocks for several mi-
nutes. I then, with Mr. Boucher, took Mrs. Fearon,
the Captain's wife, Miss Bellingham, and Master Si-
mons, two cabin passengers, in the jolly-boat, and atter,
obtaining three boys to assist me in the navigation of
the boat, trusted to the protection of the Supreme
Being, and left the ship, and reached the shore in
safety, myself steering, concluding we were on an un-
inhabited island, but we were most agreeably dis•
appoiutcd towards morning by a visit from Cap-
tain Smith, Commandant of the island, who, in the
most kind manner, invited us to his house, where he
provided us with such articles of clothing as we re-
quired (myself being naked, with the exception of
drawers and shirt, not having time to get any article
of dress from the vessel), and his kindness to the whole
of 11R, a. niqn that of Ilfre Cm.;el., hpynna .yhumble
talents to express. On the following morning, the ves-
sel being quite full of water, the captain and crew were
compelled to abandon her, and at seven o'clock the
same evening she was in fragments. Some part of her
cargo has been washed on shore, but casks innume-
rable have conic up with their heads out, or otherwise
broken. Not a vestige is to be seen of the wreck
now, with the exception of that which lies strewed on
the beach. Such portion of her cargo as has been
washed up lies scattered on the beach, about eight
miles in length.
The captain, passengers, and crew lost all they pos-
sessed in the world ; and, lam sorry to say, I was the
only person uninsured, and am almost a ruined man by
the catastrophe, my loss being between four and five
hundred pounds.
On the captain abandoning the ship, the Comman-
dant was pleased to appoint me to act as agent for the
benefit of the underwriters, conceiving I was the only
person competent for the purpose, and quite disin-
terested, being only a passenger from the Cape of Good
Hope. I beg to inclose you copies of letters, Nos. 1
and 2, showing my authority for acting.
On taking charge of the wreck I found a system of
plunder going on to a great extent, casks broached,
bales broken, &c., and nearly every person on the set-
tlement in a beastly state of intoxication. At the sug-
gestion of the Commandant I destroyed several casks of
spirits without effect ; and, plunder still being carried
on to a considerable extent, I searched several houses in
the settlement, and found a large quantity of goods in
the house of a Mr. Wilson, the storekeeper. I imme-
diately gave him in custody, and on the following morn-
ing the Commandant dismissed him from his appoint-
ment for that office.

Finding it impossible to preserve the property on the
beach, as the military, instead of protecting, were plun-
dering me at every opportunity, and completely worn
out with my exertions, I concluded that, should I wait
until I received instructions from you, there would not
by a particle of the property left for the benefit of
those concerned. I therefore determined immediately
to sell that portio❑ of the wreck which remained, by
auction, but previously gave the Captain, his wife, pas-
sengers, and crew, such necessaries in clothing as would
cover them until they arrived at Sydney, taking the
same quantity for myself, that I trust will meet your
approval. I posted notices over the township three clear
days previous to sale, and on the morning of the 16th
inst. Mr. M. H. Smith became the purchaser of the wreck
for 82/. 10s., and Captain Nixon, of the barque Ocean
Queen,purcbased the Captain's chronometer and a watch
for 14/. 103. There being no cash on the island, I was
compelled to take bills on Van Diemen's Land. I re-
fer you to a copy of my letter (No. 3) to see how I
have disposed of the amount realised, which I trust you
will approve of. I also refer you to copy No. 4, the
bill of sale, and No. 5, the copy of a letter transmitted
to Lloyd's agent at Van Diemen's Land.
Captain Smith has written to the Van Diemen's
Land Government for several vessels to convey us on
to Sydney, as we are quite destitute. On my arrival
I shall give you, with pleasure, any information you may
require. _ _ _

I have to add to the above melancholy record that
the barque Ocean Queen, Captain Nixon, commander,
from Loudon to Launceston, with a general cargo and
passengers, after having sighted Launceston lights, was
driven away, and is on shore about five miles from here.
She struck on the 10th instant, having lost all her can-
vas, rudder, and spars ; there is, at the time I am writ-
ing, about nine feet water in the hold, but I am happy
to say there are every hopes of saving this vessel and
cargo ; all lives are saved.
It is the general opinion here that we are not the
only sufferers, as Captain Fearon and others have found
several casks, cabin doors, &c., on the beach, not be-
longing to either of the above vessels. I trust you will
give such portion of my narrative as you think prudent
to some newspaper for publication, in order that our
friends may he made acquainted with the circumstance.
Wishing my conduct in the affair may meet
your ap-
probation, I am, Sir, your's obediently.
JOHN JAMES DAVIES.
To Stewart Donaldson, Esq., Agent for
Lloyd's, Sydney.

THE THUNDER STORM.—FIER MAJESTY'S
dockyard
SIM' MON•RCII SET ADRIFT.--SHIIRRNESS, JAN, 4
Much alarm was caused here yesterday morning,cok about
seven o'clock, in consequence of the bells of the t
beginning to ring ' • it was feared, as we had bad a severe
thunder storm,withsome of the most vivid lightning ever
experienced here, that some part of her Niajesty's dock.
yard had been struck by the electric fluid,
b
squall l‘if
°II
but it proved to
be occasioned by her Majesty S ship arch parting from
her moorings during a heavy from the south-west,
when she drove athwart hawse the v r
jib. boom, carrying away her engeur, breaking her
figure-head, and sustaining
other damage. When she got clear of the Vcrigeur, she
drifted down alongside the dockyard wall, when the dock.
yard men wore summoned in to' assist in transporting her
back to her moorings, which was not effected until noon.
—Shipping Gazette.