The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

WRECK OF THU RANDOLPH.

Considerable anxiety has recently been excited in
respect of the facts of the Randolph, East India
trader, Mr. Dale, master, which had been reported to
have foundered on her outward passage to Calcutta,
with 300 persons on board. Through the courtesy
of the owners, D. Dunbar and Co., of Limehouse, we
are in a position to lay before our readers the sub-
joined details of the catastrophe, by which it will be
perceived that the ill-fated vessel was cast ashore on
a reef of rocks off the north-east part of the Mauri-
tius, and although the wreck was not attended with
so awful a loss of life as had been stated, yet a great
many who were on board perished. The disaster
took place on the night of the 25th of July, a day or
so after she had taken her departure from Port Louis
for Calcutta. She had received on board at that port
250 steerage passengers, natives, consisting of men,
women, and children, for Calcutta; also Lieutenant
Holland and Ensign Scott, of the 48th Regiment,
who occupied the chief cabin. The cargo comprised
sugar, rum, and other produce of the island. The wind
at the time of the Randolph's leaving was blowing
rather fresh. All went well, however, until half-past
eleven o'clock at night, when a cry was raised
forward of " Breakers a-head," which at once
convinced the captain, Mr. Dale, that ho
was close to a dangerous reef of rocks which run
out to sea seine two miles off the north end of the
island. It should be stated that the night was ex-
cessively dark, and there were other unfavourable
circumstances acting against the ship's progress, but
it would seem that she was not so far distant from the
coast as the captain anticipated. However, on danger
being seen the helm was instantly put hard aport,
everything done that human power could suggest in
keeping her off the land, but all was of no avail. She
drifted in, and struck on the reef with great
force. The utter destruction of not only the ship
but the lives of all on board being threatened, the
crew were directed to cut away the masts, which was
speedily effected without injury to any of the many
affrighted creatures who crowded the deck. This
succeed in keeping the ship upright for a short time,
but the heavy waves soon bilged her, and she fell
over on her beam ends. The scene then became one
of a painfully distressing character. Men, women,
and children were seen banging to and crawling up
the sides of the wreck. Some fell into the surf, and
by clinging to floating spars preserved themselves,
while others were swept away and met with a watery
grave. After a night of suffering daylight disclosed
their actual position. Land was observed two miles
distant, the space between the wreck and the
beach being studded with small, steep, dangerous
patches of rock. The captain, who throughout had
displayed much presence of mind, consulted with
the officers as to the best means to be
adopted in preserving the unfortunate creatures,
nearly 300 in number, who were on the wreck. The
boats happily remained whole and safe. They were
lowered, and Mr. Scott, the first officer, Mr. Shand,
the second, with some of the seamen, set out to ex-
amine the position of the rocks, and ascertain whether
there was any safe passage between them by which
they could land those on board. One course partly
practicable was traced to a certain distance whence
the shore could be reached by spars and planks thrown
across the rocks. Returning to the wreck a difficulty
presented itself as to how the passengers could be
lowered from their peculiar and dangerous position--
as they had clung to all parts of the ill-fated ship—to
the boats. At length two of the sailors took their
stand upon the bowsprit, and so let them down one by
one by ropes—a tedious and hazardous task, for the
vessel was fast breaking up, and the heavy surf roll-
ing was several times nearly dashing the boats to
atoms against the wreck. After much suffering Mr.
Dale succeeded in seeing all safely landed, and the
chief officer, Mr. Scott, was dispatched to Port Louis,
about thirty miles distant, 'with intelligence of the
calamity. In the meanwhile Mr. Dale proceeded to
ascertain the number of the missing passengers, as also
of the crew, and found that of the former between 20
and 30 had perished, and that two of his crew had
also bee❑ lost. Among the bodies picked up on that
day was that of Ensign Charles H. Scott, of the 48th
Regiment. He was in his 21st year, and was the
only son of Mr. Charles Scott, surgeon in the Bom-
bay. The moment the news of the catastrophe
reached Port Louis the Governor forwarded a steamer
to the spot, but on its arrival it was found that she
could render little service in saving the ship, as it
was fast breaking up, and the cargo scattered in all
directions.

Lloyd's agent at Port Louis, who had made an
investigation into the circumstances of the loss, thus
writes .—" There can be no doubt that the great loss
of property is caused by the neglect of our Govern-
ment in not putting up a lighthouse on that part of
the island. We, as Lloyd's agents, tool; advantage
of the feeling at the moment and waited on the Go-
vernment to request them to have a lighthouse forth-
with erected, without waiting to refer to the 11=9