The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

SLOOP SPHYNX.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 20.—A1l hopes of saving the above
fine vessel are now abandoned, and a superintendent and
party of men from Messrs. Penn's factory are ordered to
proceed to the wreck and assist in taking out the engines,
if that be practicable ; but, according to the latest news
brought from the scene of the calamity, there is the greatest
difficulty in approaching the wreck, owing to the continual
dangerous surf and heavy rollers, which set in at the spot
(near Chilton Chive), where the Sphynx is ashore.
The Dragon steam frigate arrived off the coast yesterday,
en route from the eastward to this port, to load with meal,
and stayed to render any assistance she might be capable of,
in conjunction with the Scourge steam-sloop, Commander
Caffin ; the Porcupine steam-stoop, Lieutenant Robertson,
(acting Commander), and the Echo tug, with Mr. Bellamy,
assistant-master• attendant of this dockyard, and his party
of men. The Stag revenue cutter, Lieutenant C. G. Clarke,
was also at the spot, rendering such assistance as the circum-
stances admitted of. _

The Falmouth navy lighter returned from the wreck this
afternoon, and reports that the vessels could not effect any
communication with the wreck yesterday, nor was any com-
munication between the wreck and the shore practicable
during the whole day from the bad state of the surf.
The Falmouth had lent her boat to the Stag cutter to
supply the placs of two of her (Stag's) own, which, with six
men who were in each, attempting to approach the wreck,
are missing.
The Master (Mr. Wallis) of the Sphynx is reported dan-
gerously injured in his exertions to rescue four men from
drowning, but continued working with unabated alacrity.
Mrs. Cragg, the commander's wife, who was dangerously
wounded while in the first boat which left the ship after
striking, is still alive, and receiving every attention under the
r(.of of the Rev. Mr. Fenwick. _

A report has been circulated in Portsmouth to-day that 29
men of the Sphynx are missing, but we cannot trace such re-
port to any authentic foundation.
The Cowes and Ryde packets. just in (5 P.m.), bring us
later news from the wreck than the above. The body of the
gunner of the Scourge was washed ashore to-day.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 20.—Accounts this morning by the
Falmouth lighter have been received. She is on shore off
Chilton Chine, between Brixtone Bay and Brooke Bay. At
low water there is communication with the shore, and Com-
mander Cragg has landed the people, and got a very consi-
derablo quantity of stores out of her; among them are the
guns and cables. Mr. Watt's, builder's assistant of this dock-
yard, with sixty shipwrights, caulkers, and engineers, are on
the spot, to lighten her by removing the engines and machi-
nery, previous to the attempt to r.moye her. She is about
three cables' length from the tug vessels, and it will require,
therefore, a great purchase and strong heave to move so large
a mass as the Sphynx. The order for sending a detachment
of marines from the St. Vincent has been countermanded,
as the Sphynx's own party, some from the Scourge, and
the revenue and coast-guard men, are ample to look after
the Queen's stores. The crew are housed and victualled by
the coast-guard. All the stores landed must be carted to
Cowes, and re-shipped from thence, and the most active
measures are adopting to get on shore everything that can
be moved while the wind is off the land and the sea com-
paratively smooth; for directly the wind changes to west or
south-west, and begins to blow strong, there is an end of
the Sphynx. The most lamentable part of the account is
that the people from the Falmouth lighter report the loss of
life already to be ; but beyond the officer and boat's crew
of the Scourge, only two boats, with twelve men, of the
Stag revenue cutter, can be accounted for as missing. They
put off to the assistance of the Scourge's men, but were
turned over by the rollers, and perished in the ground swell.
The sea is described to be as smooth as glass, but of a sudden
the rollers and ground swell sends the water 20 feet high.
The Scourge, Porcupine, Echo, and mooring lighters, are
off the bay. The Scourge is anchored off Chilton Chine.
The tides are high, and from the zeal which prevails with all
hands, and the powerful aid that has been sent, it is possible
she may be got off; but if there should be a risk of more
life, it will be most desirable that the Sphynx should be
abandoned.